Saturday, November 29, 2008

Au' oooooo... kabatn kita' am marati, nahui', nabanan, ngiringan, nintingan, nuturatn Bahasa Salako/Badamea, Kanayatn, Banana', Baahe, Bakati'; ato Dayak damea meah pun baik; ampat di mae meah asal-usul kita'. Nyian ku nyaru' kita' ang ampat di tanah ai' Biawak kita' baik, au' Poe kita' baik; Sidamak kita baik; au' uga' ampat di kampokng ngan bandar kita' baik; ampat di Bantanan kita' baik, au' ampat di Sakawakng (Singkawang) kita' baik; au' uga' ampat di panamukng bukit, di tajur, di baroh kita' baik; au' uga' ampat di samo'e palosok bumi kita' baik!

Au' uga' nyian ku maba, mamang, nyaru' nyampado kita' am pane ngiringan, nyuritaatn samo'e pakara kade' ada an jaji kabaikakn diri' samo'e; bakunsi pandapat ngan buah pikir; lalu jaji ka pakatbaya diri' ngaintasi' ngarantoi' dunia maya basiantasatn nyian. Batuk badahakm sabaya didangar, basindir basaong sabaya ditarenyengan. Au' kade' diri' duduk sabaya babah, kade' diri' diri sabaya tingi!

Au' nyian tai sakai agi' ku maba mamang sabayaatn diri' barukup di Salako Bato nyian; ngago' pakatbaya ang bato, an sinunuh; lalu jajilah diri' aya alo tarabakng tingi, ocor pakatbaya, bengkok batakng pinang; diri' jaji dingin, jaji sajok, jaji raya, jaji ramoh; batape, baroatn, bariringan.
Au' nyian uga' ku ngampari' kita' bide, nutungan kita' kulita, ngantari' kita' toponkg sa' diri' basela' barukukm bagago' pakat baya an ripu' an sinunuh'; jaji ka pale kampas diri'.

Koa...!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Rembering Pemanca Anggok @ Anggu Anak Pengarah Otoh ‭(‬1921-1997‭)


Pemancha Anggok @ Anggu Anak Pengarah Otoh was born in the year‭ ‬1921‭ ‬though his birth certificate showed that he was born in the year‭ ‬1925.‭ ‬He was the eldest of eight siblings of five males and three females.‭ ‬His father was Pengarah Otoh Anak Bangat and mother was Weh Anak Gireng‭ @ ‬Gereng.

His first marriage in‭ ‬1947‭ ‬was a misfortune because wife and child died during labour.‭ ‬His second marriage in‭ ‬1949‭ ‬was to Melin Anak Tabas with whom they have ten children.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬two of their children died at a tender age due to sickness.‭ ‬The eight children that survive‭ ‬are four males and four females.

Since his youth,‭ ‬Anggok @ Anggu Anak Pengarah Otoh was known to be of a firm and disciplined character.‭ ‬He was respected by his other brothers and sisters and by the village folks who regarded him as a strong-willed personality.‭ ‬In‭ ‬1951,‭ ‬he was unofficially entrusted to assume the roles and duties of his father,‭ ‬Pengarah Otoh Ak Bangat as he was indisposed due to ill health and old age.‭ ‬On the‭ ‬25th February‭ ‬1957,‭ ‬he was elected as Tua Kampong for Kampung Biawak and Pasir Ulu‭ (‬then known as Kampong Panggong/Bapangokng‭)‬.

In‭ ‬1963‭ ‬he won an election for a seat to be one of the Councilors in Lundu District Council while at the same assuming the role of Tua Kampong.‭ ‬At that time district councilorship was an elected affair.‭ ‬He assumed both the duties of a Councilor and a Tua Kampong until‭ ‬1st March‭ ‬1977‭ ‬when he was appointed a Penghulu for the Salako Bidayuh community in Lundu District.

