Sarawak is like a dragon that is awakening and only starting to unfold its wings – it hasn’t even flown yet and has yet to use its awesome fiery breath. – Datuk Beatrice Nirmala, founder and CEO of The IBR Asia Group Sdn Bhd, and writer
I am writing this in Sarawak, at the Kuching International Airport. AirAsia is late again – yawn, getting used to this. My 6 pm flight is now a 7.30 pm flight apparently.
I called my office manager and asked why he booked AirAsia again and he said, “No choice, it’s the only one with the timings you asked for.” I said, “Please-lah, I might as well spend a night and come back the next day, waiting in airports is tiring.”
I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but waiting is just tiring. I can be running around to five appointments in a day and I will feel alive and rejuvenated with all the presentations, talking to people and so on. But waiting for hours in an airport is tiring. I end up buying things I don’t need. I bought a large Sarawak-inspired hooded shawl and now sit like a purple assassin writing my piece.
I also tend to eat more than I need. A lot of John’s Pies have entered my stomach. John’s cranberry apple pie, John’s veggie mushroom pie, John’s cheese tarts …
But it was a good day. I was there to discuss the run-up to The Borneo Awards and presented the work in progress. Our meeting was chaired by Datuk Dr. Abdullah Zaidel, the Deputy State Secretary and attended by all those who would play a role in the event. From the venue, Riverside Majestic to leaders from EPU to Majlis Seni Sarawak to UKAS and more. Datuk gave some splendid ideas on bringing World Bank leaders and UBS leaders to join the plenary session which will see ministers and business leaders talk about business opportunities in Borneo. We are working on that.
He also suggested a few names that should be considered for the Awards and we are working with the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment to reach out to more Sarawakian companies and also to Brunei and Indonesian companies.
The Borneo Awards is the first of its kind – celebrating the successes, dynamism, excellence and promise of Borneo, which is set to become the next major economic hub of South East Asia, owing to its rich ecosystem, vast stores of natural minerals and resources, dynamic population, strategic location and forward-thinking policies.
Conceptualised and produced by The IBR Asia Group and hosted by the Sarawak government, the Awards will garner 500 of the who’s who of top corporate and government decision makers in the region to celebrate organisations and individuals that have made an impact on business and economy in Borneo.
It’s an honour to have both the top men in Sarawak grace the occasion – His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the Governor of Sarawak who will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, our chief guest, who will be giving the keynote address.
And I am probably letting the cat out of the bag a bit soon, but New Sarawak Tribune will be launching a new book they are publishing and those of you reading this will know the author very well.
It’s me! Surprise, surprise.
They are compiling the best of all my contributions and producing a book – Through The Looking Glass, and it will launched on stage by the CEO of New Sarawak Tribune and Suara Sarawak, Datuk Dr. Jeniri Amir, with the forward by Rajah Murugaiah, an editor at New Sarawak Tribune.
It’s actually my first book ever. Although I run a media and public relations house, I am always interviewing people and being behind the camera and not in front of it. It was New Sarawak Tribune, through the brainchild of Rajah that made me start contributing a weekly column on my personal life experiences and now, here’s the book!
Quite excited actually, and we will also be selling the e-version on Amazon. But remember, you read the book first, here in New Sarawak Tribune from a year ago.
My journey with Sarawak will be a long one, I can see that. I like the place, I respect its vision and I can see the greatness it harbours. Sarawak is like a dragon that is awakening and only starting to unfold its wings – it hasn’t even flown yet and has yet to use its awesome fiery breath.
I see myself setting up a subsidiary here soon and spending more time here. With Nusantara moving here within two years, the energy will become even more exciting and the future looks very colourful indeed.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune. Feedback can reach the writer at beatrice@ibrasiagroup.com
