Few Sarawakians pay attention to history and because of that they lose sight of their proud heritage.
Old Kuching was enchanting for a long time but along the way the tide of time wiped out the memory of two generations of historic events.
Having grown up in Kuching since 1967, I remember the time when English was the lingua franca, and the students took pride in mastering the language.
However, in 1970 Bahasa Malaysia (BM) replaced the English language as the medium of instruction in schools and the rot set in.
But who can blame us if Malaysia’s founding fathers’ thought that this decision was made in the interest of the people when it was the opposite!
It was a Sarawakian lawyer who studied in England and when he became the education minister, he introduced BM into our education system.
Today, as you can see, books written in English are not as popular as those in the national language.
Ironically in 2015, it was Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak, a Sabahan, who mentioned about writers from Sabah and Sarawak.
He said that his ministry would play a role in promoting the literary works of young writers from both states in terms of publishing their work.
While opening the Sabah literature seminar jointly organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Universiti Malaya’s Academy of Malay Studies and Badan Bahasa dan Sastera Sabah, Dr Salleh said: “The ministry is always thinking of ways to assist young writers from Sabah and Sarawak in this aspect, thus contributing to developing the creative industry.”
He said that after more than 50 years of the country’s independence, both states had not yet managed to produce a national laureate.
However, he was quick to add: “I understand that only one writer from Sarawak, Jong Chian Lai, had received the (national laureate) award in 2006.
He also praised Sabah for promoting portraying the state as a place of knowledge, culture and literature, for boosting the publishing sector.
But back to the publishing books written in English, it’s interesting to read about the comments in social media that the standard of our English teachers is so bad that, even some of their students surpass them in the use of language.
Which brings us to the question of why books on Sarawak’s history have never made it to the National Library in Kuala Lumpur.
If I thought that any of my books, written in English and some translated in Malay, would reach the shores of Peninsular Malaysia then I was only dreaming.
However, kudos to the Sarawak State Library at Petra Jaya which hosts various talks with the local media – both English and BM.
Even though none of my books have made it to the National Library in Kuala Lumpur, I am happy that my Sarawak stories could be shared by the people in libraries all over the state.
Among some of the books I have written covering politics, security, environment and the people of Sarawak are: “A Gentleman’s Victory for Taib Mahmud” (1987), “Bruno Manser: The Inside Story” (1993), “Tun Ahmad Zaidi – Son of Sarawak” (2000), “Crimson Tide Over Borneo: Untold Police Stories and Cessation of the Sarawak Communist Insurgency” (2011) and Journey into the Central Highlands of Borneo (2015).
On the environment, I have written, “Who gives a DAM! The Bakun Odyssey” (2009) which is the story of the making of the Bakun dam with details of the 20 tribes who vacated the Balui river system, a tributary of the 570 km Rajang River – Malaysia’s longest river-to enable the country to tap hydro power potential.
For their sacrifice the government compensated the communities, gave them parcels of land and a resettlement housing scheme at Sungei Asap scheme where 10,000 people have been relocated and is not far from the 2,400 KW Bakun dam.
On culture, I have five books – about Kenyah-Kayan paramount chief Temenggong Oyong Lawai Jau entitled “The Legacy” (2006), “Limbang-Crown Jewel of the North” (2006) on the Orang Ulu and Malays of Limbang and Lawas, “The Life Story of Kapit Paramount chief Temenggong Koh” (2009), another most famous Iban leader “Rentap Warrior, Legend and Enigma (2009) and “Penan on the Move : A Reporter’s Travelogue” (2011).
The Penan book is about how this indigenous tribe, transforming from a nomadic to a settled existence, as they attempt to cope with the social and environmental changes that have accompanied development over one generation.
Indeed, thanks to the Sarawak Library, all my books covering some important historical events such as the rise and fall of the Sarawak Clandestine Organisation, are available in the library.
On December 18, 2013 I was honoured at an exhibition to “celebrate” my 40 years as a journalist and writer at the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak where paraphernalia pertaining to my work such as old newspaper cuttings, note books, pictures and journalism awards were displayed for the public to share.
Officiating at the exhibition, Minister in the Chief Minister’s office Tan Sri Adenan Satem appreciated the fact that I had chronicled a wide range of subjects on Sarawak’s modern history, especially the era of the fourth Chief Minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Commenting on my books at my exhibition, the late Adenan said I was a contemporary historian and added tongue-in cheek: “The range of subjects that he covers is almost comprehensive…now that he has written 26 books we hope that God will give him the opportunity to write another 26 books and hopefully one of them will be the biography of Adenan Satem.”
True to prediction, Adenan was appointed chief minister of Sarawak two months later on February 28 after his predecessor Taib resigned.
And as fate would have it, following his sudden demise on January 17, 2017 I started writing “The Life of Adenan Satem”.
In keeping with my philosophy that everybody had a story to tell, I continue to write, re-write or edit as well as help others publish at least one or two books a year.
By the end of the 2019 I would have 40 books to my credit.
Even though some of the books I’ve written may never see the light of day due to lack of financial support, I haven’t given up.
Who knows, one day one of my books may even be a best seller and I may have the last laugh!
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
