Tiger and Rashid

This is in memory of Allahyarham Rashid (Ani's adopted brother). He passed away in 1985 after being hit by a motorcyle (honda Cup) while walking by the roadside in Kangar and suffered severe head injury.

Rashid was with me doing his practical work. He was attending UPM Sarawak in 1980.

One day he followed me to see the weeding gang in action. I was the Assistant-in-Charge of Sg. Dua Division, Sungei Samak Estate, Ulu Bernam, Perak.

The weeding gang was cleaning up the an island of bushes comprising of tall ferns when suddenly there was a commotion and ruckus going on among the weeders. Standing on the harveting paths with Rashid the weeders were shouting excitingly and I could see the slashing knives being swayed violently.

Suudenly out jumped a "Harimau akar". A small black tiger the size of a dog with a long tail. It was running wildly in a frightened state along the path towards us.

"Run, Rahid," I shouted to Rashid whilst I went behind the nearest palm.

Rashid ran as hard as he could. The tiger was running behind him. It was then running past and overtaken Rashid. Rashid stopped running. He was panting hard. The tiger disappeared into the jungle.

We laughed out after that. While admittedly it was scary, it was amusing and fun.

Later I called in the estate's Auxillary Police (AP). We trace the tiger's track to the Chawang River and disappeared. Presumably, it swam over.