Hasmirology: The Third Installment

After hibernating for slightly more than three years due to an unpleasant letter written by two ladies, guess what, this column is back! And no one is more appropriate to be our “first” guest to celebrate the rebirth of this column, than Hasmiron Hamdan. The only one to appear twice on tamu arenaKu.


tamu arenaKu: First of all, selamat hari jadi… selamat hari jadi… selamat hari jadi… selamat hari jadi!
Hasmiron Hamdan: Thank you, thank you. Thank you for reminding me that I’m no longer in my 20s.

ta: Time really flies, isn’t it! It’s already 5 years from the last time we had you. So, how’s life now?
HH: Can’t be better than this, mate. I’m more more happy than ever. I believe my family is happy too. And would love to believe that all my friends are in good shapes, and not forget to mention, sizes too. I got the keys for my new apartment recently and now in the process to move in. A bit nervous of course… this is the first time I’ll be living all by myself. Anxious, I can say.

ta: Any major plans in the pipeline?
HH: Of course, my dear. I’ve a number of major plans to be executed in this year and the next two years. I’ve been planning for quite some time. Had not only second, but third and fourth thought to ensure that these can be implemented smoothly. And like people say, “Kita hanya merancang”. Anyhow, insya-Allah… insya-Allah.

ta: What’s it all about?
HH: Betterment. Pursuit of betterment.

ta: Come on, don’t be stingy. Give us some light. Family? Career?
HH: I’m sorry, mate. Can’t disclose anything at this juncture.

ta: I heard of something to happen in July or December 2007. Care to share with us?
HH: Once again, I’ve nothing to offer at this point of time.

ta: Shall we talk about the poison letter?
HH: I’m not so sure whether I want to talk about this subject. Nevertheless, I’m very pleased and happy to know that the panel found it baseless and unfounded and decided to close the case. Although it affected me emotionally and financially, I’ve no hard feeling to these two ladies. I wish them all the best in their undertakings and may Allah bless them with more hidayah. And I hope there will be no third person to receive such letter them in the future. Aamin.

ta: No hard feeling?
HH: Not at all. Can we change subject?

ta: You’re driving now? How it feels to have own transport?
HH: (Big smile) It’s just a small cute car with two doors. Three doors actually. But unfortunately, I don’t enjoy driving in KL, especially during weekdays. It takes me about 30-40 minutes from my house to the office if I go out around 7.00-7.15 a.m. and about 75-80 minutes to return home if I go out 6.15-6.30 p.m. But it’s not 17-20 minutes if I go home around 10 p.m. Well, it’s a good indicator for my driving pleasure, right? Oh… one more thing. Don’t ask direction from me. I just know to go to my office and direction to balik kampung. And a few places around Pandan Indah. I got lost twice in my way to my grandma’s in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. Aiyo… memalukan!

ta: You really need to drive more. The more you drive, more lost you got, the better KL driver you are.
HH: Totally agree.

ta: Are you still a big fan of Ogy? Sambal ikan bilis? John Grisham? Jafar Panahi?
HH: It has been quite a while from the last time I watched Jafar Panahi’s film. The Mirror, if I’m not mistaken. Yeap, I’m still a big fan of Fauziah Datuk Ahmad Daud. Enjoy very much listening to songs composed by Azlan Abu Hassan, song sang by Ning Baizura, Adibah Noor, Jamal Abdillah, Ramli Sarip, Ramlah Ram, Nora, Dayang Nurfaizah, Dina, Mawi and the wonderful sisters – Azlina Aziz & Liza Aziz.I also enjoy watching Yasmin Ahmad’s films, not so sure, is it because of her narration style or Sharifah Amani’s acting. I love Mislina Mustaffa. She’s great in Sepet, Muhsin and Puaka Tebing Biru! Can’t wait to watch her in a telemovie, which I can’t remember the title but she will be starring with Namron, another good actor. For my reading pleasure, I also read Faisal Tehrani’s, Peter Mayle’s and Mitch Albom’s.

ta: And you collecting LRT pass?
HH: (Big laugh) I also collecting limited edition coins. Coin in Education by Bank Negara Malaysia and Royal Mint. I have the endangered species and marine & reptilian series. Don’t laugh, okay. I’ve been collecting LRT passes since November 2002. At that time, it was only RM70 but now it’s RM90. And you can use for both Star LRT and Putra LRT. I know they have changed the names but still prefer call them with old names.

ta: I heard of you organizing an amazing AMA party. Tak jemput pun!
HH: Amazing ke? Malu lah… It was supposed to be a small party, but everybody seems to bring a few friends along, so it turned out to be a bigger group. Yang penting, Ning Baizura menang besar! M. Nasir was there too. Boleh tahan lah. We had big stars joining us at Dynasty Hotel. Jaclyn Victor, Adibah Noor, Siti Nurhaliza, Mawi & Flop Poppy. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors. I really really appreciate it.

ta: I guess more parties after this? Jemput tau!
HH: Hmmm… biarlah rahsia!

ta: Over lah!
HH: (Big laugh) Don’t you remember, darling… I love to surprise people. That’s my forte, kan? And frankly speaking… I don’t know. I really don’t know. You know what… I feel old, now. Seriously, I feel really really old. And tired too.

ta: How about your family?
HH: They are doing very well. My second sister has just finished her degree, alhamdulillah with good grade, probably will start working in one or two month’s time. The other three are still schooling. My parents seem happier than ever. Well, that is before I cancel the family trip. Did I say cancel? I would love to believe that I just postponed it to a later date. You know, my new apartment requires more and more money for this and that. Gempar!

ta: Another catchy punch line?
HH: Oh…. no, no. It’s no mine and I don’t know who created it but I got it from my friends. There are others like “sentap”, “murah… murah… murah…” “suka2x suka2x” (Laugh) They’re so great with catchy phrases!

ta: Share with us your 5-year plan.
HH: A family of my own, together with my beloved parents and siblings to inspire me tremendously to realise my dream.

ta: Which one? Novelist? Filmmaker?
HH: My dream, my dream.

ta: Okay lah… we better stop before you start to become annoying. So last word, please.
HH: (Laugh) Siut! Ops… sorry. Once again, thank you for having me for the third time. I really appreciate it. May Allah bless us with more rahmat, berkat and joy. Aamin. And Happy Mother’s Day to my beloved Mak and all mothers in this world. Thank you for being mothers. And not forgotten, Happy Teacher’s Day to my late grandfather, Allahyarham Cikgu Jaafar, my teachers from Tabika KEMAS Bachang, Tengkera English School, Sekolah Rendah Agama Pasir Puteh, Malacca High School, Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar, MARA College Banting and University of Manchester and other teachers as well. Lots of love from me.

ta: Goodbye…
HH: And Happy Birthday to Sdra. Amir Imran (9th) and Sdri. Suriani (14th) and those who celebrating their birthday on Teacher’s Day, and that’s include Sdra. Amiruddin, Prierce Brosnan & Janet Jackson.

ta: Done?
HH: (Smile) Yeap.

ta: Thank you and goodbye.
HH: Sama-sama.