We are privileged as Members of this Club to have many interesting personalities and personages in our midst. One such personality was Dr. Agoes Salim whose friendship I have always treasured over the years ever since we had an informal chat in the Men’s Changing Room, when I was trying to sort out the few strands of my hair in place after a shower. Not one for banalities or platitudinous remarks, Agoes surprisingly ambled over and teasingly remarked in deadpan fashion, “Preening yourself for a hot date with Margaret eh?” He was right – I was. He was one of the few having been Chairman of Bank Pertanian, who knew of her through her work as a conveyancing lawyer. He was also one of the rare few who could spontaneously conjure oneliners with a touch of wry humour, amongst which were, as far as I can remember:
Three generations of RSGC Members. Since 1974.
“Familiarity breeds contempt – and lots of scallywags” and upon learning of one of our mutual friend’s amicable divorce, quipped:
“He was happily married – but she wasn’t!”
He could have done a Bob Newhart show here at the drop of a hat, with great aplomb!
Dr. Agoes Salim was born in Port Dickson on 17 April 1934, the 3rd of 8 children to Salim Mohamad and Hapsah Ismail. He had his primary school education at Sek. Melayu Bagan Pinang and then Sek. Melayu Kg. Gelam, before he was moved to Benta,Pahang during the War. He returned a year or so later to Kg. Gelam (where the students then had to study Niponggo until the War ended) and thereafter to the Government English Primary School in PD.
Determined to continue his education in a better school, the 13 year-old Agoes ventured to Seremban in 1947 and accompanied by his father, managed to impress the headmaster of King George V School who promptly enrolled him in Special Malay Class II with a place in the KGV Hostel as well. The wide-eyed country boy soon took his new environment and challenge like a duck to water and stamped his mark as a whizz kid by excelling in his studies as well as in sports where he represented KGV in football, hockey, rugby and cricket. His sporting prowess aside, he was also very active in many school societies besides being KGV Hostel’s Head Prefect.
Agoes with his first love
Always among the top in his class, he breezed through his Overseas Senior Cambridge Examination with a noteworthy Grade 1. A commendable effort indeed as all the top schools throughout Malaya those days could only boast of half a dozen or so 1st graders each year. To University Malaya in Singapore on a Federal Bursary he went in 1954, where he had the best years of his life with a fabulous batch of chums, the likes of Musa Hitam, Alwi Jantan, Saw Huat Lye, Tunku Shariman, Ramon Navaratnam, Mohd Khalil, Yahaya Wahab and the list goes on – almost all to become in later years, eminent Tan Sris, Datuk Seris, Datuks and one Tun! The camaraderie and esprit de corp developed over those few years, in the words of Tan Sri Alwi Jantan, “held together by the Dunearn Road spirit” lasted to this day. And as though ordained by heaven, that class of ’54 had three Aries – Alwi, Agoes and Musa whose birthdays fall on 16th, 17th and 18th April respectively. These three Aries have been celebrating their birthdays together in their annual alumni congregation with one big bang, ostensibly to save costs!
Always happy to celebrate April babies with Musa (18th), Alwi (16th), and Agoes (17th)
As is the wont of a natural leader, while pursuing his Arts degree in Economics with zeal, Agoes also doggedly led the somewhat controversial Socialist Club as the President in furtherance of his ideals with dedicated conviction. Upon his graduation in 1958 with a B.A Econ (Hons.) he joined the Malayan Civil Service and was seconded to RIDA (Rural & Industrial Development Authority) for four years. Agoes was offered the Rockefeller Council Scholarship in 1962, for postgraduate studies in the US where with the help of Dr. Clifton R. Wharton, Jr., he was selected to read agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Upon his graduation in late 1966 with his Masters and PhD, he returned home a young cultivated gentleman to head the Research Department of National and Rural Development with Tun Razak as Minister. He was also involved in FELDA’s agriculture department and for a number of years, remained the only ‘Dr.’ in the Civil Service.
It was not all work and no play in his eventful life. While studying in Wisconsin, he did find time for romance too when he was smitten with love for Emily Anne Puerner, a fellow student. After establishing himself in the Civil Service, he could not wait any longer come what may, to tie the knot with Emily in 1970.
As if as a wedding gift, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong appointed him Chairman of Bank Pertanian in 1971 and he remained so till 1981 when he bought over the KPM (Koperasi Pertanian Malaysia) group of companies from the bank and started his own business Jati Discount House, among others, from 1982 onwards – but not before his home state of Negeri Sembilan awarded its illustrious son with the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih in 1976.
Being in the thick of things albeit unobtrusively, in the evolution of government policies then, Agoes was instrumental in the drafting of the New Economic Policy and the Rukun Negara. Truly another feather in his cap!
Throughout his illustrious career, he discharged his duties in the customary forthright and no-nonsense manner that was his hallmark. He did however, concede in one of our locker room chats, that being candid or even mildly trenchant, might not be efficacious at times especially in the Civil Service. Thankfully he and I had always shared similar viewpoints in our less worldly discussions and hence no serious arguments.
His proficiency as an adept organiser, administrator and leader, led to a string of appointments in public companies and Government Councils, not forgetting perhaps the most exciting involvement in his other great love – golf – as the Secretary of the Senior Malaysian Association and Confederation of ASEAN Senior Golfers’ Association. It was inevitable and befitting therefore that he was invited to head the Editorial Board of our Club in 1986 and 1987 where he left his first footprint, shortly after which he was ‘rewarded’ with the ultimate golfing prize – a much-coveted hole-in-one, at the 7th Old on 26th September, 1987. A decade on in 1998, he served with distinction in The Committee in 1998 and 1999 as the Golf Convenor.
A proud moment with his chums
‘Bagus’ Agoes and I managed to meet up a few times at the Club over the past years, where we nostalgically exchanged anecdotes, recalling the halcyon days of our youth. It was then that I realised that he had indeed lived his life well – full of excitement and passion while altruistically contributing much to those whose lives he impacted – veritably an indelible legacy. Alas, all too soon, I was informed by our mutual friend Tan Sri Alwi, that Agoes had not been well and had some health issues that led to complications. Sadly, he succumbed after 10 days of intensive care at the Ampang Puteri Hospital on 15th March a few months ago, leaving behind his devoted wife Emily, sons Omar and Amir, daughters in law, Faridah and Vicki, and grandchildren Norman and Alicia.
May Allah Grant his Grace and Mercy on Agoes’ soul.
