I Saw Daddy...

Paying Last Respect

I managed to pay my last respect for YB Datuk Dublin this morning. As duty calls, I was not able to stay long. But here are some photos to share.

The coffin: for those who wish to pay their last respect

YBhg Datin Florin and sons and daughter

The youngest son (in the middle) told the aunties and uncles ~ " I saw Daddy in the newspaper today. My Daddy came out in the newspaper today".

Condolences: YB Dublin

Rest in Peace: YB Datuk Dublin Unting Ak Ingkot

Condolences to the family of Yang Honourable Datuk Dublin Unting Ak Ingkot - YB Datuk Dublin, 54, passed away at 1:25 a.m at the Normah Specialist Centre on 24th Feb 2009. YB Datuk Dublin Unting collapsed after an interview at the Radio Televisyen Malaysia Kuching studio on 22 May 2008 following a massive stroke and has been hospitalised since then. We feel sad for the loss. YB Datuk Dublin Unting was the Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) or State Assemblyman for N. 29 Batang Ai which is under the Sri Aman Division. He was the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Sports.

Memories of lighter moments: with the Lubok Antu District Officer (Encik Nelson Mujah Girie) on his right and YB Tuan Alexander Nanta Linggi, Member of Parliament for Kapit on his left

YB Dublin with his fellow Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri colleagues (From left) YB Encik Robert Lawson Chuat (ADUN for N. 32 Bukit Saban), YB Encik Roalnd Sagah (ADUN for N.17 Tarat), YB Datuk Ambrose Blikau Ak Enturan (ADUN for N.55 Katibas) and YB Dr. Stephen Rundi (ADUN for N. 60 Kemena).

The picture above and below were taken on 5th May 2008 during the opening of the Dewan Undangan Negeri Sitting 2008. Three weeks later YB Datuk Dublin collapsed during an interview at the RTM Studio in Kuching during an official interview session.

Fond memories: The late YB Datuk Dublin Unting with his wife, Datin Froline Moriah Unting during the opening of the Dewan Undangan Negeri on 5th May 2008.

It is informed that those who wish to pay their last respect can go to the late YB Datuk Dublin's new residence near the De Summit Condominium area, BDC Kuching by 4 p.m on 24th February 2009. The official paying of last respect will be tomorrow 25th February 2009. Markings and signs are being made at the Lorong B4 to Lorong A9 stretch. Above is an enlargable map for your reference to the area near De Summit which is in the BDC, Kuching area. Rest in Peace YB.

Updated: YB Datuk Dublin Unting's funeral services will be at his residence on 25th Feb 2009. It is located as in 'X' above on the new map (enlargeable on click). It is located at the end of Lorong B4 (if you enter using Lorong B4) at BDC just across SK Stutong (passing by the De Summit Condominium). The Right Honourable Chief Minister will be arriving at around 10 a.m. while during the night at 8 a.m will be a 'Berandau' session. On the 26th February 2009 at 1 p.m, there will be a Church Funeral Service at St. Thomas Church and then burial ceremony will be at the Anglican Cemetery at Bt Kitang.

Happy Birthday Girl

All Grown Up

So you are six today. Daddy's little girl is all grown up. It was only yesterday when I thought you were still my little baby. In a blink of an eye, on one beat of the heart, one moment in time becomes history. Time is pretty much one of the most precious thing in the world for without it there will be no tomorrow. And I treasure each day growing up.... yes I am growing up together with you, like my Mummy and my Daddy grew up with me. I just smiled when you looked at Mummy and Daddy's wedding photo and asked 'Where is Shania?'.  So enjoy your day today, grandpa and grandma is coming to Kuching next week to wish you Happy Birthday so you can ask them. You can also ask them in these photos sent by Grandpa's friend, Mr. Bob Bergstrom of grandpa's and grandma's photos long time ago (1963) - and ask them, where is Daddy?

Daddy's little girl

Grandpa in Kanowit - 1963, photo sent by Bob

Grandma in Kanowit - 1963, photo sent by Bob

Happy Birthday Shania!! Mummy's photo not here yet - she needs to approve any photo I want to upload.

So you say you are all grown up already and can do things on your own - but Daddy will be there for you when you need me. Its a promise I make and I will try my best to keep because you will always be Daddy's little girl. So hush little baby.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Change To Believe In

Its Time To Change

Yes, that was the message I got from some of my buddies today. There is a need to change and the change must be one that is for the good of everyone. Not one that is being percieved as change by just one person but by all, through the democratic process. Its time to get involved, to move towards a new direction. Change we must and I thank you for the invitation.

