Twelve Hours With the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

Twelve Hours With the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia

My son says I should also blog about my life, and not just about religion. So here goes. No harm in giving it a shot. Might be interesting for some. How about we start with stuff from last week.

It is not unusual for us who have been in the Malaysian Sikh Band to be in the company of the rich and famous. Being the founder of the band, I have had many memorable encounters with high officials, government ministers, Sultans and Kings. The most memorable was when at the AGM of the PPP held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur where I was a guest, Tun Mahathir, the world famous then Prime Minister of Malaysia, invited me to have lunch with him at his table.

As I was a special guest of Datuk Kayveas, the president of the party, he took me over to the prime minister’s table. Was I nervous? Boy, was I nervous! I had to spend the rest of the morning seated next to Tun, until Tun had to leave for another engagement. We talked about many things. I tried to sound as intelligent as I could. Seated right next to the brainiest guy in this amazing country, it wasn’t easy. I remain indebted to Datuk Kayveas for this incredible opportunity. Of course you never have your camera when you need it most.

The next biggie for me was when Datuk Darshan Singh of Ipoh (then, but now Tan Sri) introduced me to Sultan Azlan Shah when his royal highness was Agong (King) of Malaysia. To my shock and amazement, the king recognized me, and began by asking me if I was the pilot who had started the Sikh Band he had seen in the news papers. After that, we talked for a while about my work in the Sikh community. It was another great highlight of my life for the king to have spent his personal time chatting with me. Again, I am grateful to Tan Sri Darshan Singh for that special moment.

There are many more memorable events that I can write about, especially on board my flights, as you can imagine. And that brings me to the latest one, just last week. Fast rewind to Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 at the first class passenger check in desk for my return flight to KL, which was to take off at 12 noon.

Check in was as normal as could be – “Any baggage Mr Sukdev”. Yes. “ Please place it on the weighing scale” etc etc. Then, the phone rang, and my life would never be the same again, just like they write it in the novels! Now watch what happens. And I love this part………..

She answered the call, and that’s when the action started. After replacing the receiver, I was politely asked if I could help as a ‘small problem’ had come up. The previous night’s 10 pm flight had to be rescheduled to 3 pm today, 3 hours after my flight. There had been a technical problem that could not be rectified. Some ‘VVIP’s’ I was told, who were scheduled to fly last night needed to get back to KL for some urgent meetings. I was asked if I could give up my seat for their use, and if I would agree to travel on the flight 3 hours later. I immediately agreed as I was on holiday and really had no urgency to get back to KL anyway. What difference would 3 hours make anyway? So I was told to take a seat and make myself comfortable. I would be confirmed for the 3 pm flight, and should a seat for the 12 noon flight become available, I would be given first priority.

At a quarter to noon, I was informed that one seat was available for me. My boarding pass was issued and for some inexplicable reason, instead of MAS staff, two Alitalia ground hostesses were assigned to see me to the aircraft through the ‘Fast Track’ channel to avoid queuing at the immigration. Had no idea MAS had a tie up with them!

When I entered the first class cabin, I was a bit surprised that there were only 4 passengers there in a cabin designed to seat ten. Where were the others? After all, it was supposed to be full and it was only minutes to departure time, and I was after all, the last passenger to be accepted, or rather, re-accepted after I gave up my seat.

Anyway, I knew where my seat was, so I trotted off to it, parked myself there and made myself cosy. I mean this was only the millionth time I had been there, as almost all pilots would rather seat here when they are on Team B, a reference to when pilots fly relief duty on long haul flights. Obviously, its much more comfortable than the little two bed bunk cabin we have to rest in that’s attached to the flight deck. (Oh O! Should not have said that. Already people accuse pilots of doing nothing during flights.

“We know lah. You never do any work during the flight. Yaa-lah You got auto pilot whaaaaat. So just ‘pasang and lepak lah!’ Next, after this, they’ll be saying;

“See. Told you whaaat. Pasang auto-pilot, tidur. Tauu lah!

Anyway, getting back to the story, I had just settled in with my blanket and book to read, when a whole lot of people entered the cabin. They were officials from the Malaysian High Commission who had come to see off the returning delegation of the VVIP.

The next thing to happen was the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin was shown the seat next to mine. I could not believe what was happening. I do believe that I had turned a pure white colour as the blood from my cheeks descended straight down to my feet, refusing to come up again. I was just too stunned and I had no idea how I was supposed to conduct myself, with the suddenness of it all. When on flight duty, the crew are informed well in advance if any VVIP or royalty are traveling. In that case, we have ample warning and are well prepared when we go downstairs to the main deck to greet them as they enter the aircraft. And again, it’s not like you are going to be seated next to them for the rest of the flight. You’ll exchange a few words of simple conversation and soon return to the flight deck. (I mean, and you’ll all agree that somebody has to go back there to select the auto-pilot, right?).

As he bid farewell to the staff from the High Commission, I had just enough time to wiggle my toes and get some blood back into my cheeks. The first few words were a little clumsy, but soon, everybody settled down for the take off and the flight. The rest was smooth. It was great. Can’t think of a greater privilege than that.

What do you talk about. Well, for starters, make polite conversation. Be sensitive. Pick your topics. Stay away from politics. There’s a lot to talk about. What books you like, what sports you like, what places of interest have you enjoyed most, etc, etc. there is one thing however I regret not asking; Tan Sri and Puan Sri to accept my invitation to join my family and friends for a nice chapatti dinner at my home? That was ‘the big one’ and it completely slipped my mind. What a miss.

Well, all is not lost. I do believe that we will meet again soon. And also the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib. And I might still send him and his good wife an invitation in the post. Who knows.

Well, at least I brought back a beautiful picture of my most memorable twelve hours with the Deputy Prime Minister. I am indebted to him and Puan Sri for this picture. They are both extremely nice, intelligent, and humble, and together, they make a wonderful couple.

Thank you Tan Sri and Puan Sri. I shall cherish the memory.