With Vice Admiral Sir Parry Desmond Drayer, Commander of the Far East, British Armed Forces: July 25th, 1963

During the Confrontation period with‭ ‬Indonesia in‭ ‬1963-1965,‭ ‬he was a very instrumental asset to the British Army as he knows very well the geography of the surrounding terrain across both borders of‭ ‬Malaysia and‭ ‬Indonesia.‭ ‬On numerous occasions he was brought along on air patrols by the British Army using helicopters to identify potential target areas.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬towards the end of the Confrontation in‭ ‬1965,‭ ‬for reasons unknown,‭ ‬a few British Army soldiers tried to assassinate him by lobbing a hand grenade inside his bedroom during one night.‭ ‬Fortunately his life and the lives of his wife and one of his sons were spared because the hand grenade failed to explode.‭ ‬An immediate report was made to the Officer-in-Command of Biawak Britsih Army Camp and the perpetrators of the incident were promptly arrested and charged.‭ ‬The trial was held in‭ ‬Singapore where Pemancha Anggok‭ ‬was the main prosecution witness.‭ ‬The five‭ ‬accomplices were all court marshaled and found guilty by the‭ ‬Military Court and all were discharged from duties and jailed for varying periods of time.

Standing 2nd From right (in suit), Lundu District Councilors, 1963.

It must be noted that Pemancha Anggok @ Anggu,‭ ‬due to his strong spirit of‭ ‬patriotism,‭ ‬brought an influential voice to the Defense Department in it’s decision to construct a road from Lundu Town leading to Kampung Biawak in‭ ‬1969/1970‭ ‬which would make it easier for the Malaysian Armed Forces to fight the Communist Terrorists,‭ ‬sometimes known as the Paraku for Partai Rakyat Kalimantan Utara.

1967, seated 2nd from right

During the formative period of Dayak Bidayuh National Association‭ (‬DBNA‭) ‬in Lundu,‭ ‬Pemancha Anggok @ Anggu was one of its founder members.‭ ‬He visited almost every Bidayuh Salako and Rara villages to get them receive the ideas of DBNA and become members.‭ ‬

On the‭ ‬10th November‭ ‬1992,‭ ‬he was officially appointed as the Pemancha for the whole of the Salako Bidayuh community in Lundu.‭ ‬As during his younger years,‭ ‬Pemancha Anggok @ Anggu stood strongly for the rights of his community within his influence and capacity until his death on the‭ ‬25th June,‭ ‬1997.‭ ‬He died at the age of seventy six due to acute respiratory failure.‭ ‬He left behind his wife,‭ ‬eight children and twenty three grand children.

During his lifetime,‭ ‬he was awarded with two recognitions:‭ (‬1‭) ‬Faithful and Meritorious Service‭ (‬1959); (‬2‭) ‬Bentara Bintang Sarawak‭ (‬1988‭)‬.

  • Medal for Faithful and Meritorious Service, 44mm. silver, with neck ribbon, nearly extremely fine E60-80 Instituted in 1946 and issued until 1963. Awarded to civil servants in recognition of long and meritorious service. Recipients were required to have completed 20 years continuous good service and possess a certificate of good conduct.
  • The fact that he was awarded this medal by the British in a much shorter time than the mandated period tells us a little about the late Pemancha Anggok @ Anggu Anak Pengarah Otoh.



May his soul rest in peace.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Small Dilema|Sedikit Serba Salah|Ampare' Kareco


An nyian ana' bagambar coma dapat digambaratn.
Yang ini tiada gambar cuma dapat digambarkan.
This one has no picture but can be pictured.

Alang batoe kalo samo'e kesah daapm Salako Bato kutulis daapm bahasa Salako.
Alangkah eloknya kalau semua artikel dalam Salako Bato ditulis dalam bahasa Salako.
How I wish that all articles Salako Bato are written in the Salako language.

