Tour guide takes 700km road trip to visit old school

Helping his alma mater: Salleh (fourth from right) and his school friends presenting the donation to Maktab Rendah Sultan Abu Bakar principal Ahmad Shakir Jaafar (fourth from left) in Johor Baru.

JOHOR BARU: Salleh Abu Bakar showed that age is just a number after completing an over-700km road ride on his scrambler motorcycle.

The 72-year-old tour guide in Langkawi began his journey from the island to his alma mater Maktab Rendah Sultan Abu Bakar, better known as English College (EC), here.

It took him just two days to complete the mission.

Upon arriving yesterday, he handed over a donation of RM10,500 to his former school, one of the oldest in Johor.

The money, meant for refurbishing the surau, was raised by him and his ex-classmates.

“I discussed this with my fellow class of 68 alumni and we raised the funds within a week,” he said when met at EC.

Salleh has fond memories of the school.

“The last time I came back here was about five years ago but this is the first time I stepped foot in EC since graduating in 1968,” he said, adding that he was grateful to his former teachers who shaped him to be the man he is today.

Recalling his school days, Salleh said he was publicly caned in front of other students and teachers for skipping rugby and football training.

“I did not dare tell my parents because I would get another round of rotan from them.

“Unlike those days, parents or students nowadays will take action against the teachers trying to instill discipline,” he added.

Salleh said the bike ride was among the things he wished to do in his life.

“When I told my family about it, my wife and three daughters were quite hesitant at first as they were worried about my safety.

“I told them to pray for me and that it would be a safe journey,” he added.

Salleh said that apart from the heavy traffic, the weather was the biggest challenge along his journey.

“It was hot and humid, and sometimes I encountered heavy rain, but it was a whole new experience,” he added.

On his plan in Johor, Salleh said he would spend a few days in Muar to meet his old friends before returning to Langkawi on his bike.

He revealed that his next mission is to organise an alumni gathering to raise funds for the school.