Turning 70 but feeling I’m still 40

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LAST Sunday on Oct 20, I turned 70, a significant milestone. At 70 I am still me, still thinking that I am 40 and rocking on stage.

But in reality, life is certainly not the same and I don’t have the Elvis swagger anymore. There have been fewer singing engagements after the pandemic and after the demises of fellow Elvis tribute artistes Elvis of Kuching Ges Barundang who was better known as Elges Presley as well as Elvis of Sarawak titleholder the late Eskandar Eyaw.

Nevertheless, we have to keep our club, the Elvis Presley Fan Club of Sarawak (EPFCS), alive, thereby necessitating some shows as we are registered with RoS.

Upon turning 70, I have to be grateful for my mom (Indai) whose labour and delivery led to my very existence to this world of the living and not to mention dad’s (Apai’s) role too. Both were vital in my early development and later educational achievement.

When I looked at my late Indai’s back, her scars reminded me of the pain she had to undergo subsequent to my birth – in those days an Iban mother had to sit with her back just inches from the burning wood, a mandatory process a woman had to undergo to get her wounds and delivery ailments speedily healed apart from keeping the body warm, a post-delivery requirement before she could regain her usual good state of health.

Those scars reminded me of her pain and courage as well as determination in bringing to the world an extra burden, extra responsibilities as well as extra mouth to feed.

Apai too was equally burdened by me not to mention playing a similarly responsible role in looking after my existence and upbringing, especially sharing his love of folklore and literary pursuits as a bard.

It was from him that I learned to love Iban folklore and literature as well as the practice of bard chanting and vocals. He taught me that patience and perseverance were vital in achieving excellence in these pursuits and other educational endeavours.

Mom’s scars implied her love and care and that an offspring should return in reciprocity. I found out throughout our togetherness that her love for her children was pure and simple; on top of it, unconditional. It was truly a mother’s love, unrivalled and unequalled.

For that my conscience was clear, as I tried my best to reciprocate, giving her my love in return, providing for her and Apai’s needs the best I could. When they were in Kuching between 1985 and 1987, I let them try staying in classy hotels for a night or two while my wife and I would stay next door or at times with our toddler daughter, leaving our house to our two maids.

Despite not as being strong as before I am contented to be still able to work as an editor, thanks to my very understanding and caring CEO Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir, whom I have known since our varsity days in USM, Penang in 1978.

I feel great in the office and really enjoy my job as a sports editor. At the same time, I enjoy writing my column AS I SEE IT that I have kept writing since 2017.

For the record I started the Berita Iban of Utusan Borneo in 2006 and became its pioneer editor. I served with Utusan Borneo since starting the Iban Section of the daily and was transferred to the Borneo Post as news editor since 2019. In 2011 I moved to join New Sarawak Tribune.

It was in 2011 that I started contributing articles in Iban to Utusan Sarawak under its Iban Section Sada Sarawak. In 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 I won first prize in the Iban News Writing category. That five consecutive wins were a proud achievement. But the Iban book that was fully edited ‘Anak Menua Ulu’ was never published. After a long wait, my first book in English titled ‘Longhouse to City’ was first published in 2022. It comprises some of my articles from my column AS I SEE IT.

Outside the office I have been actively involved in the development of Iban music since 2008. Under the late Tan Sri Celestine Ujang I served as Publicity Chief of the DAMA (Dayak Artistes and Musicians Association and continued to do so when the body was led by Datuk Snowdan Lawan in 2010. In scouting I served as Sarawak Publicity Commissioner till my resignation in 2019. For these efforts I was bestowed the Ahli Bintang Kenyalang (ABK) medal award by then Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in Oct 2016, a few days after I turned 62.