Past, Present & Future

March 1, 1980

44 years ago today, a motley crew of 20-odd of us reported for work at the original Prai Power Plant. I don’t know about the others but I didn’t have a clue about power plants, generation, or anything remotely connected to it.

I spent all of 4 years there. During that time, I gradually learned about power generation and came to enjoy the work. It remains my favorite workplace, perhaps because it was where my passion for the job first developed.

Alas, that plant stands no more. It was demolished sometime in the early 2000s. In its place today stands a spanking new combined cycle modern power station.

Looking back I didn’t realise at the time how much and how quickly things would change. I made some good friends from that group. Today, that batch is scattered all over the country.

Some remain close, others touch and go on social media. Yet others have drifted away due to being transferred out, finding better pastures, and a bunch of other reasons. And some are no longer with us.

You never know what’s in store in life.

The Winds of Change

Outside of work, Malaysia was on the brink of a political revolution in 1980.

The economy relied heavily on agriculture, particularly rubber, palm oil, and tin mining. Mahathir Mohammed served as the Deputy Prime Minister, while Hussein Onn was still in control, although his influence was waning.

The Lord President was Mohamed Suffian, a staunch advocate for the judiciary's independence. He would soon clash with Mahathir, the architect of Malaysia's future, in less than a year.

In July, 66 countries boycotted the Moscow Summer Olympics due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, with Malaysia too. This prevented our top athletes, including one of its best football teams, from competing on the global stage.

RTM finally launched color TV broadcasting in Sabah and Sarawak in August, some two years after the Peninsula.

HICOM, the heavy industries corporation of Malaysia was established in September, paving the way for the industrialization of the country.

For a more in-depth exploration of Malaysia in 1980, visit JSTOR, a digital library for the eagerly curious.

12 Headlines from Around the World in 1980.

In politics, Indira Gandhi's Congress returns to power in India.

Hope floats temporarily when Egypt and Israel establish diplomatic relations.

The critically acclaimed film Argo captures the secret operation by the Canadian government and CIA in early January 1980 to rescue six American diplomats who escaped capture during the 1979 Iranian revolution.

Ill-advised fashion trends aside, 1980 is also the year that brought timeless hits from Michael Jackson, Queen, Barbra Streisand, and Olivia Newton-John.

In March, during Mass in San Salvador, Archbishop Óscar Romero was killed by gunmen. As archbishop, Romero had condemned social injustice and violence during what would become the Salvadoran Civil War.

The World Health Organisation declared that smallpox has been eradicated.

CNN was launched on June 1st, 1980, making it the first 24-hour news channel.

Tim Berners Lee begins work on the system that will eventually lead to the creation of the World Wide Web 10 years later.

On August 1st, Vigdis Finnbogadottir becomes the 4th president of Iceland, the world's first democratically directly elected female president.

John Lennon is murdered on December 8 outside his apartment in New York City.

The world’s population stood at 4,434,682,000. Today it’s slightly over 8 billion.

Voyager I makes its closest approach to Saturn, flying within 77,000 miles of the planet's cloud tops. The close encounter with Saturn during its mission to explore the outer planets remains significant even after 45 years, with the probe still operational and sending valuable data back to Earth.

Lessons Learnt

44 years later, amidst numerous changes, many aspects remain the same or have deteriorated, spanning politics, the economy, faith, personal relationships, popular culture, and nation-building.

I realise I have changed too along with my colleagues of four decades ago.

Now retired, some are pursuing new ventures, while others are simply enjoying relaxation under the sun. A large number have become more religious.

Some of my boldest dreams have come true, while others have fallen by the wayside. I'm trying to absorb it all, striving to comprehend what has unfolded.

Christian D. Larson's poignant words beautifully encapsulate the most important aspects of this 44-year journey:

“Promise Yourself”

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

Till next time,

Cheers!

Jude

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