Just an Individual of a Species: An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee by Academy of Sciences Malaysia

Just an Individual of a Species An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

Bulbul Kepala Hitam (Pycnonotus atriceps) on Mertajam tree (Eryiogiossumn rugigosun)

Just an Individual of a Species © Academy of Sciences Malaysia 2019 All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission in writing from the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Academy of Sciences Malaysia Level 20, West Wing, MATRADE Tower Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia

Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Ahmad Mustaffa Haji Babjee, Tan Sri, Dato’, Dr, 1937Just an Individual of a Species / Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee. ISBN 978-983-2915-45-4 1. Ahmad Mustaffa Haji Babjee, Tan Sri, Dato’, Dr, 19372. Veterinarians--Biography. 3. Autobiography. 4. Government publications--Malaysia I. Title. 636.089092

Contents ii

Message From the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Foreword By Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid

viii x

Preface By The Author Dedication

PART 1 002 008 010 020 022 025 031 038 040 050 052 064 066 071 074 077 080 082 085 087 095 103 109 112 118 120 123 126 129 136

Spice Heritage Lukewarm Towards Politics What a Mum (Mak) and Dad (Bapak) Under the Dark Moon After the War DIY Kampong Style Kampong Naturalists Parasitic Paradise Malay to Mission School Religious Classes and Burial Service Parental Sacrifices Cancer and Bomoh Family Ties - Changing Preach but Did Not Practice Tarzan, Zorro, Cowboys and Collections Off to the Punjab The Flying Chapati Fly Flavoured Milk and Roadside Fine Dining Affordable Education The College of Animal Husbandry, Lahore First Taste of Snow Malaysian Students Association Lahore Cultural and Religious Shock I am Sir Your Obedient Servant Kedah’s Generous Gift to My Dad and Me Room for Two and The Red Vauxhall Victor Places of Informal Education Malay Meals Veterinary Assistant in Burnley and Locum in Liverpool Veterinary Officer in the HQ Kuala Lumpur

140 143 145 148 150 160 164 167 170 175 179 184 188 190 192 194 199 201 205 208 213 215 219 224 227 229 231 233 237 244 246 268 273 275 281 284 307 309 311 313 321 330 335 350 368

My Terengganu Darul Iman Stint Office With No Room for Research Tolerance in Terengganu The Popular Haunted House The Simplest Wedding in the World Musmina The Tiny Baby Australian Viruses Uncovered First Scuba Dive and Nearly the Last My Son The Development of University of Agriculture (UPM) Division Of Fisheries and Marine Science Liberal College Warden Returned to Government Service The Humongous Word Processor Organic Pollution Solutions Promoted as Director General Veterinary Professionals Field Services Royal Visit to a Farm Animal Welfare Brown Haired District Officer Contract Service Bukit Cerakah and Pulau Singa The OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) A Dedicated and Efficient PA My Two Identical Twins The Haj House to Call Our Own East Coast Business Culture My Corporate Ventures Promotion of International Trade Exhibitions and Conferences Other Corporate Experiences The Last Toast The Press Thirst for News Amateur Photojournalist Return to Nature Two Faithful Companions Concern for My Children Non-Academic Recognitions and Awards Royal Splendour Less Sports More Recreations The Encyclopedia of Malaysia Have Shoes Will Travel Friends Forever My Health

PART 2 376 378 380 383 385 387 389 396 399 402 405 409 411 413 415 417 419 421 423 426 431 433 436 438 441 443 445 447

The Wandering Mind Innovators, Water and Staple Food Wasted Experts and Biodiversity Dignity in Labour and Stages of Life Plans & Master Plans Regrets but Peace Must Prevail Are We That Tall? New Name for Planet Earth Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation What’s the Fuss About Biodiversity? The Dark Side of Technology Premise of A.I. Technology is Neutral Invasive Alien Species Juvenile Problems A Doctrine for Conflict Resolution The Next Social Media Platforms RIO + 20 Good Bye Earth Haste Make Waste Impact of Urban Biodiversity Jobs and Wealth Creation via Innovation Iconic Natural History Institute for Malaysia Bird Settle for Million Dollar Home Be Inspired and Learn From Mother Nature Why Glamorise Violence Bugs For Bucks Kuala Lumpur - Not Just Another City Science Must Transform War to Peace

462

Farewell

464

References

Just an Individual of a Species

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

Development of science should always be balanced. While there may be priorities, no one science can be developed at the expense of another. Science should be understood as a unity. This is particularly true today where different disciplines of science have come together for mutual support and some eventually will give birth to new fields and disciplines.