Tapi bila bapikir kanyakng, ada waktue ana' mungkin ngan ana' patut sabap Salako Bato bukatn dibaca kabatn Salako aja';
Tetapi setelah berfikir panjang, ada waktunya tak mungkin dan tak patut sebab bukan orang Salako sahaja yang membaca Salako Bato;
But after a long thought, there are times it is impossible and unfair because Salako Bato is not only read by the Salako community;

Samo'e Salako paham tantang pantinge kata Salako mestilah tarus diidupapn ngan cara dituturatn tiap-tiap ari, uga' daapm tulisatn;
Setiap orang Salako faham tentang maha pentingnya Bahasa Salako terus dihidupkan dengan cara penuturan harian dan dalam penulisan;
Every Salako undertsands of the grave importance that the Salako language must be kept alive through daily conversations and in writings;

Niatku di Salako Bato ada dua am paling panting;
Niat saya di Salako Bato ada dua yang terpenting;
I have two primary aims in Salako Bato;

Patama adalah mataki' dunia bahawa bansa Salako masih ada, idup, tarigas ngan batumesa;
Yang pertama untuk menyatakan kepada dunia bangsa Salako masih ada, hidup, cergas dan ada ikhtiar;
First is to tell the world that the Salako tribe is here, alive, well and kicking;

Ang kadua adalah onto' nolong mihara supaya bahasa Salako ana' angit di taatn parubahan jaman;
Yang kedua adalah membantu mengekalkan supaya bahasa Salako tidak hilang ditelan oleh perubahan zaman;
Secondly is to help preserving the Salako dialect from extinction as the era changes;

Aku BUKATN pakauman tapi bukatnlah pilihanku laher ka dunia nyian sabage bansa lain;
Saya BUKAN perkauman tetapi bukanlah pilihan saya lahir ke dunia ini sebagai bangsa lain;
I am NOT racist but I don't have a say in determining if I could be born of a different race;

Aku SAYANG ka taino manusia, ana' kira bansa, ana' kira bahasa, ampat di mae meah;
Saya MENYAYANGI manusia, tanpa mengira bangsa, tanpa mengira bahasa, dari mana sahaja;
I LOVE humankind, regardless of race, language, from wherever;

Tapi aku suka ngan bangga laher jaji Salako. Aku ana' dapat milih onto' jaji bansa damia;
Tetapi saya suka dan sangat bangga lahir menjadi seorang Salako. Saya tidak dapat memilih untuk jadi bangsa apa;
But I equally love being born to become a Salako and is very proud of it. I cannot choose my own race;

Bansa Salako talalu sadikit, silap-silap pupus kalo ana' dipaduli, silap-silap pupus kalo ana' dijaga, silap-silap pupus kalo ana' dipatahan;
Bangsa Salako terlalu sedikit, mungkin akan pupus kalau tidak dipeduli, mungkin akan pupus kalau tidak dijaga, mungkin akan pupus kalau tidak dipertahan;
The Salako people is so minuscule, might extinct if not noticed, might extinct if not cared upon and and might extinct if not defended;

Biar sadikit tapi banilai ngan baraga;
Biar sedikit tetapi bernilai dan berharga;
Though few but rare and precious;

Tolong, ame banaratn Salako pupus;
Tolong, jangan benarkan Salako pupus;
Please, don't allow Salako go extinct;

Jakoalah.
Begitulah.
About that.



Sunday, November 23, 2008

Freely We Receive Freely We Give. Come, Donate Our Blood!

They say donating blood is good. It sure is. It is free and most importantly, blood saves lives, including the lives of the rich and powerful. The worldly order of things is that the materially haves folks are the expected ones who should donate to the materially have-nots. In the case of blood donation, the reverse is almost every time true. Majority of the blood donors are the ordinary Sipolans on the streets be it terms ratio and percentage.

It is ironic that while majority of the blood donors are lay people, many amongst the rich and powerful folks are not quite keen to do the same. I remember some years back of a newspaper report from India where a pint of blood can fetch as high as more then ten thousand ringgit. Well, at least they buy, I mean those rich and powerful Indians. Ours? No, I am not quite sure of that. Anyway, I would have been richer by ten thousand ringgit if blood were for sale here in Malaysia.

