Author: Harry Henry Julin

Uncle John

I remember Uncle John boiling coffee in a tin pot on a rusty kerosene stove at midnight. It was odd and amazing how he always seemed to be cooking or frying something at such strange hours whenever I spent the night at his house in the southern end of our

Unforgiving Man

Pilu was a man of unwavering resolve, a sturdy figure whose stoic demeanour often concealed the emotions that swirled beneath the surface. Known for his fierce disposition, he had earned a reputation that made many think twice before crossing him. I first encountered Pilu in 1960. I was just seven

The Go-between

‘Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.’ – Maya Angelou (1928-2014). She was an acclaimed American author, poet, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her series of autobiographies, which explore themes of identity, racism, family,

Constitutional dynamics: Sabah and Sarawak perspectives

The provisions concerning constitutional amendments in Malaysia underscore specific considerations for the states of Sabah and Sarawak, particularly regarding their unique status and rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. Special Interests: When a proposed constitutional change impacts the distinct rights, borders, or privileges of Sabah and Sarawak as outlined in

The Unconventional Villager

‘To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882). He was an American philosopher, essayist, and poet, best known as a central figure in the transcendentalist movement. He emphasised individualism, self-reliance, and the inherent goodness

The Medicine Man

In the late 1950s, when I was of preschool age but was not in school — because there was no preschool in our remote rural village — a ruffled, long-haired man frequently passed by our farmhouse. My family’s paddy farm was several miles from our village at the foot of

The Dreamer

Outwardly, Tukau seemed like an ordinary man. He was thoughtful, kind, and helpful — just as normal as anyone else in our village. But he had one remarkable difference: he dreamt more vividly than others. In the late 1950s, when I was of preschool age, I often heard him sharing

A Boat to Nowhere

IN the early 1960s, down in our little village at the foot of a grand old mountain, Mount Sadung in Serian District, about forty miles from Kuching, lived an eccentric fellow named Beh Rud.  Now, it isn’t too odd to have a rowboat, mind you, but having one far from

Three Remarkable Women

‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’ – Helen Keller (1880–1968). She was an American author, activist, and lecturer who became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. In the 1950s and ’60s, in our village — a little slice of

The Wandering Trader

I still remember a wandering petty trader who graced our farming community during my childhood in the 1950s and early 1960s. Seemingly without a permanent home, he traversed the landscape, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a yearning for new experiences. The joy lay in the journey rather than in