Students of the Class of 1978 from St Bernadette’s Convent Batu Gajah in Perak, now scattered across Malaysia and around the world, reunited in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 10, reliving memories, sharing laughter, and rekindling friendships.

It was a heart-warming celebration of sisterhood, a bond strengthened by the diversity of the group, embodying the true Muhibbah spirit that had been a cornerstone of St Bernadette’s Convent since its establishment in 1953.

Karpal Kaur, who helped organise the event, said the reunion was deeply meaningful for her. “Some of them here today haven’t seen each other for the past 46 years. So, it’s hard to express, but we are all just so happy.”

While smaller reunions had been held in the past, this one was special – bringing in former classmates from Australia, Singapore, and across Malaysia, including Perak and Pahang.

Among the attendees was former head prefect Looi Pek Hong, now residing in Singapore. “We’re so grateful to her for taking the effort in keeping us connected all these years,” said Karpal.

“We never differentiated between each other based on race, even back then. We’d share food with the same spoon,” Karpal reminisced.

Shiamala Nair, another alumna from the batch who played an active role in bringing everyone together, added: “There were no friend groups like only Malay, or only Chinese, Indian. We were always together as such close friends.”

These lifelong friendships were formed from the first day of school, and the reunion felt particularly poignant during the Merdeka month.

Shiamala recalled how their school fostered a sense of patriotism that stayed with them for life. “Every year during Merdeka, our school would have us march. We could probably still do it today,” she said proudly.

Organising the reunion wasn’t easy, but technology helped.

“Whenever we meet in smaller groups, we keep adding more people to our WhatsApp group. We often end the night by sending a lightbulb emoji, to say, ‘It’s late, go to sleep’,” Shiamala said.

The group’s bond has grown stronger over time, especially as they support each other through the challenges of ageing. “We often call and confide in each other. Especially now, with health concerns, we share advice on what to eat and what not to eat,” Karpal said.

“As time passes, we realise this is real friendship. These are the people I can trust,” Shiamala said, her voice filled with emotion.

At 63, many of the women are now grandmothers, but their energy and spirit filled the room.

“Today, we are all back in Standard One again. We can’t remember our age at all,” Shiamala joked. In fact, they stood on chairs to take photos, sang loudly, and didn’t leave until the restaurant was closing.

Their sharp memories took them back to their cherished school days.

“During any festival, we would all cycle to our friends’ houses to celebrate. Especially for Chinese New Year. We made sure to get our ang pows!” Karpal recalled, laughing. “And the school’s mee curry! We can’t find anything as good as that today.”

Even their playful banter has endured.

“We had a Malay teacher who would send us outside if we didn’t bring our dictionaries. So, every time we meet, we joke, ‘Who didn’t bring the kamus? Please get out!’” Karpal shared, making the others laugh out loud.

Today, these women have branched out from their humble beginnings in Batu Gajah. “Everyone is successful in their own way. We have doctors, lawyers, and housewives who have raised wonderful children,” Karpal reflected.

“At 63, we feel that life is short. So, let’s meet up, create memories, and be happy – because this is what we treasure in the end,” Shiamala said.

And before they said their goodbyes that night, they shared a reminder for all Malaysians: “This is what Muhibbah truly means.”