Mustapha Besar

Many who came in 1957 became known to me as I stayed on until 1967. Amongst them was Mustapha Besar who was registered as a student in 1957 and he left after completing his JC Junior Sarawak, and Senior Cambridge. His address then was Kp Sekolah Melayu, Limbang and his father being En.Besar Bin Sulaiman.

Mustapha's birthday was 7th February 1947. On paper, thus, he was younger than I by a year.

Mustapha was a jovial type of chap. Musical and a good guitarist as well as a singer. I would go on to be part of his life when he came back from Canada to teach in Limbang Secondary School in 1972. Then by dint of fate, we were together in London to read law. Somehow our lives intertwined in so many ways.

As our friendship went back so far , we could never but be respectful of each other and continue to chuckle as we recounted all those by gone days when friends could share just kopi o and hard osborne biscuits in small hostel rooms where four boys would sleep and learn.

In later years, Mustapha became a Datu and a leading politician in Sarawak. However his love for music continued to be part of his lifestyle. Once I visited him in Kuching and I was amazed by his collection of music and hi fi...if he could, or if he were a Sultan, he would have a concert hall built in his astana.

I would always remember him as a friend whose face would light whenever we talked about the old days which were filled with poverty and music which spiced our life...just six strings to bring music to the others and we would sing out heart out......

Miss you Mus....