Abang Mohd Shibli (second row centre), Suhing on his right and former schoolmates pose for a group photo during the reunion.
SIBU: The connectivity afforded by social media applications enabled former students of SK Abang Ali, SMK Methodist and SMK Rosli Dhoby to reconnect with a reunion on Saturday.
The event, dubbed ‘Reunion@55’, saw around 70 ex-schoolmates from the late 60s and early 70s gathered at a leading hotel here.
Reunion committee chairman Datu Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Mohd Nailie said the reunion would not have been such a resounding success had it not been for Facebook and WhatsApp, which greatly facilitated the organising of the gathering.
He explained that they decided on the inaugural reunion ‘@55’ as the majority of them were born in 1962, and are now 55 years old.
“We feel grateful that we can get together tonight (Saturday) through WhatsApp and Facebook. We created our WhatsApp group (chat) for this purpose so that we connect (with each other) anywhere and anytime.
“Tonight (Saturday), we are all very touched and somewhat emotional having not seen each other for the last 40 years or so,” said Abang Mohd Shibli, who is Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak general manager.
“We pray and hope that tonight’s reunion will not be the last, but will be the beginning of more and better reunions to come.
“We chose Sibu for the reunion because all three schools – SK Abang Ali, SMK Methodist and SMK Rosli Dhoby – are located here in Sibu,” he added.
The reunion gathered ex-students, from Putrajaya, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Borneo.
“This event means so much to each and every one of us because it reminds us never to forget our roots and where we come from.
“It also provides us with the precious opportunity to reminisce over the old days and share the colourful stories of our lives journey.”
The evening was filled with numerous exciting programmes such as sing-alongs, dancing and lucky draws.
‘Reunion@55’ committee advisor Datin Suhing Bujang as well as former teachers of SK Abang Ali, Nancy Chieng Mee Hiong (1972-1987) and Josephine Wong Ho Hua (1972-1988), were also present.