Pak Samani died yesterday - Al-fatihah

SAMANI MOHD AMIN, 78, who served as a journalist and news editor with Utusan Melayu, Berita Harian and had a short stint with the Star, died yesterday of a heart attack. A short sms I received alerted me of it last night. Pak Samani, as I used to call him, was fond of inviting friends to his house off Batu Tiga, Klang for snacks and makan-makan. He had a small fishing pond around his house and I remember my kids trying their best to catch the tilapia. Pak Samani would often keep in touch with friends via e mail. Together with the late Pak Samad, Pak Samani was detained under the ISA and released at about the same time as the former. "Take the Alfa Mat...aku tak pakai lagi. Kau tengoklah apa yang kau boleh buat dengan dia," Pak Samani's words echo in my mind. He's referring to a white Alfa Romeo 1.3 Giulia parked in his house. I used to drive one in the '70s, giving me much agony and ecstasy. Pak Samani would drive his and we would compare notes about our common passion. And he would then show me his fishing rods taken from the car, yet another common liking for the two of us. I read with sadness the demise of yet another hardcore journalist who served the trade well and passionately. Moga-moga roh mu dicucuri rahmat. Al-fatihah.