Speech by Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Launching of the Academy Sciences Malaysia, 1995

Just an Individual of a Species

iii

Just an Individual of a Species

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

Foreword Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee has a scientific mind. Over the years he has consistently and subtly expressed the view that “Homo Sapiens” is just another species among the millions of other species upon which she depended for her own survival. “Humans have qualified themselves above all other species, which she confirmed through her spiritual belief and supported by the scientific biological heirachy.”

Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid

However, Ahmad Mustaffa questions whether humans deserve the top position by their actions, which he sees as no different from other creatures. He concluded in one of his numerous lectures on biodiversity that “our top position in the hierarchy of species has to be earned by our actions (amalan)”. He argued that being at the top does not make one smart but being smart places us at the top. “As humans we are smart sometimes but not all the time.” He has published a book called “Glimpses of the Environment” showcasing his abiding interest in nature and the environment besides numerous articles on various issues in the local dailies. This autobiography is about the life of a man who humbly claims to be that of an average person, but the chapters tell us he has experienced variety in his life very much like his passion, the variety in biodiversity. He has immersed in varied backgrounds, which he refers to as “ecosystems”, from rural Kampong Raja

Just an Individual of a Species

in Kedah to urban Ayer Itam in Penang, and later as a student in Lahore, London, Brisbane and Stanford. He travelled extensively and recorded his adventures through his two books, ‘Glimpses of the World’ and ‘More Glimpses of the World’ illuminated with photos that he took himself. Mustaffa also published his scientific articles and photos mainly in the dailies, few annuals, and in local and international journals. He engineered me to be the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Encyclopedia of Malaysia (6th – 16th Volumes), where he was a most valuable member on “Matters Malaysia”. He loves to study and had spent almost 12 years studying in at least five universities in five different parts of the world. His thirst and quest for knowledge continues till this day. His scientific knowledge urges him to declare that humans are still ignorant of the ways of nature, which already already utilised the technology of the future. In a paper delivered at University Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), he spoke of Naturotechnology (Biomimicry), and expounds the need for us to copy or imitate nature’s sustainable ways for the survival of the planet. He even pleaded through the media to rename planet earth to Planet Aiequaterra, thereby reflecting the integration of the three major elements of air, water and earth. Ahmad Mustaffa had made significant contributions to the development of the animal industry in Malaysia and veterinary science globally. He has mentioned little in this book of his work in these fields, as he had published a 954-page book on ‘The History and Development of the Animal Industry and Veterinary Services Malaysia’ launched in 1994 by the Prime Minister Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad (now Tun), a few days before Mustaffa’s retirement from government service. This reference book, which he contributed, compiled, and edited contains a wealth of information on the contribution of other authors for the animal industry and veterinary science. Ahmad Mustaffa will be remembered well for his all-round contributions to science, education, environmental conservation, and international trade expos. At the most human level, he has a great sense of humor. His numerous articles, essays, and the awards and accolades he had received attest to these statements. He confessed that he has little to give but a great deal to ask about the creator and the universe. When asked why the title of his autobiography is ‘Just an individual of a species’, he responded: “There are over 7 billion individuals, each with their own thoughts. We should gather bits by bits facts that have been neglected and bring them to the fore. “ I was Chief Secretary to the Government (1990-1996) when he was the Director General of Veterinary Services. He served the public service with distinction, and retired from service with honour, dignity, and impeccable integrity. Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid Chairman, Foundation for Literary and Creative Arts 10th January 2018 vi

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Ahmad Mustaffa Dr Babjee PSM DPMP; DPMT; DSPN; JMN; SMT; KMN; PJK BSc (AH), U Punjab; MRCVS, U Lond; MSc, USM; SEP (Standford) USA; PhD (U Qld); Hon DVSc (U Qld); Hon DSc (UPM); Hon DSc (UMT)