SMS Message to come to the Sarawak Dayak Graduate's Association AGM - the message is loud and clear. Some change needs to be done and I am going to do just that.

So I summoned my meanest looking henchmen and most mighty warriors to discuss on the strategies needed for change. After all 'change' is nothing new. Next month we do expect some power shift in Kuala Lumpur as the new Prime Minister takes over the country's steering wheels.

We started discussing change and we came to one agreement that a mix colour of orange and blue would be a good start

And change we did! I am glad that I am part of this change as our office pursues the 5S - making our workplace and work station a better environment. It is a positive change. Everyone chipped in with their share of ringgits and sens. The office has no funds for the project and we have to do all this during our weekends. Change we must and there was no stopping us.

Before change

After change!

Its a good feeling because its the change I believe in. Its the change that i have control of and not one that requires any cloak and daggers. A better workplace means the mind will be clear to continue serving the needs of the people.

And so, thanks for the inspiration Obama - I am sorry I can't join you guys and gals in Kuching for the important event. I have to do my part anyway in being a change agent here - I managed to change the color of my office so far So I wish the aspiring candidates all the best and I hope that you can bring the desired change you believe in. For me, i will just stick with the change that is within my area of control. Cheers Obama!

Happy ValenTime

Time is Precious

Most of my buddies keep asking me how my Valentine was - and I told them that if you are with the ones whom you love during that time it should be very meaningful. For those who are in the process of falling in love or being in love then its quite straightforward. For those who have a problem with trying to find out whom to love, its going to be a confusing as the affairs of the heart can be quite problematic. But affairs of the heart are man made (also woman made). It gets complicated because we make it complicated. I should know so because I have been called up a few times to assist in troubled relationships and its rather taxing on the emotion even if you are not part of the problem ~ you tend to get sucked in. What more, if you work in the Resident Office as the Resident is the one who registers special marriage license for non muslim couples, those who are below 18 years but not 16 years old. You see couples who are very much in love and you also get to see some fall out of love as they will still come either to the District Office or to our office for some counseling sessions. So in the long run, you do tend to get immune of these affairs of the heart which can be a dangerous distraction as you tend to see the same pattern developing in all these relationships, each couple or individual believing that their problem is unique. It gets worst if the guy(s) or lady/ladies involved in the web or confusion are your friends and they only tell you after things get out of hand. This 'Love' virus like to strike you anytime, irregardless of age, when you least expect it and we know viral infections are pretty hard to contain. It tends to get wierder in some instances but I will leave that to those with a higher level of thinking.

Flower for missus beside Shania's most precious bear - she named it May Lin (May Lin on my car windscreen guides me everytime I commute to and fro Sri Aman - Kuching)

Going back to my post - I'll say its all about ValenTime. Its the quality time that you share with your loved ones. I know I lack the quantity as I am not always with the family. Every moment is to be cherished, every seconds remembered, every heartbeat of feelings treasured. I had a swell time this Valentine and I hope yours was too. I got to see Georgette expressing Love in her own way by "Going Bald" for the Sarawak Children Cancer's Society. You did good there girl!

So you see, Love is a many splendored things and it need not refer to the romantic kind. Which reminds me of the lyrics to the song:

Love is a many-splendored thing,
It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring,
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living,
The golden crown that makes a man a king.
Lost on a high and windy hill,
In the morning mist two lovers kissed and the world stood still,
When our fingers touch my silent heart has taught us how to sing,
Yes, true love's a many-splendored thing.

Read

Love Is A Many-splendored Thing Lyrics

here.

You do not have to sing it like Franks Sinatra or Engelbert Humperdick - if you have the heart to sing it, its good enough. Happy belated ValenTime :)

Kch-Serian Highway

First Class Road Almost Claim Third Class Driver's Life

While driving the Kuching - Serian highway (Anything that is two lane here we tend to call it highway)I noticed that there was a lorry that was in a peculiar position. It was a headturner, no doubt.

