On 5th December, the corridors of SMAP felt a little quieter, and the air on the hard hockey pitch behind the Asrama Puteri a little less spirited. After a staggering 38 years of service to the Malaysian education, our beloved French maestro, Monsieur Mohd Amir Hasan, has officially hung up his whistle and put down the whiteboard marker.
Mons Amir didn’t just teach us how to conjugate verbs in the ‘language of love’; he gave us a window into a different world (trip to Loire Valley, anyone?). From his early days at SMK Jeram and SMS Dungun to his stints at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah and finally his blessed residency with us in Labu, he has been the architect of some truly brilliant academic triumphs.
Under his watchful eye, his protégés didn’t just pass the DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) exams; they absolutely smashed them. We’re talking state’s best and rubbing shoulders with the creme of the French crops in the entire country.
But Mons wasn’t just about the “Ooh la la.” He was also the backbone of SMAP’s Field Hockey team. Whether he was drilling discipline into the squad or coaching them to victory, his passion for the game was as infectious as his love for the French language.
As he moves on to a well-earned retirement, we wish him nothing but bonheur (that’s happiness, for those who skipped his classes) with his family.
“Merci, Monsieur.” You’ve left a legacy that’s as permanent as a high-contrast black and white photo. You taught us that to teach is to light a fire, and you’ve certainly left SMAP Labu looking a lot brighter.
Bonne retraite, Mons! Don’t be a stranger.