Just an Individual of a Species

vii

Just an Individual of a Species

Preface Initially I was not so keen to undertake writing my own biography when I was 75 years plus and afflicted by health problems. Many factors pushed me including an unwritten obligation to Academy of Science Malaysia for senior fellows to share their experiences. Sometime in early 2012 with some trepidation I sketched my life history knowing that autobiographies are the realms of the famous or infamous people. The truth is who is going to write about the average guy like me if I don’t. The contents are mainly of activities and events recollected and research between 2012 to 2015 with some sprinkling of events that took place up to end of 2018. Tun Ahmad Sarji was among friends that encouraged the task of making public the general and some special part of one’s life. I am grateful to Tun for the forward and the inspiration. I belong to a series of social classes throughout my life, from poor to upper middleclass, though during a period some had the notion I belonged to the Malaysia Tatler 500 group. Whatever that means! Knowing people from all walks of life I realise that I am just one of not less than 70 billion individuals of the species, biologically labeled as Homo sapiens. It is less common to come across a published autobiography of the middle class or the unknown poor. Everybody’s life is interesting. We all go through all sorts of experiences that bring moments of joy, sadness, pain, guilt, and pleasure. Only we know who we really are. We need not share all our experiences with the public, but we should share the ones we believe will be useful for society. This does not mean that we should only tell the nice things about ourselves and make the autobiography an ode to oneself. As one ages the biological decay of all the cells in the body proceeds and one of the consequences of this is that one’s recollections of the past becomes dimmer and dimmer. I now regret that I did not record most of my earlier experiences. The greatest of my regrets was my lack of inquisitiveness of my ancestral heritage. I do not know exactly who my great grandparents were. This will remain a mystery to my children and me. The biggest handicap was the loss of important notes, documents and books during the shifting of the house after the demise of my wife. The periods that have tremendous impact on my life were when I was 4 to 8 years old as a true kampong (village) boy in Kampong Raja and Sungai Petani, Kedah. The other was when I was 19 to 24 years old as a student in the Veterinary College, Lahore, Punjab University, then West Pakistan. My expressed recollections will naturally be what gave me both immense joy and pain. However, I will also squeeze whatever left in my temporal lobe neurons to share stuff that may appear mundane in one’s life but significant to others. Some of them

viii

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

are naturally more difficult to extract from the old and slow hard disk churning in my biological central processing unit (CPU). I had on purpose repeated that progress and development should follow nature’s technology. As an adult I had led a varied life, serving the government, universities, corporate, international and non-governmental organisations for not less than 50 years since the age of 24. My positions in public and private sectors gave me the opportunity to travel widely and to meet paupers, presidents and princes all over the world. Excluding the countries where I transited, I have set foot on the soil of at least 50 countries. This autobiography will only capture less than 50 to 55 % of my varied life while another 5% can be found in the four coffee table books I had written in 1994 -1995. Another source that specifically reflected my contributions to the veterinary and animal production sectors can be found in the 950 page book entitled “The History, Development, and Prospects of the Animal Industry and the Veterinary Services in Malaysia” published in 1994. That book, which I commissioned, contributed, and edited in conjunction with the Centenary Celebrations of the Department of Veterinary Services celebration, was launched by Prime Minister Dato Sri Dr Mahathir Mohamed (Tun), just a few days before my retirement from government service. Tan Sri Dato Seri Sanusi Junid, the Bibliophile Minister of Agriculture then also encouraged his staff to write so that parts of the past can be remembered through many lenses. Quite a bit of my thoughts and passion for nature and the environment were expressed in the publications of the NST Group and the Star since 1973 till now, and my corporate activities can be found in the main-stream media especially between 1995 to 2005. The rest of my story will remain a mystery to those who do not know me but bits and pieces (lots of it) will I am sure be recollected better by my relatives, friends and acquaintances. This book is divided into two sections, the first is about events in my life more or less in chronological order and the second expressed my thoughts in a free society on welfare, science and technology in particular. Science will have to find a way for a green durian to appear green when the 7+ billion pairs of eyes are looking at the fruit through 7+ billion coloured glasses. “History can be formed from permanent monuments and records; but Lives can only be written from personal knowledge, which is growing every day less, and in a short time is lost for ever.” (Johnson Biographical 1781). Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee Bukit Damansara 2018

