Rahsia Tokoh Nilam Terengganu

Don’t read too much into hubby’s book and sex story, says wife

By R.S.N. MURALI
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

HULU TERENGGANU: Her husband’s public sharing of how reading and having sex every night has kept him energetic during the day has drawn criticism from some. But Rosmawati Abdullah is proud of her award-winning husband Alias Ismail’s honesty.

“He was just being honest,” she said in an interview at the couple’s house yesterday.

“Through reading and having a cordial relationship, we managed to raise our children to be caring and disciplined. What’s wrong if my husband shares his formula with others?”

The 41-year-old housewife said those who criticised her husband were still stuck in the “old school of thought”.

Loving couple: Alias busy in his small study while his wife attends to him at their house in Kuala Berang yesterday.

She said there was nothing wrong in talking openly about sex between married couples.

“He is being honest about sex because he is concerned that the social ills among students are quite high. It’s important not to have illicit sex. People should scrap the mentality that sex education is taboo.”

Alias, a Bahasa Malaysia teacher at SMK Menerong, was the inaugural recipient of the state-initiated Tokoh Nilam award to honour an ourstanding teacher.

He had then said his secret to remaining active was to read, have an intellectual discussion with his wife and having sex nightly.

Meanwhile, Alias, 42, who insisted that he was not a hypocrite and was encouraging only legitimate sex, said he was disappointed by certain parties who were attempting to discredit him. “Many people in Kuala Berang shook hands and congratulated me after Friday prayers saying that I was different from other teachers. A day prior to that, a group of teachers in Hulu Terengganu threw a party for me for winning the award,” he added.

Alias also revealed that his handphone was flooded with a huge number of SMSes after his story appeared in The Star on May 31 with most praising him.

The couple still sleep on a mattress and live in a wooden house because his salary is spent on buying books and other reading material.

The couple’s eldest son, Moham-mad Sallehuddin, 24, said his father was a “sporting” person who openly discussed matters that were taboo in other families.

“He teaches us to be humble while advising us not to indulge in illicit sexual relationships,” he said.

“To me, we have the best dad.”