I first ‘learned’ how to donate blood back in the year 2000. Then there was a long pause until this year. Last July, The Society of St Vincent De Paul (SSVP) and Lundu District Hospital organized a blood donation campaign. I was amongst the more than forty odd volunteers. We are not just volunteers, but happy and eager ones at that. A few days ago I did it again, this time may be as a sole donor of the day. I was accompanied by my three daughters and my nine year old son, who acts as the 'cameraboy'. Earlier on, I made a call to the hospital's pathology department and the answer was, "Anytime brother, be not afraid", was the answer of a polite lady at the other end of the line. So I did.

I need not have to make a ‘Surat Akuan Bersumpah’ or an oath of “Statutory Declaration ” that donating blood is good and beneficial to both donors and recipients, but here is my testimony. I have been suffering from severe head pain for the last few years. The pain can be so unbearable and can come at any time without ‘notice’ that there are times when I vomited severely and twice I lost consciousness. Call it migraine or whatever but doctors including specialists could not conclusively determine what the cause of the pain was. Thank God, all that is now gone.

Is it because as a result of my donating blood? I say a big yes. Yes, because I have not taken any prolonged prescribed medication; and yes, because I have not changed my food regime and habit. And yes, I believe in prayer too, lots of it. In fact I find prayer very important in all my undertakings.

For those who are healthy, why not try donate your blood too? It can be done after every three months. We always say; "Money we don't have, gold and diamond also we don't have, how to donate?". But I say, "We have blood, so blood we donate". And we don't just donate, we save lives by so doing.

Below are some pictures of some of us in action donating our blood. Please click on pictures to view larger images.

One for the album, please!

Mr David Bong, the friendly Laboratory Technologist checking the particulars of a newly registered donor. Behind is a nurse who came to assist.

This 'shy shy cat' student nurse readying and psyching herself up with a 'shy shy laugh'.

Another friendly Laboratory Technologist diligently trying to insert a cannula to the arm of another donor, a Health Inspector by profession.

"Hello mister photographer, can you take our picture, please?"

"Dear donors, I tell you that donating blood is good and noble and we salute you. But to be honest, we ourselves have not done that yet."

The hero of the day. This gentleman has donated not less than fifty pints of his blood over the years.

Plenty of time to tie a shoe lace while waiting for their turns. Faces of happy and willing blood donors.

"I just want to make sure that this blood is free from any contamination", says Mr Muiees to the nurse.

"I pray to God that this blood of mine will save the life of anyone who receives it."

Three student Laboratory Technologists posing with their mentor on the right.

A shot by my nine year old son of his two elder sisters waiting patiently for dear dad to complete the blood donation.

This frame, shot by my nine year old son. Another very amicable Laboratory Technologist, Mister Shabeli Yaya and me.


For anyone who wishes to donate their blood, please contact the nearest clinic or hospital. We will never know when we and our loves ones need blood transfusion.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

When Hawkers Go Latah At The Gading Hawker Centre, Lundu

It is not often, in fact quite rare that we find more than one latah person at the same time at one particular location for the same particular purpose. That happened to me a few days ago at the Gading Hawker Centre, Lundu. All together, at that time, they were four of them and all have past their golden jubilee breathing the air of this earth. All four are still very active and healthy thus their almost everyday presence at the stall to sell their fresh from the jungle produce which serves as a testimony. And all of them are dear ladies of whom are very familiar to me.

As always, whenever I have a chance to shop for fresh jungle produce for our lunch and dinner table at the hawker centre, I would first ‘provoke’ these latah ladies to react to my teasing and bodily gestures. The most common ‘provocative action’ that I would perform is to dance for a few seconds in front of any of them. For some, my actions might be seen as ‘improper and unbecoming’ or even ‘cruel’. But being jovial and ‘naughty’ that I am, seldom do I miss the chance to make other sellers and customers smile and laugh a little bit upon seeing how these latah ladies react when I tease them. This time however, I armed myself with a camera just for the purpose of recording their actions.