Just an Individual of a Species

Dedication Dedicated to the Ahmad Al Bakish “clan”, my loving and dedicated mother Khatum Mastan, my caring and exemplary father, Dr Sheikh Mohd Babjee Ahmad Al Bakish, my coherent brothers, Ir Ahmad Din Civil Engineer, Police Commissioner Dato Ahmad Maulana, Ahmad Shukoor Headmaster, Associate Professor Dr S.M. Amin, SAC Mohd Yousoff, Professor Dr Abdul Salam, Dr Salim and sisters Nur Jehan, Nur Bahari, Sakina, Zainab Bee, my most loving daughter and son, Musmina and Shamyl, my loving and ever beautiful wife, Puan Sri Datin Sharifah Aminah, the children from her first marriage: Tengku Nasaruddin, Tengku Noor Alina, Tengku Ismail, and Tengku Shahriman, my angelic step-mother Fatimah and all dear spouses of my brothers and sisters, relatives, local and foreign friends, co-workers, teachers, professors, Ustaz and bosses who knew part of my inner and outer self enough to accept me as a friend.

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

Just an Individual of a Species

Spice Heritage

16. Off to the Punjab

29. Veterinary Officer in the HQ Kuala Lumpur

2. Lukewarm Towards Politics

17. The Flying Chapati

3. What a Mum (Mak) and Dad (Bapak)

18. Affordable Education

30. My Terengganu Darul Iman Stint

4. Under the Dark Moon

19. The College of Animal Husbandry, Lahore

31. Office With No Room for Research

5. After the War

20. First Taste of Snow

32. Tolerance in Terengganu

6. DIY Kampong Style

21. Malaysian Students Association Lahore

33. The Popular Haunted House

Kampong Naturalists

8. Parasitic Paradise 9. Malay to Mission School 10. Religious Classes and Burial Service 11. Parental Sacrifices

22. Cultural and Religious Shock 23. I am Sir Your Obedient Servant 24. Kedah’s Generous Gift to My Dad and Me

12. Cancer and Bomoh

25. Room for Two and The Red Vauxhall Victor

13. Family Ties - Changing

26. Places of Informal Education

14. Preach but Did Not Practice

27. Malay Meals

15. Tarzan, Zorro, Cowboys and Collections

28. Veterinary Assistant in Burnley and Locum in Liverpool

34. The Simplest Wedding in the World 35. Musmina The Tiny Baby 36. Australian Viruses Uncovered 37. First Scuba Dive and Nearly the Last 38. My Son 39. The Development of University of Agriculture (UPM) 40. Division of Fisheries and Marine Science

41. Liberal College Warden 42. Returned to Government Service 43. The Humongous Word Processor 44. Organic Pollution Solutions 45. Promoted as Director General 46. Veterinary Professionals 47. Field Services 48. Royal Visit to a Farm 49. Animal Welfare 50. Brown Haired District Officer

