THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 Installation of Yang di-Pertua Negri

Good role model Penang’s newly installed head of state, Tun , is known among ex-schoolmates from Bukit Mertajam High School as being friendly and ready to contribute to charitable causes in aid of underprivileged students. 2 Installation of Penang TYT , TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021

Ahmad Fuzi saluting the Second Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment before being sworn in as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negri of Penang at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town. With him are Khadijah, Chow and his wife Tan Lian Kee. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star Humble, friendly head of state

By IMRAN HILMY Ahmad Fuzi was sworn in as the eighth [email protected] Yang di-Pertua Negri of Penang at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town on Labour Day. HUMBLE, polite and intelligent. These are He succeeded Tun , some of the traits Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul who had served as the state’s seventh Razak’s former classmates believe will stand governor for 20 years since 2001. him in good stead as Penang’s eighth Yang Ahmad Fuzi will serve a four-year term as di-Pertua Negri. the head of state. One of his ex-classmates at Bukit State Secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar Mertajam High School (HSBM) Anthony Ang, announced the appointment while Penang 72, said both he and Ahmad Fuzi were in High Court Judge Datuk Seri Tun Abdul Form 5A in 1966. Majid Tun Hamzah witnessed the swearing- “I still can remember his smart hair cut, in ceremony. and neatly worn school uniforms. Present were former Deputy Prime “He was always tidy and presentable in Minister Tun Musa Hitam and his wife, school,” he said in an interview. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ang, a former teacher, said apart from Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, his smart appearance, Ahmad Fuzi was also Penang Chief Minister , humble and friendly. Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad “During my school days, I was quite a Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief loner as I come from a poor family. Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy and other “Tun Ahmad Fuzi never chose his friends dignitaries. based on background or race. He was always Ahmad Fuzi arrived at Dewan Sri Pinang nice to me. at about 9.45am, accompanied by his consort “We would eat and play together. We Toh Puan Khadijah Mohd Noor. even shared our food. Until today, he would The ceremony started with Ahmad Fuzi call me ‘bro’ whenever we meet each other,” Ahmad Fuzi (right) with his ex-classmates when they visited their former teacher Stanley inspecting the guard of honour mounted by he said. Chew (seated, second left) at his house in June 2019. Chew taught them Mathematics in the Second Battalion of the Royal Malay Ang, who now lives in Tanjung Tokong Form 4 and Form 5. Regiment, comprising three officers and with his wife, said whenever he was in 103 soldiers, before being ushered into the , Ahmad Fuzi would invite Fuzi would never miss the chance to mark April 30 as ‘Governor’s Day’ in ceremonial hall. him over to his house. contribute toward the cause each year,” honour of his appointment and remarkable During the ceremony, Ahmad Fuzi was “Actually, I lost touch with him after he said. achievement. conferred the Darjah Utama Pangkuan Form 5 as we went separate ways. Sundaresan, who is now a teacher in “We hope to invite all his ex-classmates to Negeri (DUPN), which carries the title “He went to SMK Anderson in Ipoh HSBM, said as a liaison officer of the school an event at school and perhaps each one of Datuk Seri Utama. while I remained in HSBM and did my alumni, he would meet Ahmad Fuzi quite them can tell stories about Ahmad Fuzi as a He also signed the instrument of Form Six. often during reunion dinners. form of motivation to the students. office. “About four years ago, I started to gather “He is a role model to our students. We are “However, this will largely depend on the The swearing-in was followed by a many of our ex-classmates for a reunion. all happy and proud of him. We think he is latest development of the Covid-19 situation 17-cannon salute as a symbolic mark of “We managed to draw a total of 50 the best person to hold the post of Yang as we are still under the movement control his appointment. ex-students for the get-together. From di-Pertua Negri,” he said. order,” he said. On Friday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong then on, we have been in touch,” he said. HSBM Alumni (Penang chapter) chairman The Sungai Bakap-born Ahmad Fuzi Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Another former schoolmate K. Datuk Aloysius Gasper, 59, said Ahmad Fuzi joined the Diplomatic and Administrative Billah Shah presented the instrument of Sundaresan, 57, described Ahmad Fuzi as never failed to attend all of their functions, Service in 1972, serving on various capacities appointment as the eighth Yang di-Pertua a helpful person who was ever willing to especially if they are held in Penang. at the Foreign Ministry before retiring in Negri of Penang to Ahmad Fuzi in a help anyone, anytime. “Every year, we will have our dinner on 2009. ceremony at Istana Negara. “Every festive season such as Hari Raya, ‘Founders Day’ on Jan 18, and he is sure to The former Wisma Putra secretary-general Sultan Abdullah also conferred the Chinese New Year and Deepavali, the alumni be present,” he said. also served at the Malaysian missions in Darjah Kebesaran Seri Maharaja Mangku will arrange financial aid for underprivi- He said the alumni was proud of Ahmad Moscow, the Hague, Canberra, Washington Negara, which carries the title Tun, to leged students at the school and Tun Ahmad Fuzi that they had proposed to the school to and Dhaka. Ahmad Fuzi.

Ahmad Fuzi (third from left) with his former hostelmates in his schooldays (From left) Good friends Ahmad Fuzi, Dr Lee Kok Seng and Ang at HSBM. at their HSBM school reunion dinner in Penang in July 2019. THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 Installation of Penang TYT 3

Ahmad Fuzi taking his oath as Yang di-Pertua Negri in George Town, Penang. — Buletin Mutiara Ahmad Fuzi signing the instrument of office.

The Yang di-Pertua Negri and his consort accompanied by Chow (middle) at the swearing-in ceremony at Dewan Sri Pinang. —

Sultan Abdullah presenting the instrument of appointment as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negri of Penang to Ahmad Fuzi with Abdul Rahman (right) at the ceremony in Penang. Ahmad Fuzi at Istana Negara. — Bernama

The newly appointed Yang di-Pertua Negri inspecting the guard of honour at Dewan Sri Pinang.

Ahmad Fuzi and Khadijah arriving at Istana Negara. — Bernama 4 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 5 6 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 7 8 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 9 10 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021 11 12 THE STAR, TUESDAY 4 MAY 2021