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The late Nurazlinda "Linda" Ariffin (96) XLH883 (Mrs. Silvester "Ditch Hopper" Loo) (April 11th.1966 - May 25th.1996)
Linda Loo Ariffin
1993 Sportster Hugger XLH 883
Below are articles from Newspapers & Magazines
Taken
From
: HMOC Newsletter (23rd. August 1996)
Volume
1
Number 1
The Newsletter of the Harley Motorcycle Club Malaysia (HMOC)
IN MEMORY OF LINDA
This issue of the HMOC Newsletter is dedicated in memory of Nurazlinda Ariffin, wife of Silvester Loo. It is with deepest regret that we accept the loss of this lovely Lady of Harley, the first Malaysian Harley-Davidson fatality.
Linda was a jovial and popular biker who loved to ride and joke. Unfortunately, her life came to an unnecessary, tragic end on Saturday, 25th. May 1996, after she was knocked off her bike by a lorry.
A witness immediately brought her to the Tawakal Hospital at her request, but she passed away due to severe internal injuries.
After a desperate series of phone calls by Gary Sharman and friends, Silvester was located in Ho Chi Minh City in Viet-Nam and returned in time for the funeral the next day, Sunday 26th. May 1996.
The funeral was attended by a group of bikers as a show of support. Sincere condolences were expressed to Silvester Loo and family by the HMOC Committee.
May she rest in peace.
23 August 1996 Page 3
Taken From : New Straits Times (24th. July 1996)
8 WEDNESDAY, JULY 24,1996
In your LIFE & TIMES tomorrow
REMEMBERING NURAZLINDA
FUN-LOVING Nurazlinda Ariffin and husband Silvester Loo in happier times. Nurazlinda, however died in a road accident on May 25. Her sister-in-law shares an insight into this bubbly woman.
Taken From : New Straits Times (25th. July 1996)
NEW STRAITS TIMES, THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1996 PAGE 1
LIFE & TIMES
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Untimely end of a go-getter
When Nurazlinda Ariffin got on her Harley Davidson on May 25, little did she know it would be her last ride. It was through a letter to the editor that we learnt Nurazlinda was the victim of a tragic accident. Her sister-in-law Loo Saw Kim, who wrote the letter, tells ARFAH ABDULLAH how much she misses the fun-loving girl who lit up the lives of everyone who knew her.
She wanted to be a beauty
queen and managed to be a finalist. She wanted to be a diver and went on
to be a qualified Scuba diver. She wanted to be a disc jockey and won
forth placing in the Malaysian DJ Competition.
Driven by challenges, there
was no half-way measures for Malaysia Airlines stewardess Nurazlinda
Ariffin. For her, nothing was worth doing unless you could do it the best
you could.
When she got interested in
motorcycles, Nurazlinda went through the necessary training and gained her
license to become the first female Harley Davidson rider in
Malaysia.
The life of a go-getter like
hers could only be led by someone who was adventurous, outgoing, exciting,
bubbly and daring.
On the morning of May 25,
Linda, as she was affectionately called, donned her helmet and straddled
her 883cc Harley Davidson Sportster Hugger. It would be her last ride.
At 5.30pm that day, her sister
Nuruz sobbed as she identified Linda's body at the Kuala Lumpur hospital.
Despite the injuries Linda sustained in the road accident, she looked
serene.
"I had known Linda since
she started dating my brother. She brought joy to our family and my mother
loved her like her own daughter." said Loo Saw Kim, Linda's
sister-in-law.
"She was a careful rider,
which made her sudden death so overwhelming for us all," added Loo,
who felt compelled to write the New Straits Times to thank the
strangers who helped take Linda to the hospital.
Her Harley was said to be
stationary when the accident happened. Apparently, a lorry hit the right
handle-bar, hooking it and toppling Linda together with the bike. The back
wheel of the lorry then hit her.
According to Loo, witnesses
said Linda could have been rolled over or hit by the lorry. The accident
left her with broke legs and shoulders, a ruptured kidney, a dislocated
lumbar and a badly twisted spinal cord.
The 22-year-old lorry-driver,
who had obtained his license just six months earlier, stopped his vehicle
and ran off. While Linda was suffering in pain, no one came to her aid
until a motorcyclist stopped and carried her to the side of the road. It
took a while for the motorcyclist to get more help. Finally, a motorist
stopped and they took Linda to hospital.
The motorcyclist, identified only as Remy, told Loo
that Linda must have known she was dying because she feebly asked for her
family to be contacted, and shortly after, asked him to help her read the shahada.
