KUCHING: A teacher will always be a teacher – this spirit was deeply felt as 120 retired educators gathered for a special reunion here, celebrating their lasting legacy in shaping young minds and building the nation.
The reunion was hosted by Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, and her husband, Datuk Dr Adi Badiozaman Tuah, both of whom are former educators, at their residence along Jalan Bakti, Petra Jaya.
Held on the meaningful occasion of Labour Day yesterday, the event was themed ‘Jasa Mu Tetap Dikenang’.
Fatimah said she and her husband’s effort to bring the retired teachers together was a small gesture to show that their contribution to nation-building would always be remembered.
“Once a teacher is always a teacher, and we are proud to be teachers to our students who are now valuable human resource of Sarawak,” she told Sarawak Tribune today (May 2).
She further said most attendees were from Kuching, with some travelling from as far as Miri and Mukah.
“The group, aged between 60 and over 80 years old, included retired teachers, principals, inspectorate officers and senior officers at the divisional, Sarawak Education Department, and Ministry of Education in Kuala Lumpur,” she said.
Fatimah added that many of the retirees continue to serve society in meaningful ways, contributing through non-governmental organisations (NGOs), church and mosque committee, or as community leaders.
“Their contribution to nurturing, educating, guiding, instilling values, inspiring, motivating their students are priceless, and help to produce the human capital that Sarawak needs,” she said.
Fatimah then expressed her gratitude for the strong turnout, saying she and her husband were very happy to see the retired teachers reconnecting, rekindling old friendships, and reminiscing about their teaching days with great fondness.
“May God bless all of us with good health, good friends, peace and happiness,” she said.
Meanwhile, in support of senior well-being, the event also featured a Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) booth and Senior Citizen Health Benefits registration, allowing attendees to access information and sign up for government initiatives.
Also present were the two Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Deputy Ministers, Datuk Mohamad Razi Sitam and Datuk Rosey Yunus, both of whom were also former teachers.
