By Malai Hassan Othman
In a world where honesty often seems like a fading virtue, a small restaurant in Jerudong became the unexpected stage for a story so tender that it warms the soul.
It is a story of love kept alive through time, of memories etched in gold, and of a simple act of kindness that brought everything full circle.
It was an ordinary morning at Restoran Morziah, a well-loved breakfast spot after Subuh prayers at the nearby Masjid Al-Ammeerah Al-Hajjah Mariam. But that morning turned extraordinary.
While tidying up the washbasin area, a staff member stumbled upon a wristwatch — not just any watch, but a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, its golden face softened with age, its leather strap still noble and proud.
To most, it was a symbol of luxury. But to Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Muhammad, it was a piece of his heart.
Dato Razak, now in his 80s, is revered for his service to the nation — a former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, and the founder and Chairman of Kemuda Institute.
But behind the dignified statesman is a romantic soul with a quiet story of love that never aged.
“The watch was a gift,” he said with a smile that carried decades of memories.
“From my girlfriend at the time — now my wife — Datin Hajah Gayah, or Kamariah. She gave it to me when I got promoted early in my career. She was so proud of me. That watch wasn’t just a gift. It was her way of saying, 'I believe in you.'"
That Rolex became his second skin — never leaving his wrist, always ticking along with his journey through life. Until one day, it was gone.
“I panicked,” he confessed.
“Not because of its price, but because of the love it represented. I couldn’t bring myself to tell my wife I had lost it.”
But sometimes, love has a funny way of finding its way back to us.
Dayang Huzai binti Ismail, the warm-hearted owner of Restoran Morziah, noticed the watch. Her staff had found it, and her instincts told her it belonged to one of her regulars — perhaps one of the gentlemen who came in after dawn prayers. And she was right. It was Dato Razak's.
The moment he held it again, it felt like a heartbeat had returned. The flood of emotion was visible in his eyes — gratitude, relief, and something deeper: the comfort of recovering a piece of his love story.
He was so touched by the honesty and integrity shown that he took a rare step. He issued a formal certificate of appreciation to Dayang Huzai and her staff.
It now hangs proudly on the restaurant wall — not just a token of thanks, but a tribute to values that too often feel lost in today's world.
And then, as with all things beautiful, came the moment of passing on.
Today, the Rolex no longer rests on Dato Razak’s wrist. It sits proudly on the wrist of his eldest grandson — a young man now trusted with a legacy.
When he handed it over, Dato Razak looked him in the eyes and said gently:
“Don’t ever lose it.”
For it is more than a watch. It is the heartbeat of a love that began in youth, the silent witness to a lifetime of dedication, and the symbol of a rare virtue returned by kind strangers.
It reminds us that what is lost is not always gone — sometimes, it is simply waiting to be found by the right hands. And so it ticks on faithfully — a keeper of time, love, memory, and a story worth believing in. (MHO/03/2025)
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