Dr Loji Roji, who has dedicated his life to community service as a teacher, principal, and retiree, was recently awarded the Anugerah MyPesara KWAP under the Social and Community Service category. Loji reflects on his seven decades on earth, discussing the lessons he has learnt and the services he has provided.
Community enrichment through lifelong lessons
With seven decades of life’s lessons under his belt, the ones that are etched deeply within Dr Loji Roji Saibi date back to the days when he took a motor launch from his parents.
“Because back then, schools were further away from our kampung, we had to travel a distance to receive our education,” said the native of Bintangor.
After finishing primary school in his hometown, Loji attended secondary school in Kanowit.
“But the time I spent away from my parents gave me some of the most valuable lessons. I learned to be independent and self-sufficient.
“Schools were far away from home, but we had to overcome those challenges at the time. That kind of life had taught me self-discipline, which I had assumed was necessary for success,” said the 75-year-old retiree.
When he wasn’t in school, Loji recalls selling rambutans in Sibu to help his family. Growing up as a farmer’s son, he learned resilience and grit — never giving up on the path to a more comfortable lifestyle. During Form Six, Loji decided to withdraw from school, only to be called to train at the Batu Lintang Teachers College.
According to him, his school principal suggested he further his studies. His experience as a trainee teacher also shaped the course of his life. He went on to become a dedicated teacher and passionate school principal. In 1997, he earned his PhD from Queensland University, Brisbane, Australia.
In 2005, Loji was given the opportunity to start a school in Brunei from the ground up.
“The decision to establish an international school came from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. I helped with the school complex’s building and administration. When I retired for the second time in 2011 and returned to Malaysia, the school had achieved excellent results and was ranked among the top.”
Helping the community
Following his retirement in 2011, Loji pursued his own endeavours, including furthering his studies in law. In 2013, the Ministry of Education Malaysia appointed him as a senior fellow to assist in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, where he was in charge of high-performing schools in Sabah.
However, the plan was halted in 2015 due to a lack of funding. Loji soon became involved in community associations and even organised a few. His decision to return to the community after retirement was motivated by his desire to serve his kampung folks.
“Why am I helping them? It goes back to where I came from. I think that people in the village needed somebody who had obtained knowledge to pass it on to them. Otherwise, I believe that the knowledge I have acquired would be wasted,” he said.
Sharing further, Loji said that after seven decades, his village had not prospered. Thus, under the Persatuan Anak Melayu Bintangor, Meradong, Sarikei, Loji and its members successfully launched a pineapple farm project. The initial phase saw the association planting fruit on 110 acres of land.
“Meanwhile, in the second phase, the project had grown to approximately 500 acres of land. Next, I would plan a housing scheme in the area to provide a better life for the community there,” added Loji.
Loji also said that the Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA) has funded the project a total of RM6.7 million to improve the village’s infrastructure. The agency will also assist the village in completing a housing scheme with adequate facilities.
With all possibilities given, Loji provided work opportunities for the villagers while improving the community’s livelihood. He recalls how they used to live in poor conditions with no electricity, and he looks forward to the future of Kampung Sungai Kelili, Bunut, a new settlement across Bintangor township.
A passion for writing
As a former Bahasa Malaysia (BM) teacher, Loji finds solace in words, which also keep his mind active. He would write whenever he felt inspired. He has published three books to date, with a fourth coming out soon. Among the books are “Attitudes to Work: Implications for Teachers in Sarawak” (2004), “Seeds Wonder of Borneo” (2015), and “Peristiwa Berdarah 1949 di Sibu: Pejuang yang tidak didendang” (2018).
“I really enjoy writing. As a BM teacher, I have always had an interest in feature writing, which is why I decided to publish a book. Furthermore, at this age, it isn’t necessarily about the recognition and monetary basis that I would obtain, but rather that I have an avenue to express my passion for writing,” said the father of four.
In addition to being a writer, he also loves history. A vice-chairman of the Malaysian Historical Society (Sarawak Branch), the society had released a collection of works, essays and articles regarding Sarawak’s history being one of the editors of the publication.
Along with his multiple responsibilities in different community associations, Loji has received numerous Excellent Service Awards, including the Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (PPB) in 1990, the Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia (Long service medal) in 1999, and the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) in 2002. His most recent excellence service award was the Tokoh Kepimpinan Pendidikan Peringkat PPD Padawan in 2022.
Most recently, in December 2023, Loji was awarded the Anugerah MyPesara KWAP in the Social and Community Service category. Anugerah MyPesara is KWAP’s premier award recognition initiative for retired public servants who have made positive impacts in three areas: entrepreneurship, education, and social and community service.
As a grandfather to 13 grandchildren, he can sit back and reflect on his past accomplishments while working to provide many opportunities for his kampung folks.