54. A Dedicated and Efficient PA

68. Non-Academic Recognitions and Awards

55. My Two Identical Twins

69. Royal Splendour

56. The Haj

70. Less Sports More Recreations

57. House to Call Our Own 58. East Coast Business Culture

71. The Encyclopedia of Malaysia

59. My Corporate Ventures

72. Have Shoes Will Travel

60. Promotion of International Trade Exhibitions and Conferences

73. Friends Forever

61. Other Corporate Experiences 62. The Last Toast 63. The Press Thirst for News

51. Contract Service

64. Amateur Photojournalist

52. Bukit Cerakah and Pulau Singa

65. Return to Nature

53. The OIE (World Organization for Animal Health)

66. Two Faithful Companions 67. Concern for My Children

74. My Health

Just an Individual of a Species

Chapter 1

Spice Heritage

For about nine months I floated in the dark and when I saw the light and breathed the air, I cried. It must have all began around the 1st of November 1936 I guess that one of the 50 – 300 million of my dad’s virile sperm found my mother’s fully developed descending ova that resulted in the conceptualisation of their 6th child. On the 31st July 1937 I was delivered by a midwife, Tome Arshad, at No. 27 Merican Road, Penang. She wrapped the severed umbilical cord and the expelled placenta bathed in blood, amniotic and allantoic fluids, in banana leaf and rags, and quickly buried them in the soil behind the house. Dr Babjee Ahmad and Khatum Mastan decided to bless their sixth child with the name Ahmad Mustaffa (The choice of God). As my dad was busy with work in Kedah, the midwife registered my birth with the Registrar of Births on the 3rd, August 1937, unfortunately leaving the Child Name’s column blank. Thus officially I had no legal name till the 17th November 1949 when my father had to make a sworn declaration in front of the Magistrate in Sungei Petani and for some reason again before Mr R. Dorai Raju, the Commissioner for Oaths, Supreme Court of Penang on the 31st July 1962 to confirm that the child born at Merican Road was Ahmad Mustaffa. In addition to the blank left in the name column, the midwife reported my mum’s and dad’s race as Bengali. The Malays, at least in Penang refer to Sikhs as Bengalis but for sure my grandparents were not Sikhs. I don’t blame the midwife for the assumption as my parent’s features were more of

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

the Indian Sub-Continent profile than Malay. It makes no difference what part of the world I originated. I am proud to be Malaysitan. These inaccurate entries were also rectified in my Dad’s sworn statements. Of the 12 children, none of Babjee’s other children had serious problems with their names or birth certificates. Remarkably in those days all the babies were delivered at home by midwives (bidan). Today most would-be parents would have booked their hospital rooms and their chosen specialists well in advance of their baby’s arrival. The home-delivery of some babies still occurred unexpectedly or in motorcars and with no negative health consequences. Such remarks usually of delivery without professional help will no doubt draw a flack from women. My wife remarked, “you give birth next time” when I tried to preach the benefits of going back to the traditional practice. Now giving birth in a maternity ward is natural. The birth of another sibling in a family always becomes gossip especially among the aunties – “He looks like his mother” said one. Another rebutted, “No his fair skin is like his Mum, but his features are out of the mould of his Dad” and in between the chewing of raw tobacco or betel leaves the arguments continued while little Mustaffa slept. I grew on mother’s milk as was with all my mother’s children. Even after my immediate younger brother was born, I clung on to mum’s bosom and suckle the best nutritional liquid nature provided competing with my younger brother. In fact, when I was 8 years I would still suckle when my mum was breast-feeding the newest arrival. Up to the 1950’s breast-feeding in the open was not a curiosity grab of attention by seekers of news or social media. “Features alone do not run in the blood; vices and virtues, genius and folly, are transmitted through the same sure but unseen channel.” – William Hazlitt

Just an Individual of a Species

Statutory Declaration (1949) to fill the blanks and made corrections in my original birth certificate. Note the quality of the paper.

It was with some perturbation I pen down my lineage based on flimsy verbal information and lack of records about my ancestors. My paternal grandfather Ahmad Al Bakish was I suspect of mixed Indian (possibly Gujerati) with Arab blood (possibly Hydramaut). Grandfather Ahmad can pass off for a Malay more than an Indian or Arab in the portrait probably because of the songkok he was wearing. I have no clue

