‘Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.‘
Melody Beattie (1948 – Present; an American author and self-help advocate best known for her book “Codependent No More” which became a popular resource for individuals seeking to overcome codependency and establish healthier relationships
THERE have been moments in my life that I cherish the most, whether it was receiving kindness from others or unexpected windfalls, such as gifts from various sources.
Since my primary school days, these moments included countless instances when I received cash upon returning to school after a weekend break.
However, the greatest happiness I experienced was when our SMK Saratok’s senior assistant, Gramong Juna (now Datuk), gave me RM30 in mid-March of 1972 as a reward for completing a mural in the school’s dining hall.
He then handed me another RM20 when I finished a mural in our Art Room shortly after.
I can vividly remember the smile on my face and my positive body language as he presented me with those valuable monetary gifts.
In those days, such an amount was equivalent to ten times its present value. A Coca-Cola bottle, for instance, costs only 25 sen compared to the current price of RM2.80.
In 1973, when I first enrolled in SMK Methodist, Sibu, I was granted a scholarship of RM270 per year.
Although it was less than the RM360 given to other students from SMK Saratok, it was still a generous gift to me.
The scholarship was disbursed to my BSN account around May of that year, making it an incredibly joyous moment for me.
During my time in Upper Six Arts, I was assigned to create some batik paintings for the school’s 25th-anniversary exhibition.
It turned out to be a one-man show, and I was given a special leave of two weeks to work on the paintings at the residence of an art teacher, Augustine Hwang, located at Brooke Drive, Sibu. Although Hwang was not my teacher, he took on the role of an advisor.
I managed to create 28 paintings within those two weeks and held an exhibition in one of the classrooms, with the assistance of two Form Four schoolgirls — one Malay and one Chinese — who added to the beauty of the event.
My batik paintings were highly sought after, as it was the first batik show in Sibu.
The customers included members of the public, led by Methodist Board of Directors Chairman Datuk Ting Lik Hung, who purchased my most expensive piece, ‘Iban Longhouse,’ for RM400.
Teachers from the school, including USA Peace Corps volunteers, Canadian teachers, an Indian teacher from Benares and locals, happily made purchases as well.
Our local school principal, Lau Tien Sing, and my History and Geography teacher, Wong Soon Koh (now Datuk Seri), each bought one as a keepsake.
Most of the pieces ranged in price between RM120 and RM300. By the end of October, I received the remaining profit of around RM1,450 after settling all my school debts.
This windfall was considered monumental for me, a rural schoolboy and the son of a rubber tapper.
It also brought great happiness to my eldest brother Edward, who was struggling with his meagre salary as a Sesco Engineering Assistant.
He would often come to fetch me in the evening from our Methodist boarding house within the school compound.
Leaving the school was a joyful occasion for me. In February 1975, I was offered a job in RASCOM’s Info/Psywar section of the Information Department with a monthly salary of RM400.
Receiving a cheque for that amount at the end of February was an astounding moment.
Then, in mid-June of the same year, I received an offer to pursue a Humanities with Education programme that would train me to become a teacher at Penang’s University of Science (USM).
Although I did not have a scholarship, I decided to write a letter to Alfred Jabu (later Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri), who was a minister.
Just a few days later, I received a call from Jabu himself, stating that he had arranged for two individuals to interview me at the Sibu District Office the following day.
During the interview, I was informed to report to the Federal Secretary’s Office in Kuching on June 27 of that year.
I reached out to my uncle, Musa Giri (now Datuk), who served as the Principal Assistant Secretary of the Social Welfare Department.
When I travelled to Kuching, Musa met me and brought me to his quarters in Batu Lintang.
On the specified date, he accompanied me to the Federal Secretary’s Office, where I was asked to sign the Agreement Form for the Federal Scholarship.
Musa acted as my guarantor, and Tun Jugah signed as a witness. Although my meeting with Jugah was brief, I was delighted by his advice to return with a university degree.
Upon arriving at USM, I felt like a new person. Before I left RASCOM, my colleagues and friends collected over RM700 for me as a farewell gift. I distinctly remember my friend, Temenggong Bangau, handing me RM200 for my personal use. That was a moment of happiness that I will always cherish.
There were a few other unforgettable fortunate moments during my time at USM.
However, one significant milestone was when I received over RM2500 as payment for translating four Iban books into English for my lecturer friend, Professor Dr. Clifford Sather. The four books were ‘Dayang Ridu Bujang Kerimpak Labu,’ ‘Raja Langit,’ ‘Stangkai,’ and ‘Penerang Berangkat Ke Sebayan.’
In November 1991, after nearly a year of being without a car, luck struck me in the 4D lottery, and I won over RM60,000. With my winnings, I made a cash purchase of a Megavalt Proton Saga for RM33,000.
Lastly, upon reaching the age of 55 on October 20, 2009, I withdrew RM210,000 from my EPF account. I happily kept the money untouched for a while.
These were some of the unforgettable rewarding moments in my entire life.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