Hullo.... wassup with this lorry

The scene warrants a U-Turn and I noticed those tyre marks on the road which tells a story of its own - the driver of the lorry was avoiding one smaller lorry but collision was unavoidable. Those brake marks were less than 15 metres. The bigger lorry must have apply its emergency brake trying to avoid hitting the other vehicle. By the looks of it I also forsee that its gonna lead to a serious traffic jam in the early morning rush.

The other smaller lorry also seemed to have hit the road sign post.

I do not know how many of us gets the chance to cruise the Kuching - Serian Highway. I can say I have my own experience as one drives this straight stretch which allows one to travel at maximum speed ~ say 160 km per hour. I have seen cars shooting past me at high speed. It seems the drivers here enjoy the benefits of a modern highway. But wait......one needs to really be extra careful as most road users staying along there are quite unpredictable ~ especially those staying along the 50km stretch between Siburan Town and Serian. Probably they want to save a few drops of gas or they have suicidal thoughts, I do not know. About the accident, both drivers were still mad with one another that I did not get the chance to interview them. I was in a rush but by the looks of it, the smaller lorry must have come in from the 'other direction' against the flow traffic when it encountered the larger lorry. The people who stay in the area told me that the smaller lorry concerned 'selalu macam itu, cari jalan sinang'... translated, it means the smaller lorry is no stranger to breaking the traffic rules. Its been lucky all this while but not this time.

Which is why I try my best to be on high alert when travelling the Kuching - Serian strecth. Keep those horn handy as I experienced one driver who came out of a junction in a slow and steady manner, missing me by inches as if he did not see me. Obviously he had one hand on the handphone and the other holding a cigarrete. Other near misses were the sudden appearances of smaller vehicles like motorbikes which tends to shoot out of nowhere as some of the barriers between highway has been brought down by irresponsible people living in the area. They feel it blocks them from crossing over to the other side. Never mind the 'U-Turn' exit made which is just a few hundred metres away. This does not augur well for our journey to become a developed State if our people still maintains this third class mentality. If anyone thinks that they have the answers on how to improve people's attitude on the road and help reduce traffic accidents in Malaysia down to zero, I am sure the authorities will gladly create a special post with high pay. It will be as challenging as the Manager's job for an English Premier League (EPL) club. One life lost means the management will decide on whether to retain you or not. More than one life the management will fire you.

Randau Pemansang

SALCRA Dishes Out Dividends

Firstly one wonders what randau pemansang means. Directly translated, it means Development Discussion. That was the weekend assignment which I attended last Sunday in Sri Aman at the Civic Centre. It was a lovely Sunday as the flood situation in this southern area has improved and its a time to rebuild for those affected by the flood. But not for those in the nothern region at this point in time. The Randau Pemansang was organised by SALCRA. Detailed coverage of this event is available in the online news below:

Sri Aman News Blogspot
Borneo Post Online

An interesting segment of the event for the day was the miring ceremony. One wonders what this is all about - but the inclusion of this traditional practice is quite refreshing for if one steps into a longhouse during any festive occassion or events there is a tendency that you may be invited to perform the miring ceremony, together with the longhouse elders.

The Randau Pemansang featured this elaborate 'Piring' prepared by the VIP guests

The arrival of the VIP guests were greeted by the traditional layout in preparation for an elaborate Miring Ceremony.

Simple order yet not so simple ceremony - the Miring Ceremony is set to start with the 'Miring' items arranged in proper order for the VVIP guests to decorate or prepare the 'piring' (offerings).

For want of a simple description I surfed Rubber Seed and picked this decription : "A Miring is an elaborated and very often colourful and noisy ceremony performed to applease the gods and the spirits and to receive blessings from them. Depending on the significance of the ceremony, a Miring could be attended by just a few people of a family and his close relatives to several thousand people involving several communities. Grand Miring ceremonies are performed during the Gawai Dayak (Iban Harvest Festival), Gawai Antu ( festival to remember the dead) and in modern times,the welcoming of important guests such as a government minister or dignitary."

The Deputy Chief Minister performing the chants over the Pirings with a rooster in hand. With him on his right is Council Member for Lingga YB Hajjah Simoi Peri, YB Minister Dato Sri James Masing, YB Assistant Minister Datuk Francis Harden and SALCRA boss, Datu Vasco Sabat Singkang (blue tie)

As decribed again by Rubber Seed's blog "The rooster plays a more different role and is always more lucky as its life will sometimes be spared in the ceremony. After two or more village elders or the guests of honor have chanted poems of good omen while waving the rooster in front of the gathered crowd, the cockscomb is cut slightly to obtain its blood as offering to the gods and spirits. The rooster may be killed for the cooking pot or will be freed."

