My memories of participating in cockfighting date back to the early 1960s. It was during the opening of the new primary school in Melupa, Saratok. Initially, the cockfights were organized to raise funds for the local council school, which later transitioned to a government school and eventually became a full-fledged primary school with a primary six class within its first six years.
My father (Apai) was always appointed as the ‘tuai sabung’ (cockfight chief judge) after being elected as the pioneer treasurer of the school committee, despite having no accounting knowledge and being unable to read or write. He referred to himself as ‘talijera,’ the Iban equivalent of treasurer. With the assistance of other trusted individuals, he managed the accounts effectively.
In the early days, the cockfights were known as ‘nyabung betinggang’ (siding cockfights), where individuals had to choose a side—either downriver (ili) or upriver (ulu). Residents from the downriver area supported the ‘ili’ region, while those from the upriver area supported the ‘ulu’ region. It was strictly prohibited for individuals from one side to enter the territory of the other. Violating this rule could result in a significant fine, sometimes as high as RM50, a considerable sum during the early 1960s.
Nonetheless, there were no significant breaches of these regulations in Melupa and its neighbouring areas. The community strictly adhered to the rules, and as far as I was aware, no one was penalized during that time. Most of the cockfights held between 1962 and 1967 were conducted with proper licenses.
Moving ahead to my working days starting in 1979, I continued to enjoy attending both licensed and unlicensed cockfights. Even while working in Bintangor at the Rejang Teachers College (now IPG Rajang), I frequently visited Sibu on weekends, staying with my eldest brother Edward Jelani at Rejang Park. There, I accompanied him and his friends to cockfights in nearby areas, occasionally travelling as far as Bintulu for major licensed cockfights.On ordinary weekends, we frequented nearby locations such as Sung
ai Merah, Batu 6, Batu 8, and others. Sungai Merah was the usual spot for unlicensed cockfights. We encountered police interruptions a few times in the backyard of a local coffee shop in Sungai Merah.
Once, I was even held at gunpoint by an Indian police officer, but a distraction allowed me to escape and quickly change my attire in a restroom. I always wore two shirts then, one over the other.
During one incident, we had to flee when someone alerted us that the police were approaching. It happened on Chinese New Year’s day. We sought refuge at the residence of the Kapitan, where we extended New Year greetings. He graciously treated us to Martel, whose colour resembled that of the nearby Sungai Merah River. By the time we departed, the police had left, having apprehended a few individuals to placate our friend, their boss Inspector Jonathan Jalin (JJ), who later became a retired police superintendent and a practising advocate and solicitor in Kuching.
Over the years from 1979 to 1983, I attended several unlicensed cockfights in Sibu. I recall a cockpit in Batu 6 owned by Nyandang (now deceased), a fervent cockfighting enthusiast who wagered against local Chinese cockfighting enthusiasts. On one occasion, he faced at least four opponents and emerged victorious in all matches, using his winnings to treat us to beer worth over RM200 from a nearby stall.
Among those present was my cousin Datuk Amar Endawie Enchana (now deceased), who later served as the Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand.
In 1983, at my last unlicensed cockfight in Sibu, held at Mile 8, Jalan Oya, I placed a bet and won nearly RM1,000. Subsequently, I joined a poker game next to the cockfighting arena, using my winnings as capital. While slightly intoxicated, I engaged in a bluff, wagering RM1,000 with just three cards. Although the pot was valued at around RM800, my bluff succeeded due to the strength of my hand, winning me the entire pot.
In 1988, in Julau, I purchased a young Americano breed chicken for RM80, which a Chinese teacher helped me raise. By August, the fowl had matured into an impressive claret-feathered cockerel. During the National Day celebrations, a licensed cockfight was organized in Sarikei. Accompanied by the Chinese teacher, I transported my cockerel to Sarikei to meet my brother Edward. Following some early afternoon wins at the ‘si ki poi’ game, we wagered my claret gamecock against a formidable all-black cockerel from Betong, requiring two individuals to handle it during the fight. Despite being the underdog, my claret rooster emerged victorious, earning us a substantial sum. I had to spend a significant amount on beer to thank my supporters. The jockey from Sarikei earned RM300, while my brother Edward skillfully handled the spurs and earned RM500.
While these cockfights were entertaining, I remained cautious of the dangers posed by the sharp spurs. A close friend suffered an injury from a spur to his thigh, taking considerable time to recover. Regrettably, I later learned that a young buddy from Sibu had succumbed to a severe leg wound caused by a spur.
Continue to enjoy cockfighting, but always be mindful of the risks associated with the spurs. Best of luck to all enthusiasts!
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.
