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Synopsis

Mr Hashim talked about the job he held before he got a letter to attend an interview with Radio Singapura. How he saw the Broadcasting Assistant job advertisement. When he was invited to attend a voice test and how he went for the interview. Talked about what happened at the voice test and his feelings about it. How he practiced to be a broadcaster even before he was called for the voice test and his friends’ reactions. His fantasy of becoming a broadcaster.  His family’s knowledge of his job application. Why he did not stay with his family in Malacca then and who he stayed with when he was travelling. His trip to Singapore for the voice test. The limited choice of transportation to and fro Singapore-Malaysia then.  Described his experience meeting Zahara Zaba at the voice test. How he felt about his performance at the voice test. A letter asking him to do a medical check-up in Singapore a few weeks later. Related what he did and why he did the check-up in Negeri Sembilan. A letter to attend an interview a few months later. His experience and feelings at the interview, the interviewers and his knowledge of who the chairman of the panel, Tony Beamish was after he started working. The questions he was asked at the interview and how he felt after the interview. His coming to Singapore on 3 January 1961 to start work.

The salary he received, how he felt about it and the pay structure. Why he was only a temporary staff. The benefits given at that time. His family’s reaction to his job and their expectations of him. He described his first day at work, his expectations, feelings and what he saw.  The different sections in the company. How news from overseas were sent to the office. What he thought of the equipment. How the records were kept in the company.  The people he met at the company on his first day of work and why it was difficult to meet everyone. The reception of those he met. The seniors whom he assisted at the start.  Related how he learned on-the-job as there was no formal training then. Described a learning experience working with En. Zain Mahmood, who was then working with Radio Singapura.  His realization how the songs played on air were selected.  Formal training only started about twenty years later.  How quickly he was allowed to go on air on his own. Related how he learned from his mistakes. How he prepared for his sessions at the start and the comments/criticisms made by seniors on his live presentations. Talked about how comments or criticisms were delivered then and how he handled them. Described what he did to improve his skills.
 
Mr. Hashim gave a description of the schedule given to him at the start, what he had to do and the preparations he did before going on air.  Working with an operation assistant.  His feelings the first time he went on air and how he felt after the session ended. Shared a few tips he learnt when he was sent for training in Holland.