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

how the Al Bakish came to be attached to his name. One thing I am sure of was that some members of my great grandfather’s family were converted Muslims from India. His wife, my paternal grandmother Khatijah Bee was I guess of Indian-Malay blood. This couple produced four sons; Dr S.M. Baboo, S.M. Noor, S.M. Abdul Karim and Dr (Veterinary) S.M. Babjee (born 05-11-1907) and three daughters, Aishah Bee, Fatimah Bee and Aishama. Except for Abdul Karim who had no sibling, the other three sons of Ahmad Al Bakish and daughter Khatijah Bee, proved to be virile and highly productive. Their eldest son, my most senior uncle Dr S.M. Baboo was one of the early Malay doctors. He married Tengku Rahimah Tengku Mohd Radin of Satun who delivered nine children, Kamaluddin, Sona Jan, Noor Kathoom, Nor Zaiton, Arrifin, Latifah, Halidah, Faridah and Ferial. My grandpa another son, my uncle S.M. Noor who married my mother’s sister Zubaidah had eleven children, Sidek, Rahim, Mohiyudin (Babjan), Gulab Jan (Gula Bee), Rokiah, Khairuddin (Omar), Zaleha, Katijah, Ahmad Din, Zarina Jan, and Izuddin. His first child was Fatimah Bee (Bibi) from his first marriage to Siti Zainab. Ahmad Al Bakish youngest child, Dr S.M. Babjee married Khatum Mastan and they had twelve children – thirteen, as one was accidentally aborted. It looks like the Ahmad Al Bakish “clan” truly believed in “cheaper by the dozen” Having lots of children was the norm in those days. Al Bakish eldest daughter, Aishah Bee married Mr Matloob Khan, a wealthy businessman living in York Road, Penang but she died after bearing two daughters, Banoon and Laila and a son Noor Khan. After Aishah’s demise, Matloob Khan married her younger sister Aishama. The third daughter Fatimah Bee was married to Abdul Karim Al-Idrus, and they had two daughters, Sharifah Zubaidah and Sharifah Nor. So, my parent’s clan were close knitted – almost tribal. One thing characteristic of them was that none of the Ahmad Al Bakish clan had more than one wife except to replace their deceased partners and that too they preferred the sisters of their wives. This “tribal” practice I suppose was common in those days. Aishama was the only surviving paternal auntie that I remember well. She had no live child of her own but had adopted a child she named Ugir. We addressed her as Khala, which in Hindi means auntie. She was a typical sentimentalist, always wanting and expecting to be doted upon by her nieces and nephews. I was one of her favourites as she doted on me a great deal and I love her dearly and was close to her partly because her brother was my dad. She cried at the slightest sign of imagined negligence, after her husband, Matloob Khan died she became even more emotional each time close relatives visited her. I remember her fondly sitting near one of the windows looking onto York Road, always sniffing at a knot made on her handkerchief soaked in 4711 Eau de Cologne. During Hari Raya, her Pulut Kacau (glutinous rice in red sugar) and halua masket were the best traditional delicacies I had ever tasted.

Just an Individual of a Species

According to one source my paternal grandfather, Ahmad Al Bakish (Albakish) was one of the Malay Police Officer pioneers who died in Japanese hands after being tortured during the Japanese occupation. I hope one of us could search the police archives to confirm this bit of information. Though I am opportunistic about getting any bit of information, we should keep searching. I even have less information about my maternal grandparents. My maternal grandfather was Mastan who was first married to a lady named Zainab. I do not know of any siblings from the first marriage. Mastan later married my maternal grandmother (Siti Zainab) who adopted a Japanese lady known by her pet name as Khatty. From this union, Mastan had four children, Khatum (my mother), Zubaidah, and Bahanum, and their only brother Yusof. All their children were fair-complexion presumably from the Japanese genes of my maternal grandmother. Her background remains a mystery at least to our family. I could not get facts about my maternal great grandfather either, except that his name was Mastan. I never got to see both my paternal and maternal grandparents as they all died before I was born or when I was still a toddler. Zubaidah, my mum’s sister, married my dad’s elder brother S.M. Noor after his first wife Siti Zainab died after delivering a daughter (Bibi). However, my maternal auntie Zubaidah bore him 13 children of which 11 survived to adulthood. My other maternal auntie Bainum married Kadir Mydin, and this pair had three boys; Karim, Latiff, and Rashid. Bainum died a young lady. Then Kadir married another lady by the name of Majan Wahed Miah and they had 11 children, Dr Samad, Jamilah, Tamnah Khatum, Zurina, Laila Khatum, Haque, Faridah, Bismillah. Khala Mina, their grandmother was also my grandmother in practice. She doted her love on all. S.M. Babjee Ahmad and Khatum Mastan were married in June 1930 at York Road, Penang. A group photo taken on or close to the wedding day showed my dad clad in a grey western suit and a “Nehru cross Javanese songkok” while my Mum was dressed in a sari with a head cover. The costumes worn by my dad and mum and close relatives as shown in the photo confirmed our strong cultural links with India. Readers may wonder why I went some length to attempt explaining my heritage. I hope to encourage the new generation to converse with our elders about the past, unlike me who missed the boat plus the benefit of their wisdom. My parent’s first child was a boy, Ahmad Din (Ir), followed by a girl, Nur Jehan, then another girl Nur Baharee, then a boy Ahmad Maulana (Datuk), and followed by another girl, Sakina and then me. My mother was extremely fertile, so was my father. After me there was a tragedy when the family lost a sibling from an abortion. Indirectly I was the cause of the abortion as I was told that my mother slipped and fell near a well while looking for me. But God was quick to bless and compensate her with another 6 children, Ahmad Shukor, Sheik Mohd Amin (Dr), Zainab, Mohd Yousoff, Abdul Salam (Dr) and the last child, Mohd Salim (Dr). Five of their children were born in Sungei Petani, Kedah where Dr Babjee worked most of his life as a Government Veterinarian.

