In memory of Dato Ishak Baharom.

Over the 8.00pm news of TV3 on Wednesday 30th.January 2008 was announced the death of the controversial former Mufti of Selangor from 1985 -1997 ,Dato Ishak Baharom . He was 80 years old and died of probably of high blood pressure . He was buried at the Selangor Royal Mausuleum , in Section 5, Shah Alam on the Sultan's request . The death of this man touched my heart not because he was a controversial Mufti but because he was our former ustaz/guru at the surau of the Police District HQ in Banting Selangor where I was then the OCPD . This was before his elevation to be the Mufti of Selangor . I remember him as a very humble person , soft spoken and very helpful . He came to our surau every Thursday evenings to lead our Maghrib and Isyak congregations and in between the two prayers he would lecture/preach us on religious matters . During the fasting month he would normally be at our surau every evenings to lead our Isyak and Tarawikh prayers . I was OCPD in Kuala Langat for 3 years from 1984 - 1987 and my association with the late Ustaz ( as we usually called him ) was very cordial . During his lectures in the surau I would normally sit besides him infront of my men to listen to him . Although most of us found his lectures to be a little bit dull due to his softspokenness , the subject matter that he used to touch on , were very informative and relevant to our daily Police life . I found out later that the late Ustaz Ishak Baharom was a highly educated person and he possessed a degree on Islam from an Indian University . Amazingly he never told us about his qualification . Infact when he was selected to be the Mufti Selangor we were very surprised of his sudden elevation . Prior to becoming a Mufti he lead a very simple life as a village man at Kg. Kanchong Darat , (Misbun Sidek's village ) a few KMs away from the Banting Police station . He had an old junk ( a 1970 Toyota Corolla ,if I am not mistaken ) which he normally drove to our surau .

He was dismissed as the Mufti of Selangor because of his sincere positive comments on the arrest by JAIS officials of three Muslim ladies who took part in a Miss Malaysia beauty contest . His comments had angered the BN government and Tun Dr.Mahathir , the then Prime Minister of Malaysia who then ordered the release of the ladies and freed them of all charges . Subsequently , he ordered the state government of Selangor to dismiss the Mufti . Since then he was in limbo - not allowed even to preach in the mosques in Selangor and ignored at public funtions . However this good old man took everything calmly . Nevertheless ,I think he suffered in silence .

A few months ago , I saw him at the local mosque here during Friday prayers . He came as an ordinary person and occupied the space among the crowds . Then I found out that he resided not far away from our house .My regret was I failed to talk to him and to ask him whether he could still remember me . Many times I thought of approaching him , but I was a bit shy and worried that he would not remember me . I then thought that I would do so later . But it is now too late .

Perhaps we would meet in Heaven . Amin .