She died about 11.30am.
However, despite the extent of her injuries, only a few
scratches and bruises were seen on her body. It was after the post-mortem
that doctors realised the seriousness of her condition, said Loo.
"Riding the superbike was a hobby she had picked
up four years ago with my brother Silvester. Most big bike riders are
known to ride for comfort , leisure and style and not speed, so we know
that the accident was out of Linda's control," said Loo.
Loo and Nuruz expressed concern for Silvester who had a
close and loving relationship with his wife.
"Silvester was in Viet-Nam when it happened. He is working as a
deejay at the Viet Hong Hotel and left five weeks before the accident
occurred." said Loo.
"The poor man did not know what to do. He was
crying uncontrollably over the telephone. They were so much a part
of each other's life." she added, with tears in her eyes.
"They were so active and shared many interests,
especially travelling and out-door activities: dancing, swimming, roller-blading,
scuba diving, bungee jumping.......It was an exciting and fulfilling
life."
"They were even planning to start a family this
year. One condition in her job is that she had to have five years' service
before she could have children, and Linda became eligible this year.
Now all of Silvester's dreams have been shattered. He says he feels so
lost. He has lost everything, even interest in his job, which he
loves."
Silvester was supposed to go to Russia after Viet-Nam. But now, with Linda
gone, he wants to come back to Kuala Lumpur, take stock of his life and
start all over again.
"He says he wants to tell the whole world that he loved her dearly,
and that he was so proud of her. Well I was too, and so was everyone who
knew her." said Loo.
"Linda was one
gutsy lady who knew what she wanted and went for it. Armed with a
happy and positive disposition, she lit up our lives.
May Allah bless her
soul.
Taken From : 1996 (Forgotten which paper - will update)
Woman with wheel power
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Edward Rajendra interviews a lady biker with a passion for her Harley Davidson.
Other women take their cars,
or their husbands' to go grocery shopping. But Linda Ariffin takes a
Harley Davidson Sportster Hugger 883cc.
When she revs her bike and roars off to the grocery shop piercing the
silence of her neibourhood in Bandar Sri Damansara in Kepong where she
lives, her neibours knows it is the lady on the bike out for a spin or to
do the family chores.
Boys and girls come out to look and get a thrill as they see attractive
Linda in biker's gear on her RM35,000 mean machine.
Linda is matter-of-fact about her uncommon mode of transport. She
explains: "It is easier to use a bike instead of a car, as I am able
to cut down on time spent on the bumper-to-bumper crawl." And, of
course, she just loves Harley bikes.
Linda did not think twice about selling her Mazda RX7 to buy her Harley
"which to some might be a wacky idea," she said.
But to her it was a plain case of indulging in a passion. Like a typical
Harley Davidson fan, she keeps her bike in tip-top condition, lovingly
wiping off even a speck of dirt and cleaning and polishing it until its
orange painted chrome engine parts gleam even in the dim light of night.
"I have plans to upgrade it by changing the tank for a bigger
capacity and customizing it to complement my personality," she adds.
For 29-year-old Linda, getting a Harley was realizing her childhood dream
of owning the ultimate bike. "I bought my Harley bike about
one-and-a-half years ago and my life has changed," she says. Before
that, she used to ride pillion with fellow bikers.
Her love for Harley bikes when she was only seven after she saw posters of
the machines adorn her uncle's home. I always dreamt of owning a Harley,
as I remember that no women were seen on such bikes at that time,"
said Linda who grew up in Terengganu.
When she became a young woman she met international disc-jockey Silvester
Loo (pix, top left) who was into serious biking and owned a Harley. It was
a romantic relationship which also fueled her interest in biking. When he
was not spinning popular songs, "he would teach me how to handle the
bike," Linda said.
Three years ago they got married and before long Linda became a proud
owner of a Harley Davidson and won the privilege of being a member of the
exclusive Harley Owners Group.
"The rumble of a Harley Davidson is unique - a class of it's own. To
diehard buffs like me, it's music to the ears," she said as she
revved the machine to take it out of the garage.
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Although Harley bikes are Linda's passion, she also had a practical reason
for wanting to get a Harley. It could beat the traffic jam from Kuala
Lumpur to Bandar Sri Damansara, she said.
While riding her bike has brought her much pleasure, it has also cause her
a broken bone or two. "Last year I suffered a broke collar bone in an
accident when I was riding pillion during a rally from Kuala Lumpur to
Cherating when it skidded near the resort," Linda said. She said it
was a bad experience as she was warded for two months.
But this lady who believes in the maxim of Harley bikers, Live to Ride,
Ride to Live, was up on her Harley bike soon after she was discharged.
The bad experiences, however, are nothing compared to the sheer thrill of
riding her bike. "I had my solo ride to Port Dickson - all 45km of it
- just cruising with my trusted machine. "Actually the solo ride was
by accident, I somehow missed the entourage that was going to Port Dickson
and had to find my way there," she said.
Linda, who is third in a family of seven, said she is toying with the idea
of going on a solo ride to Terengganu end of this year. My nieces and
nephews are eager to see a Harley, but, sure, I know my mother is not
going to be very pleased to see me riding all the way to my kampong,"
she said.
If she finally decides and makes it to Terengganu on her Harley, it would
be one more experience of flying in the wind.
"I know many people admire big bikers. They always wonder what's it's
like to be on a superbike. Well, it feels great because you have the
chance to be free. And the glamour is there," she said expressing how
she feels when she is out on the highways riding in the freedom that her
Harley makes for her.
Twin beauties...Linda plans to go places
with her Harley.
SUNpix by Ghazali Basri
Taken From : Men & Woman Magazine (Feb.-Mar. 1995 issue)
HARLEY BABES
......I next talked to Linda Ariffin who has a XLH Sporster Hugger with a 883c.c. engine. This native of Terengganu, who works with a major airline, told me that her interest in bikes also started at an early age. "I was surrounded by uncles and cousins who sere simply crazy over bikes and I guess their enthusiasm rubbed off on me," she said.
According to her, she rode as a pillion for three years before finally getting her own bike about a year ago. "It was great getting my own bike because nothings beats getting your very own Harley to play with," she said impishly. Her own bike is basically stock except for the upgraded brakes, the chopper handlebars and having made it a single-seater.
"But apart form the bike," Linda added, "the outfit also is of interest to us as it adds a touch of glamour as well as giving us protection should we fall. I have customized my jackets and vests and other items with extra studs and tassels to give them more class."
Linda Ariffin (standing) with Jamilah
Wadan (seating)
MAS In-flight Magazine (March 1990) "Photo-shoot Modeling"
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Taken From : The Star Newspaper (5th.November 1990)
REAL WILD ONE: "Because I'm female, I
have to keep proving my worth as a deejay by showing more
creativity.....," says Linda.
This one's up to scratch
HER fright wig firmly in place, Linda 'Loo' Ariffin, the only woman competitor in the 3rd. Malaysian Open Disc Jockey competition, gave an impressive performance that showed up her male counterparts.
The 24-year-old Terengganu lass began disc jockeying three years ago and with her inclusion in the contest, she has dispelled the myth that women deejays can't cut it.
"Because I'm female, I have to keep on proving my worth as a disc jockey by showing a little more creativity than the others. I have to put in that extra effort but most of all, I always have to have a gimmick. If not, the moment anyone knows that there's a female disc jockey in the disco, they'll go eurgkh!"
Having worked in several discos around Kuala Lumpur, Linda has picked up the skill of crowd-reading (knowing what type of music turns the audience on) and the art of music mixing. Although she made a couple of slip-ups during her performances, she was the only deejay to rap in Malay, borrowing a piece from a son by the Flybaits, saying that she felt a need to be different.
However, she too felt that the judges had short-changed the obvious winners of the competition, Maverick Teh and Harry Krishnan. "The judges aren't clear about the techniques that disco disc jockeys have to use. It's not easy doing a good scratch and it's a lot different from what a radio or mobile deejay does," she said.
"For someone to pull off using more than their hands to spin a record is pretty impressive. Building a rapport with the crowd is also important, so that they respond to your antics," she added.
And according to one of the organisers, a major part of the points allotted to each performer rested on vocal control, techinque and creativity.
Taken From : Malay Mail Newspaper (3rd. May 1990)
She's a DJ by choice
THREE years have past since Linda Ariffin (above) gave up a good job at a computer firm for a career behind the console. And today, she still has no regrets despite the long hours. Says Linda: "I love music and the long hours do not really bother me. "The moment I got the opportunity to spin records, I quit my job with the computer firm," reminisces Linda.
Her first stint behind the console was at the Federal Club of Federal Hotel. However, her interest in deejaying would not have take off if not for her boyfriend. "He is the resident deejay at Shah Alam Holiday Inn," says Linda. I followed him there on my off days and soon it became my ambition to try my luck at deejaying."
Her boyfriend, whose stage name is Silvester the Cat, also taught her the ropes. "It was tough at first but, thanks to his encouragement, I managed," says Linda. Now the whole thing is a cinch."
Linda says being female creates problems too. "There is always the drunken patron who wants to have it his way with the deejay," she adds. In such a situation, Linda tries to be tactful and talks politely to the person concerned. So far, the gentle treatment has worked. I hope it will continue to work," she sys thoughtfully.
Third in a family of seven, Linda, from Terengganu, says her family at first had strong reservations about her opting for a career behind the console. "They were not exactly jumping for joy, but they have reconciled themselves to the fact now," reveals Linda. "After all, we have to cari makan."
On her future plans, Linda hopes to become a radio deejay. And RTM can count on receiving her application when it advertise for such personnel.
She is deejaying at the Pink Cadillac Lounge - formerly Club Casablanca - in Jalan Raja Laut. "We only play yesteryear hits and people longing for hits from that period can find it here," says Pink Cadillac operations manager Michael Tan. "We hope to bring in a three-piece band to provide the music later but, for now, it will just music form a deejay," says Michael.
Apart form dancing patrons, the Pink Cadillac can also look forward to karaoke. A karaoke section has been set up. Michael says this section will only play English songs. Although open for business, the management will have an official opening ceremony on May 24.
Taken From: New Straits Times (19th. January 1990)
A friendly wave from LINDA goes a long
way.
Doing well in a demanding job
A Disc Jockey's life is demanding even for a man. Because of this there are not many woman willing to give up a steady job to be a DJ in a discotheque.
Linda,23, however, is one girl who has not regretted doing so. It was the love for music that prompted her to give up her job in a computer company to manage a music machine a few years ago. Today she is one of the few female DJs around who have made it to the top of the business.
She says the reason for her taking up this challenge was the love for music and the liking for meeting people. Linda, who has been a DJ for about two-and-a-half years, became one when she answered an advertisement for a DJ's job in Kuala Lumpur. The interview went well and she found herself learning the finer points of being a DJ with her first attachment in Kuala Lumpur.
Later, she moved to Penang and joined a firm which specialises is supplying DJs and music equipment. Now, Linda is the only female DJ in Pulau Langkawi at the Langkawi Island Resort's Legenda Disco. The island also provides the ideal spot for her to pursue her favourite pastimes, which include swimming, snorkeling and camping.
Linda intends to work for another five years but has not decide on what to do after that. She knows that being a DJ is not easy but so far things have worked out well with her.
Taken From: New Straits Times (27th. October 1990)
Eyeing a place in the disco scene
By KHARLEEZ ZUBIN
After dark she spins and makes the crowd go crazy and that's what Linda "Loo" Ariffin loves doing for a living. The 24-year-old disc jockey learned the trade three years ago and is trying to make a name for herself on the disco music scene, a male-dominated field.
"I am trying to learn as much as possible about sound systems and various techniques in remixing music," says Loo. After a two-year stint at the Federal Club in Kuala Lumpur, the outspoken disc jockey moved to the Langkawi Island Resort.
"After a few months I got a better offer in Penang at the Hippodrome Discotheque." After spinning at several joints in Penang she moved back to Kuala Lumpur. Currently, she is pulling in the crowd at the Holiday Villa in Subang Jaya.
The girl from Terengganu was spotted at Caesar's Discotheque in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday night in the company of several disc jockeys. And Loo, a first timer in the competition, "out-spinned " about 30 contestants since the event started in September and is the only female among the eight finalists.
Taken From: The Star Newspaper (19th. December 1988)
No self pity for deejay Linda Ariffin
Linda...passed form relative to relative
Anybody less resilient than Linda Ariffin would have ended up a psychological mess. She never saw her army officer father who died before she was born. And when her mother remarried, Linda felt that she shouldn't encroach on the new family. And so she was passed from aunt to aunt and from relative to relative.
Linda never indulged in self pity. Her bubbly nature wouldn't allow this. "I'm a survivor", she said. Her relatives surround her golden oldies while her gang was in the latest in pop music.
She spent two years in a boarding school in Kuantan before she found a job in an insurance brokerage firm and later, a computer company. But all the while, she was just waiting to heed the call of music. And in January, that call found expression when Linda became a deejay in the Federal Hotel's Supper Club.
"I learn all the time and I just love music. All kinds. And I'm able to adjust myself to the different generations that come here," she said. "I learnt to appreciate the oldies when I was growing up at the homes of my aunts who enjoyed them very much. And with my gang, it was pop music. So you see, my past is paying up now," Linda said.
But now and again, nostalgia strikes. I miss all the fun I had in Terengganu with my gang, especially the snorkeling," she said.
