‘There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.’
– Walt Disney, American motion picture and television producer.
Dear friends, I am on top of the world because my book “Straight from the Heart” has just been published.
No rewards for those of you who guessed correctly. Yes, the book is a collection of the weekly columns I wrote for the New Sarawak Tribune over the course of a few years.
2022 has so far been a good year for me and I thank God for the blessings He has bestowed on me.
First, I have been promoted in my job, then I attended an inspirational talk by leading media personality and Sarawak Media Group chief executive officer, Suhaimi Sulaiman. Now, my first book — and hopefully, not my last — is out.
Here, I would like to record my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the chief executive officer of New Sarawak Tribune and Suara Sarawak, Dr Jeniri Amir, for making possible the publication of my book and always encouraging my colleagues and I to reach for the stars.
Dr Jeniri, who reads an average of eight books a month, excluding the magazines and eight news portals he peruses every day, believes we are what we read. A former lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), he also wears many hats; he is also a political analyst and author among many other things.
Back to the book now. Published by Tribune Press Sdn Bhd, it is for sale at RM50 per copy and is available from the New Sarawak Tribune’s office at MetroCity in Matang, Kuching.
The selected columns in my ‘Straight from the Heart’ book are on different human interest issues that touched my heart.
As a columnist, I believe I can only write well if I know a subject well and feel passionate about it. Hence, the title of my columns.
The ideas for the columns came from various media sources including social media. Some were personal sharing of my experiences at home as an auntie to many nephews and nieces at home, as a worker in the workplace and as traveller along the road or in other places.
Some were pretty easy to write; they came in the wink of an eye. Others were harder to write; I had to burn the midnight oil.
When I was first asked to write weekly columns for the New Sarawak Tribune, I jumped at the idea. It was an opportunity to practise my writing skills which had taken me many decades to learn and master.
Having risen from the rank and file in my journalism career, I do not want to forget what I have learnt.
As a deputy executive editor now, I seldom have the chance to write reports for my newspaper or go for special assignments outside Kuching City.
I started working for The Sarawak Tribune, predecessor of the New Sarawak Tribune, as a reporter cum photographer in 1980.
I began my journalsim career by working for a Sibu-based daily, the Sarawak Herald in the late 70s after completing my Upper Six.
Since then, I have worked for various newspapers including the Brunei-based Borneo Bulletin when it was still a weekly as a staff correspondent in Kuching, the Eastern Times in Kuching as associate editor and the Sarawak Tribune in various capacities including news editor and feature editor.
Looking back, I have had much fun writing my ‘Straight from the Heart’ columns, poking fun at myself when I faced tremendous challenges in life such as the time I was looking after my sick mother on top of a demanding office job.
Because they were written at different times, the columns also highlighted the different hobbies I enjoyed like gardening, baking and reading.
With the passage of time, I find I can write better columns, thanks to the experiences I gain as I grow older.
When I was a student at St Elizabeth’s Secondary School, my teachers helped me build a strong foundation in the English language.
I have never thought what I wrote in my columns in New Sarawak Tribune would, one day, end up in a book. Once again, I would like to thank Dr Jeniri for giving me a chance to display my works.
I hope readers will laugh at life, feel better and happier after reading my book. I also hope students will learn to write better English.
Thank you to all my friends in Angkatan Zaman Mansang, Kuching Connections Toastmasters Clubs and former classmates for buying my book.
