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DATO’ YACOB BIN ISMAIL AND FAMILY
First Admiral (R) Dato’ Yacob bin Ismail retired from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on 17 June 2005, but due to service requirement, his service was extended on contract for another one year till 17 June 2006. On his retirement the old salted sailor had to settle down in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur. Presently he is involved as a hydrographic survey consultant. Year 1964 saw young Yacob departure from JSES and Melaka, after his Lower Certificate Examination (LCE). Pak Ismail family was transferred to Kuala Lumpur. Yacob continued his education in the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur. In 1967 he joined the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) as a field-advisor with the Smallholder (rubber plantation) Advisory Services Division. On completion of his training at the RRI experiment station Sungai Buloh, Yacob was posted back to Melaka, mukim of Selandar in Jasin, to do a man’s job. For 3 years from 1967 to 1969, the young ‘Advisor’ ran around rubber plantations and mingled with the locals and the populations of border towns of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan (Negeri 9) and northern Johore. Just to name a few, such memorable town sounded like; Macap, Nyalas, Batang Melaka, Selandar, Tampin, Gemenceh, Air Kuning, Jementah, Tangkak, Buloh Kasap, etc, etc. Rural borders run soon got the better of this energetic young ‘Stud’; he wanted more, to explore wider ranges and way beyond the horizon. In September 1969, he quitted the RRI to join the Royal Malaysian Navy, with the hope of better opportunity of fulfilling his ambition to see and explore the world. First he had to endure 4 months of military bashing (askar Melayu style) at the Royal Military College (RMC), Kem Sungai Besi (September to December 1969). Then only, on 1st January 1970, the newly converted ‘kampung bronco’ was sent to Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom. “This was it!” the crew-cut cadet’s first oversea trip to see the world. That was the start of more and better things to cross the path of ‘the Officer and the gentleman’, as he became more matured with more arduous training and education. 
In 1971 he returned to Malaysia, for 2 more years of vigorous advance and practical training onboard RMN ships and at the RMN Base in Woodlands, Singapore. Then in 1973 Sub Lieutenant Yacob Bin Ismail was commissioned and became a full fledge Royal Malaysian Naval Officer ( baru ‘ada gaya’ and ‘ada umph!’). There after, at sea he ‘mabok’ and onshore too he ‘mabok’ :- usually the 2 to 3 months ‘untouched pay’ help financed the ‘paint-the-town-red’ plus the ‘meeting’ of new or lost ‘acquaintances’ in JB and Singapore. Life was certainly more hyper-paced compared to the lonely small-holders advisor at the border towns of Melaka, Negeri 9 and Johore. A village lass from Selandar (remember old Melaka tour of duty); an old flame managed to break and won the heart the galloping bronco, to ‘tied the knot’ in 1974. As the Malay saying goes: “tempat jatuh lagi dikenang, ini kan pula tempat bercinta”. Charmed by the ‘pretty village bloom’ by the name of Zaiton bte Abu Hassan, Singapore educated and a Mara graduate. Datin Zaiton, previously worked with the disappeared Bank Bumiputera Malaysia Berhad (BBMB), she was by no means the cause of, took the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) when BBMB merged with Bank of Commerce in 2000 (both of which later dissolved). Dato’ and Datin were blessed with 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. The eldest a boy (the leader), the second and third are girls, and the last a boy (for security, obviously). To add to the joy of elderly life, they were blessed with 2 grandchildren (1 grand-daughter each from Huzairein and Haszalina). The sibling of Dato’ and Datin are:-
Through out his naval carrier, the various courses and specialisation training the Admiral had attended were:
The Admiral’s tour of duties and responsibilities through out his naval carrier, had been very colourful and challenging indeed. Among them were:
The Admiral’s carrier with the Royal Malaysian Navy had been a dream comes true; he wanted to see and explore the world. During his tenure of duties, the Admiral had the opportunity of conducting operational visits, official tours and worked with/at International forums and abroad. Some of the countries and cities visited were:
Countries
Cities In recognition of his gallant and outstanding service for the Armed Forces and the country, the Admiral was decorated with the following awards:
The retired Admiral still hopes to settle back in kampong Selandar, Melaka where it all started; to avoid the hassle and city jams, but unfortunately, Datin Zaiton had more says in such matter. Hopelessly entrenched in this chaotic city of KL with nothing much to do, the Admiral was forced to take up and do something like the hydrographic consultancy and other voluntary odd jobs. Ambition: If there is any still available; is to settle down at the border kampong some where between the state of Melaka and Negeri 9. Commitment; to enjoy a peaceful retired life, in a rocking chair, recollecting the picturesque and colourful yester years. i.e. a vintage dreamer.
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