From left: YB Encik Mong Dagang (Council Member for Bukit Bengunan), YB Dr. Johnnical Rayong (Council Member for Engkilili), YB Encik Snowdon Lawan (Council Member for Balai Ringin), YB Tuan Masir Kujat (Member of Parliament for Sri Aman) and Encik abang Shamshudin, Tuan Resident for Sri Aman

Preparing the piring also requires some skill and experience too. Here our Deputy Chief Minister shows his ability in the preparation. The complex-simple arrangement of the final product - some sort of a special presentation - is used to appease the spirits (according to the olden day beliefs). One can take the simple way out and try to dump all those items into the 'offering' basket but the way it is decorated matters most as people will compare yours to the next beside you. For some who practice miring now, it is a presentation to the Almighty Powers according to one's own beliefs. It is hoped that favorable blessings will be enjoyed by the Iban community during those days.

And so it was for most of the longhouse folks who attended SALCRA's dividend's handout the'miring' performed can be a form of saying 'thank you' to the spirits of Iban folklore as they enjoy the dividends for their participation in the oil palm plantation scheme. Sometimes the pretty maidens of the Panggau Libau spiritual world will grant you your request.

Maybe it looks elaborate, maybe it looks complicated but sometimes what you wish for in these traditional offering ceremonies tend to come true. But I will settle for the pretty maidens of the SALCRA event management team. Congrats for a job well done.

Lina

After LISA

After my last posting on LISA (Lost in Sri Aman) last year I made it a point to catch up with this little girl in the picture. Maybe it was luck that I was updating some of the pictures in my blog when the picture reminded me of that promise I made to myself. Seeing her walking towards the kindergarden which was about 2 km away with the mum in tow carrying her daughter's heavy school bag showed how determined she was.

The picture above was taken in September 2008. Due to my tight schedule later I never got to honour my promise in 2008 and I do not know whether she would still be in kindy this year or whether she had graduated to Primary One.

One fine February morning I just dropped by into the small building which housed the KEMAS kindy hoping to catch a glimpse of the little lady. There were ten children in the class but I could not identify her. Question and asnwer session was met with silence as I believed they are not accustomed to recieved strangers - especially one who came in full gear and necktie and a camera. Even the teacher was speechless. I have to stop making unannounced visits. It was good that I did too as I manage to find out from the teacher that they have have no electricity all this while. Which in fact made me feel stupid when i asked if the class has any computers and IT awareness lessons.

And as I was about to leave a familiar figure of a little girl with cap and the mum as usual trying to catch up appeared at the kindy entrance. I finally met the mysterious little girl and was informed by her teacher that she is in her final year of kindy. The mum introduced her as Lina and I adviced her to study hard as she was also not used to some 'City looking stranger' asking questions. I promised to Lina's teacher and mum that I will do what I can with regards to connecting the kindy with electric supply and find some ways to bring in one PC either from donors or KEMAS adminstrators. But first thing first.

Google map of Lina's Home & school somewhere in the Munggu Tapang area - Google map from 3600 feet elevation. Its about 40km from Sri Aman Town. The visit was quite an eye opener and I hope to visit other kindies in the course of inspecting other development projects in the Division. It is not only the chidlren that needs the education - I too need some reeducation on the needs and shortcomings of rural kindies such as these.

100 Days

Keeping Track

Being an ardent follower of the After 40 Blog (Now 41tahun Blog) by Uchukeling I always like to keep track of my progress on my 100th day into the age of 40. I used to ask my staff to mark my first year in the office and I think they are doing it quite diligently now as they count how many times I throw up a fit when things do not get done. Its also a sign of ageing. But then again I do not put too much pressure on myself as Obama has it tougher because the whole world is counting his first 100 days. How much has he achieved? We do not have to worry about that as there will be thousands if not millions of websites doing that. For my weblog I do my own evaluation of my milestone. What's the biggest thing in my first 100 days into 40? I will have to say this, its meeting The King at backstage!

Benchmarking Obama's 100 days

100th Day being 40 - Though I would have loved to bring Peace to the World in my lifetime but I am no Obama but well, Meeting the King of Rocking Roll - backstage was my bonus I guess! Thanks Elvis @ Chua of Sibu!