Latah is a condition of hyper startling found in certain parts of the world that is commonly considered a culture-specific syndrome. Wikipedia has a short description of what latah is as can be found here. Below are some of the frames of what I managed to capture. Please click on pictures to view larger images.


Welcome! The picture says it all. Always busy every morning especially on weekends.

The first reaction of this lady upon seeing me taking her pictures.

Don't know whether she realizes she is laughing.

She grabs someone's handbag to avoid my camera. Notice carefully her facial and eye gestures.

Her face fully hidden from my camera sight.

She turns her back on the camera. I guess she is not fully conscious of what she is doing.

A while later, I manage to lure two latah ladies to perform a dance festival by first dancing myself.

The dance festival in full action. Notice the lady in red (with a black pouch) laughing almost uncontrollably on seeing the two graceful dancers.

The festival is still merrily on. Others are enjoying the show.

The lady in red T-shirt is telling the two cultural dancers that time is up for a more serious affair of selling and buying.

"Well, it's not over yet", says the lady in white shirt. "Let's rock, baby! Rock here, rock there, rock everywhere."

"I am satisfied now that I have proved to the world that I can dance to any tune, any where, any time." Bet that was what the lady in pink T-shirt is saying to herself.

"Adios, until tommorrow!" Meanwhile, the other latah lady in white shirt is still dancing thus the onlookers are still laughing and smiling.

My friend, Mr David (standing, black trousers/cap, bright T-shirt) of Lundu District Council collects the toll. He does this almost without fail every morning.

As a Salako Bidayuh myself, I am really proud and happy to note that majority of these small time entrepreneurial folks are of the same race as I am. They really toiled hard to make an honest and respectable living. On good seasons, they earned a handsome four figures. With this kind of humble but notable deeds, I suppose staff of the Welfare Service Department (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat) are less burdened with giving and processing application forms for distribution of aids. Bravo Salako Bidayuh!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I Just Want To Express Myself Ala "Nyangahatn Salako"

Never mind if you do not speak Salako/Kanayatn/Baahe/Badamea, or you do not understand what the hack it is. I just want to freely express myself. This time no pictures, just words.

Au' ooo... kita' taino manusia, ang kaya am barata, bakoasa, baamas, bamaruha; an sikolah tingi sampe ka unibasiti, am baajar sampe ka luar nagari; an sehat tarigas; an sakit, rongkok, bauntut; nyian aku maba mamang nyarui' kita' an di saluruh palosok dunia; di darat kita' baik, di laut kita' baik, di angit kita' baik, di panamukng kita' baik, di arokng di bale kita' baik; di saka maraga, kabon paumaan kita' baik.

Au' nyian ku mataki' misiki' kita am badaya, am mampu nyatuatn, ngiringan, nyejengan bala taino manusia kade' ada ang kurang badaya batumesa. Au' minta' diensokng, diubong, dikampekng, dijejekng bala na'ida' am papa sinsara, an sakit am marinsa'; supaya balae kabatnne dapat uga' nyacapi' marasai' idup an santeda', an ripu' jamae saadae.

Au' labih agi' kalo kita' bagaar Dayak am baadat, babinua, barukupm, bakaturunan; nyian aku nyarui' kita biar sabaya-baya ngago pakat ngago daya usaha jamae nyatuatn bansa. Au' aku nyarui' mataki' samo'e bala Dayak ana' kira damia bahasa, damia tutur kata; ang asal Sarawak kita' baik, asal Kalimantan kita' baik; an jaji mantiri kita' baik; an jaji paderi kita' baik.

