SIBU: The family of centenarian Tiong Pik Lang threw a dinner party of 130 tables at a leading hotel here in conjunction with her auspicious 100th centenary grand birthday recently.
More than 1,000 guests attended the dinner, including Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, pastors, friends and relatives from far and near.
Two special programmes entailing singing cum dancing performance entitled “Blessed Birthday” and “Abundant Blessings from God” presented by Tiong’s family members won overwhelming rounds of applause from all the guests.
According to a press release issued by her family, Tiong was born in Sibu and received her education at SMK Chung Cheng, SMK Tung Hua and Methodist Girls School.
“We are so proud to see excellent marks in her school report card which we treasure and still keep it. Her parents had decided to send her for further studies in Singapore. But four days after she graduated Junior Middle Three, the Second World War and Japanese invasion of Sarawak spoiled her dreams.
“Nevertheless, it was blessing in disguise! During the Japanese Occupation, she was given six months training in Japanese language. Thereafter she was posted to current SJK Kwong Kion in Sarikei to teach Japanese language.
“Till now she can sing Japanese songs entitled “Sakura” etc. According to her, she experienced very good treatment from Japanese army, unlike the usual comment of cruel treatment from Japanese”.
Tiong’s experience was also recorded in a local book entitled, “Their Three years and Eight Months” published by Sarawak Chinese Culture Association.
A few years ago, professors from Japanese University, Australia University and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) even came all the way to interview her to get first-hand knowledge about her experience during the Japanese Occupation.
Her different experience was indeed a great surprise for them.
Apart from teaching, Tiong was also active in training students for cultural performance (singing, dancing and musical instruments) at various places during weekends.
After the Second World War, she became a teacher in Do Nang Primary School at Engkilo. It was very significant to her as the land of this school and church together was donated by her parents.
Besides working as a teacher, she was a committed Christian, served as chairperson of Church Women Group for more than a decade and treasurer of Methodist Women Group of Sibu Central Zone for many years.
A few years after marriage, she resigned from teaching and became a full time housewife looking after her nine children.
“We are so grateful and blessed to have such a loving and caring mother. Our mum always taught us to be humble, patient, honest, helpful, joyful, kind, polite, thrifty, neat and clean in clothing, respect the elders, reverent to God and all the good moral values for character building.
“We were constantly reminded, ‘Giving is more blessed than receiving’, rejoice in the Lord always, don’t bully others, do grab opportunity as not every day is sunny.
“We discovered that all this while she had fed us with all the spiritual food of God. We really appreciated her teachings and discipline. We hope we can be the salt and light in our society.
Apart from this, Tiong is also highly respected by people around her. Though she had left teaching for so long, she is still called teacher by all people known to her.
At a centenary age, she is so blessed with pinkish face, no obvious wrinkles, no red mark in health screening, enjoy good sleep and good appetite without any necessity to control her diet.
“We all pray that she will continue to be blessed with the best of health, all the best in everything, and full blessings every day”, the press release added.
