KUALA LUMPUR: Joy and laughter were in the air today as some 80 former New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) staff from its Circulation Department gathered for a reunion, the first time in 10 years.
The programme aimed to gather former staff who worked at NSTP's headquarters in Balai Berita, Jalan Riong, Bangsar and those in the company's offices nationwide.
The idea was sparked by two friends, who began planning for the reunion two months ago.
The event organiser, Dzulhilmi Effendi, 61, said he and his friend had discussed the possibility of organising the event a year ago, but it did not materialise.
"It's not easy to bring everyone together but we did it today. This is a wonderful memory for us all.
"I'm so happy that everyone agreed to attend and meet up, some for the first time in 10 years, especially with many spread all across the country," he said when met at the event, held at the Hotel Grand Barakah, here.
Among those in attendance were former NSTP Circulation Department general manager Wee Tec Kee and Mohd Azrai Ariffin, as well as ex-NSTP Circulation Department manager, Salim Badru Duja.
As for co-organiser Mahmod Mat Ali, 60, he attended the event to catch up on how his former colleagues at the NSTP were doing.
"I'm touched that so many of our friends from Sabah, Sarawak and other states, with some not being in the best of health, managed to make their way here for the gathering.
"A gathering such as this only strengthens the bond shared by all who used to work for the NSTP Circulation Department," he said.
Mahmod said he and Dzulhilmi, given the opportunity, would organise another gathering in the future.