Au' kita' o Dayak-a, tautama kita am badama, bakoasa. Karaja parentah kita' baik, urakng politik kita' baik, toke kita' baik. Au' kade kita' dingangkat dimilih jaji wakel kami di mae meah nagari; ame kita' layap, tama' haloba ngan koasa, harata pusaka. Jajilah kita' manusia an naino; ngiringan nyejengan kami ang kurang badaya batumesa; biar diri' sabaya-baya nyacapi' marasai' makatn nyaman, makatn manse', makatn pahit. Au kade' diri' makatn ka topan sabaya-baya, makatn batate baroa sabaya marasa.

Au' nyian ku mataki', maba mamang kabatn saluruh diri' Dayak di saganap palosok Boroneo an jumbalah nyawa nyamaki' lima juta; ame agi' diri' badangki, bamunsuh, basalisih. Au' kade' ada rondeng pakatbaya ang ana' sakata je' diri baduduk barukupm ngagoi' anor, mandangi' alor am batol, am banar; biar diri' sasempakng, sasaka, samaraga. Au' nyianlah pasatn pasansa nene' dato' diri' an dingiringann dinurunan; na'sana biar bengkok batakng pinang, asal ocor pakatbaya!

Au' nyian ku baniat bahajat diri bakampekng bajejengan, bajaatn bariringan, au' kade' diri' nyampuatn sabaya-baya, niti tajur niti panamukng sakabatn, sabala; an tapantokng tarantuk dijejekng dipaduliatn; aya kabatn burukng alo tarabakng tingi; dapat nanang maringasatn samo'e pakara, baik ang kaya' gajah au' uga', ang kenek alus kaya' insa' au' uga'.

Au' nyianlah aku bababa bamamang ka kita' Dayak-a; au' nyianlah uga' aku basaru' basambah basujut ka Tuhan Panampa' am Mahakoasa.

Mudahan diri' dingin sajok, raya ramoh, batape baroatn bariringan, sare manjadi.

Koa..."

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Many Bus Stops But No Bus Stops

Yes, there are many Bus Stops along Lundu-Sematan/Lundu-Biawak roads. The irony is, I have not seen any 'bus that stops' to pick up and drop passengers along these routes since many, many moons ago. I have lost count already but it has been years. I suspect this phenomenon is common all throughout the Kuching Division and Sarawak as a whole.

Let us see below some of the different makes and models of the almost countless Bus Stops along Lundu-Sematan Road both public and "privately owned and constructed". Please tolerate and make do with the poor quality of the pictures because they are shot from a moving vehicle. (Click on pictures to view larger images).


This make, amongst the earliest model in town.

This one, another different model, right at the junction leading to the house of an important personality in Lundu.

This one, privately owned.

This one, public owned, amongst the later model in town.

Another privately owned. Section of the roof gone missing may be due to the recent high wind.

Here we may see invisible passengers waiting for invisible buses.

Two privately owned Bus Stops erected adjacent to each other. The owners were quite frustrated because year 2009 budget does not include fund for repairing and renovating privately owned Bus Stops.

Yes, this one sits on a more opulent housing estate.

Another Bust Stop of a different quite recent model with invisible passengers waiting for invisible buses.

Another two privately owned Bus Stops built by different consultants and contractors standing next to each other.

Two fellows waiting to auction their durians to some good bidders.

This Bus Stop whose owner must have migrated for greener pasture or his My Card must have been returned to the Registration Department for he may no longer exist.

The Leaning Bus Stop of Lundu-Sematan Road. Notice the two support beams to prevent it from collapsing.

Two badly decapitated privately owned Bus Stops. The owners must have grumbled badly on why Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat did not disburse any fund for them to repair their assets.

This one, roofs blown off probably during the recent thunder storm. Also privately owned.

Mixed zone. One public, one private. Only one lady and her durians waiting for customers. The bus will never come and stop not even until the cows come home.

Quite regal looking public Bus Stop. But no bus stops. Behind stands a traditional hut made of sago atap and of raw wood.

This privately owned Bus Stop is the most recent in town and quite colourful too.

The BERHENTI (STOP) sign says it all. Bus service has "berhenti-ed" since long, long time ago; towards the final years of the last century to be exact. Some folks vent their displeasure by desecrating the sign.