An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

I had the privilege of getting part of the care and attention of not just my parents, my brothers, and sisters but also the affections of my aunties, uncles and cousins. However, I never got to know the love of either maternal or paternal blood grandparents. Too late but I now regret a great deal. I never took the trouble to ask my parents or my uncles of my spiced heritage and life in Penang in the 1800s. That my dad and mum occasionally spoke to each other and their brothers and sisters in Hindi, further strengthened the premise my parents have strong ancestry links to the northern part of the Indian Subcontinent. Sadly, I know not of the exact origin of my genes. The blood that runs in my vein is no doubt like the curry of the original nasi kandar – campur semua. So, what’re my roots? I guess primarily some part of Middle to Northen India with a sprinkling of Arab blood, Malay and some incidental Japanese genes from the maternal side. This is clear till today in the varied appearances of the members of the Ahmad Al Bakish clan. The reality was kids and teens then did not see value outside the history book. Only now I keep on hammering my head who were my paternal grandparent, Ahmad Al Bakish, Mastan and wife Khatty? What were their occupations? I went on the Internet to find out about Mastans. I was quite shocked initially to find out that the most famous Mastan (Mirza) was a Bombay gangster and smuggler of the 1960-1970s, now being made famous by a Bollywood film. Well, I traced one Mastan on the net but fortunately or unfortunately he was not my maternal grandfather as the latter died way back in the 1940s. I will continue to look for clues to find the ingredients of my family’s blood so that the younger generations can look back and realise that we are what we are and be proud of our heritage. One thing for sure Hindustani’s blood run thick in our veins for till today (up to my generation at least) we address our elder brothers with the Hindi prefixes Bai, our elder sisters Bo and our uncles and aunties Caca and Cachi or Khala and Khalu. To simplify my heritage, I belong to the Penang Mamak clan. Should the reference genetic maps of the various races of Malaysia becomes available and affordable, they will tempt one of my relatives to map my genome and search for clues of our true mixed and uncertain ancestry. To the present generation, I strongly recommend the keeping of an electronic diary to avoid trying to recollect most things from tired brains and unlabeled photos retrieved from dusty termite-attacked boxes. Better still, start writing your experiences regularly, for everything in life is interesting and important at one time or another. One does not have to be a President or Prime Minister to unfold and share one’s exciting life experiences. My neglect of my ancestry’s history prompted me to encourage my children and nephews and nieces to start digging the past and connecting to build our family tree especially now that the facilities on the internet are available. One of my nephews Mohd Hanif Din kicked off the project and at the time of writing over 500 members of the Ahmad Al Bakish 4th and 5th generations are connected. My nephew, Dato Dr Zulkifli Ismail is also trying hard to trace our ancestry. I hope he will make any corrections or add accuracy to the information to get nearer the whole truth.

Just an Individual of a Species

The Author Tan Sri Dato Dr Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee was the 6th child of the 12 children of Babjee and Khatom Mastan. Mustaffa, as he was fondly called by members of his clan and friends, was a cheeky lad. His character was moulded principally by the environment and comradely in the family. He had been exposed to various challenges as a child, as a student, working adult and as an old retired science-loving person. He loved the outdoors for photography and indoors for reading and writing. His dream was planetary peace and friendship.

Many books are sold. Some are never opened, some are flipped through and others carried decorative bookmarks to remind the reader where he left days or years ago. A true reader grimaced, smile, laugh, and even cry through the pages. - Mustaffa Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. - Bacon Nature knows no pause in progress and development and attaches her curse on all inaction. - Goethe There are three difficulties in authorship: to write anything worth publishing, to find honest man to publish it, and to get sensible men to read it. - Colton

Just an Individual of a Species: An Autobiography of Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee

Articles inside

After the War

Spice Heritage

Lukewarm Towards Politics

DIY Kampong Style

Under the Dark Moon