Memoirs of Tan Sri Ani Arope

 The Book

 

 Tan Sri Ani Arope addressing the audience

 

 Tan Sri Leo Moggie officially launching the book

 

 The friends, associates and officials of TNB who filled the hall at ILSAS during the launching

 

   The book 'Memoirs of Tan Sri Ani Arope' was launched on December 17, 2014 at ILSAS UNITEN in Bandar Baru Bangi by Tan Sri Leo Moggie, Chairman of TNB in the presence of around 150 made up of members of the family (Puan Sri Saenah, his children, Sakinah and Ismail); ex- CEOs and officials of TNB, friends in agencies he was associated with (UPM, MARDI, Department of Agriculture, Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia).  The ceremony started with the citation on the author by his own son, Ismail; followed by the address by Tan Sri Ani and finally the launching address by Tan Sri Leo Moggie.
  Ismail in his citation speech confessed that he was quite shy of his father when he was young as he regards him as a towering personality with quite a few legends associated with his dad. Tan Sri Ani, in his usual sense of humour, started his speech with his jokes.  What sparked him to write his memoirs was when at the age of 78, he was asked to undertake a thorough medical exam for the renewal of his flying licence.  The doctor, at the end of that medical diagnosis, told Tan Sri the three words he mentioned that he would never forget 'You have cancer' that it was stage 4 and terminal. Tan Sri provided a brief insight of how he takes this challenge and has outlived the time frame that the doctor has indicated that he would survive the disease.  He covered briefly his early days in school where his close friend was a Jew and the community he lived in was multiracial - the background scenario that has made him able to live in harmony with the different ethnic groups and religious background in the institutions that he has served.  Tan Sri Leo Moggie expressed how happy he was when he was invited to officially launch the book.  He particularly highlighted the greatest legacy that Tan Sri Ani Arope has left is training and human resource development.
  I have, in fact, purchased the book a few weeks ago, before the official launching, when I was informed by my brother, Ahmad Shadzli, that the memoirs was available at the MPH Bookstores. Tan Sri has a special place in the family and to me specially as he has, in many ways helped my career development particularly at the early part when he got me to join MARDI in 1972. We were also neighbours when were living in the Government quarters at the then Crop Production Station Serdang.  Although Tan Sri Ani left the Institute early as he subsequently became the CEO of a number of organisations (RRIM, Guthrie, TNB) we have remained friends and I make a point of visiting him every Hari Raya.  This was the reason that spurred me to get hold of the book as soon as possible.  It took me just a couple of days to go through it.  It is made up of six parts covering The Early Days; Marriage, Career and Challenges of a Growing Nation; Life After Retirement; Ani Arope in Recent Years; Ani Arope's Speeches and finally, Government, People and Power - a Prayer for the Nation.
    There were a number of things that are of interest to me in the book.  The first topic of interest was his early childhood days.  In the course of our friendship there never occurred a time when this was discussed.  The only thing that I am aware of was that Tan Sri has Achenese blood lineage and that his father was working in the Agriculture Department.  As narrated in the book I did not realise he has a difficult childhood and that he was raised by a single mother.  Tan Sri has served in a number of organisations. His first appointment was as agronomist in the Department of Agriculture, then as Deputy Director MARDI and CEO of RRIM, Guthrie and finally as Chairman and CEO of TNB.  His biggest contribution particularly when he was in MARDI and RRIM was in human resource development where he provided opportunities for research officers in these organisations to pursue the highest academic achievement in obtaining doctorate degrees. Tan Sri in his modesty did not highlight this but from the testimonies of the officers who has benefitted from his futuristic action, this was his biggest contribution in developing human capital resource at the initial stages of R&D interest in the country.  Tan Sri's stint in the various organisations, however, lacks the details of the his management philosophies underlying the various actions he has taken.
   His high profile and successful career were not without their pitfalls and challenges.  His oft discussed unhappy incident is the misunderstanding on the establishment of the Independent Power Producers (IPP) with the Government, which he as the CEO of TNB, refused to sign the agreement as he felt the terms of the agreement was not in the best interest of the TNB.
  Tan Sri Ani lives an exemplary life after his official retirement. Guided by his philosophy that high achievers are avid readers and that high achievers have a wide range of interest, he continues to devote his time to a few companies which he serves on their boards.  He believes in keeping fit and healthy and accordingly engages in cycling, tennis and gardening.  He has a patience for flying and picked up this hobby at the age of 70 and in the book has described the various flying routes in the country that he has taken.
  For his contributions to the country he has been accorded awards and recognition among which is the Tan Sriship and the Honorary PhD from UNITEN.
  I write this review as a tribute to this towering Malaysian and a friend that I have high regard for and that his legacies, words of wisdom and practicing healthy and happy lifestyle will be the guiding light for generations to come, in accordance with the simple autograph message in my copy of his  memoir 'Continue to provide the guidance to the young set'.

Written and published on 18/12/2013