Azlan bin Tan Sri Bahaman with Puan Elahe Norman
Our dear Azlan bin Tan Sri Bahaman, passed away yesterday 9th Feb 2016!
Azlan was over 50 and he had severe Cerebral palsy with no speech since early age.We know his wonderful mother Almarhumah Puan Sri Salmah Putih, whom I know since the early times of Tasputra.They lived in Kg Baru, just down the road from Tasputra in Jalan Gurney.
Azlan used to come to Tasputra and always used to ask his mother to cook her special food to bring over.
They did participate in our activities like Food Fairs in the garden where we raised funds for Tasputra’s expenses.His Father was the Late Tan Sri Bahaman Shamsudin , the smart man of the past who was an amazingly humble human being. He was Malaysia’s Cabinet Minister of Health and Welfare in the early days of the first prime minister of Malaysia,Tunku Abdul Rahman. He had a lot of respect and love for his wife and was among the Malay men who would not usually make compliment about the beauty of the women.
He would always praise his lovely wife Pn.Seri Salmah who was generous, kind , gentle, and charitable. She was pleased that Azlan was happy with us, and I remember so many wonderful memories of this family.One that I remember very well he used to say in praise of a beautiful woman… that when she drank you could see the water going down her throat.
Before any function we would let know the family so they would prepare Azlan to be brought to the majlis.
Fauziah Latiff with Azlan bin Tan Sri Bahaman in Tasputra charity event.
One of the very prominent ones were our yearly “Jog-A-Thon, Walk-A-Thon” for the disabled. Azlan had no speech so his mother was his interpreter, although, every year he was there to take part in.
It would not be so easy to find someone who could be comfortably taking care of him. And he would be at comfort with his carer, but since Abang Mohd Noh, his carer, left to be a fulltime taxi driver, even though for a caring well to do family was not easy to care for a total disabled young man at home.
One of the times before his dad passes away, Azlan had a severe bronchitis and was in G.H., his mother called me and asked me to visit him. I had no idea what I can take to hospital to make him happy. It was the time when chocolate and flowers wouldn’t do it. I know his favourite singer was Sheila Majid, So I tried to test my luck by contacting her and it was just about the time that she had her second child.She gracefully agreed as a surprise to visit him in the hospital, but Azlan had been discharged so we all went to his house!Tan Sri Bahaman was alive and we managed to cheer Azlan with the presence of Sheila Majid and family up.It was most memorable for me as well. Azlan nearly lived a decade and half after that.
With losing his father in 1995. later Azlan faced more challenge apart from his disability.Moving from the old neighbourhood where he was so familiar with in K.G Baru to P.Jaya house, and losing the dear mother later in 2002, hit him emotionally again. Thanks God he was surrounded by the loving family, luckily his Abang Azam and nieces and nephews who are most caring, were there for him. He fitted well into his own quarters at the side of his house.
There was an occasion when we received a used Van from a prominent Japanese Businessman directly from Tokyo to our Tasputra in 2002, Where it took nearly a year to sort out the tax papers. We had our official handing over by Deputy Health Minister “Datuk Seri Dr. Suleiman Mohamed” who donated RM10000 to Tasputra.
It was a grand day in the garden where the famous Mahdi Moudini presented for the Japanese donors, Welfare Department representatives, Perkim Secretary General, Tasputra associates, The late Azlan Bahaman, and the late Puan Sri Salmah Putih and other family members and my husband, Norman.
May Allah S.W.T. bless all these wonderful people who had a contribution to the success of Tasputra and now they are not among us.
As Allah S.W.T mentioned in Quran, a little goodness and a little wrong doing would be rewarded in the Day of Judgement.
May Allah shower his Rahmat on the soul of Azlan Bahaman, his parents, my dearest motivation and love who brought me to this country to do good- my Norman- and his parents and those who always help by their money, energy, and time for the wellbeing of Tasputra Perkim.
Al-FatihahElahe Norman
(Chairman of Tasputra)