SPENDING one’s entire career in the same company for more than 40 years is quite unthinkable to the current young generation.
But that was what Datuk Bazid Abd Kahar did when he was working for Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and it paid off handsomely for him.
He started off as a technician in September 1979 and rose to become the chief executive officer in 2019. He retired on Dec 31 last year, ending a career that spanned 42 years and three months.
Bazid, 63, recalled that when he got his first paycheck as a technician in September 1979, it was only RM445.
“At that time, I still managed to survive. In fact, I could save a little bit of money after spending on basic necessities and giving some money to my parents.
“The living cost back then was in tandem with our monthly salary, but things have changed now. Everything has become expensive.
“I was in cloud nine the moment I was accepted into PDC as a technician.
“The rest is history and I can’t believe that I had served an organisation for so many decades,” Bazid, who hails from Tapah, Perak told Buletin Mutiara in an interview recently. He is the second youngest of 11 children.
Hard work, a never-say-die attitude and patience were among the virtues he held dear as he climbed the corporate ladder.
A down-to-earth man, Bazid has a cheerful disposition and charisma.
“Whatever tasks and obligations that were assigned to me, I fulfilled them to the best of my ability.
“During my time in PDC, I had the opportunity to serve four chief ministers. They were the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Lim Guan Eng and the current CM, Chow Kon Yeow.
“All of them have their respective personalities and it was a joy to work under their leadership.
“There is no doubt that over the past 50 years, PDC has been the state’s pillar of strength,” he said.
It was, of course, not all plain sailing for him.
He vividly remembers two great challenges.
One was dealing with a relocation issue. And during that period of negotiation, he got a shock of his life when he received live bullets, apparently as a threat to his life.
“However, I did not let this incident rattle me. I continued to do my best and eventually solved the matter. Later, I became friends with those I had negotiated before,” Bazid recalled.
The other challenge came soon after his appointment as the corporation’s CEO in 2019. The Covid-19 came and turned many things upside down.
“Covid-19 has profoundly affected all of us. It was a tough period for me and my entire team, but we managed to overcome the obstacles and lift the state to greater heights.
“It was no joke. I even asked myself a few times whether I was in a dreamland when managing PDC,” Bazid said.
One person that Bazid is very grateful to was his mentor Cheah Phee Hin, who was an inspiration to him during his younger days.
“Cheah had always given me a pat on my back when I achieved something.
“When I was praised by Cheah, I couldn’t sleep for the whole night! It was one of my unforgettable memories.
“I really appreciated his encouragement even though I have lost touch with him for a long time.
“He was my superior who would not hesitate to share his knowledge with me and others,” Bazid said.
Like Cheah, Bazid also complimented his former colleagues whenever they achieved their goals or milestones.
He said although it might be a small gesture of appreciation, it meant a lot to them.
He said it is important for everyone to be humble and considerate to others, no matter what position the person holds.
“PDC is like my family. I would say that I owe them a lot.
“I am nothing without them. That’s why I will not hesitate to lend a hand to PDC, even to offer a piece of advice if the need arises,” said Bazid, who believes his successor Aziz Bakar is a capable man to bring PDC to the next level.
Bazid, who did not have much time to spend with his family when helming the corporation, can now spend his leisure time comfortably.
“I am enjoying my life right now. I cycle daily in order to keep myself fit and healthy.
“I can at least have more time to spend with my family nowadays,” he said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan