By Natasha Jee & Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING: Dalat assemblywoman Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah is fascinated by a 70-year-old parang (knife) which was used to chop rumbia (sago) trees in the olden days.
The 10cm wide and three-foot long knife looks like a Japanese samurai broadsword but is slightly bigger in size.
Fatimah came across the parang when visiting an old house belonging to Federick Kiming in Dalat.
He had offered his house to be renovated and used as a Tadika Kemas (Community Development Department kindergarten).
“Presently, Tadika Kemas Kampung Baru is sharing the facilities of the Kampung Kekan Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Balai Raya (community hall).
“So, we went to have a look at the house to see how much it will cost to renovate. That was when we saw the old parang.
“It was the biggest parang I have ever seen and it was so heavy,” Fatimah told New Sarawak Tribune on Monday (Mar 29).
Asked if there were plans to display the parang in a museum in future, Fatimah said she had to discuss them with the owner first before announcing the next steps.
“But we hope it can be displayed at the proposed Sago Industry Development Gallery.
“It will be an interesting piece to display. People can see the tools used to cut the rumbia trees and to trim their skins and how the flour is processed,” she said.
She felt that it was not suitable to place the parang at the Melanau Heritage Gallery.
On the relocation of Tadika Kemas Kampung Baru, Fatimah said she was still waiting for the estimated cost of upgrading Federick’s house.
“The project will be funded under the Minor Rural Programme (MRP) fund as Kemas does not have the funding at the moment,” she explained.
An outside view of Federick’s house. 
Fatimah with Federick (left) who has offered the use of his house as a kindergarten.
