Traditional Healing and traditional Healers of Borneo

Every human society has its share of healers who can do healing based on their faith. These healers are empowered in two ways – the “white” and the “black”. They can heal in their own ways and methods but in all cases of those who do not use herbs and medicine but just coconut oils or other oils or just plain water these mediums are being blessed by their guardians angel to do either good or harm.

As a medically trained doctor, I find it interesting when we can only send mentally ill patients to Psychiatric Hospital where more often than not condemn them to be on “drugs” for life when a traditional healer friend could heal them where modern medicine had failed. Two “mental patients” I witnessed him healed are still living a normal life now. I am also amazed at my own ability to cure three relatives of mine from skin problems which plagued them for years of medical treatment before they met me. In my case, i just asked my Guardian to come to help me heal them and then blow on their heads and amazingly they tell me that they are cured.

My own knees, twice i had pain in them, but after being healed the traditional way, in both occasions it became normal next day.

On June 15th 2010, while walking on foot to a village for a NYOBENG ceremony, I was attacked by an “unseen” when walking on a side track because the wet and muddy bridge made of two big bamboo stems without a proper railing was deemed to be to dangerous to cross…. so I went down to wade across the stream and through a path back to the main one. Then on that side path i felt a sudden sharp shearing pain in my left knee for every “wrong” step I made…yet on examination there was no apparent damage, bruises or cut on the knee. I almost did not make to the village. I had to limp all the way.

In the evening, one traditional healer was called to help. He was able to extract a piece of bone like a small surgical knife. For the whole of next day that was still pain on that knee but no more shearing pain making me limped throughout the day ceremony. During the ceremony in the Head House, i asked the same Traditional Healer to examine the knee and he extracted another smaller piece of bone. I then asked another friend to examine with pig’s blood in case any more objects were left. He took away what looked like a molar tooth….you know within two hours I was pain free.

No pain on the knee which still appears normal…. no swelling and no pain when I pressed or massaged the knee as it were the day i got it. Worse painkillers i had taken, had no effect on the pain level nor the heat rub i had used …. that is simply, modern treatment and medicine had no use on me at that time. Yes, you may say that it is only in my mind,  so be it. As was, possibly Lazarus just pretended to die waiting for Jesus to come to prepare the miracle to make him live again and was all the miracles he performed on the deaf, the blind, the handicapped or the woman who had been bleeding for twenty years… luckily I had two friends who have the power to heal like Jesus then…

The funny thing about that knee of mine was that on our nine hours walk back next, it would not bend to give me a normal walking step when going downhill. Uphill i could take proper steps but not going downhill. Thus i would warn our company saying, “Beware folks, I am going down on first gear again…” meaning that I would put my right foot down first to the step and the drag my straight left knee down to the same step all the way down the steps on the downhill… of course i managed the journey but it took us another extra hour than normal..

Waking up next day my knee was back to normal and i could walk and drive normally pain free after two days of pain. So what was happening, to this day i am scratching my head for the answer as it is possible that there is more to what we know as facts now.

Yet yesterday, i was with a friend who told me that he had a nephew who almost died this year because he was “poisoned” by a “black” Healer. Luckily for his nephew someone had an “oil” which had been handed down in the family for generations, he was saved. Sadly to say that the “black” healer got sick and died of the same illness he had inflicted on his nephew. That was how we came to talked about Jesus and his healing power which is the “white” power meaning it’s God’s power. He said it is all right to keep that to heal but not the “Black” which could be Satan…

So is there a case for the Ministry of Health to recognize these Healers who are doing miraculous work helping thousand and thousands of people throughout Malaysia alone?

Growing old

We are all born to grow old.

Just now a long time acquaintance told me at his brother’s house that one is as old as he “thinks” he is and that age is only a number. His brother died at the age of 74 of liver cancer after a liver transplant in a foreign country next door. His was a very good colleague in SNAP CEC and National Council in the past. And later eating dinner there were his peer group about the same age but some look older than the other…. yet age wise not much different… I have a younger peer at my own village who can hardly walk now, can’t hardly see. Yes I know most of them but i quietly sit and wait to see whether they can still recognize me. Apparently none of them expect me to look as I were – more hairs than before and inadvertently my hairs are blacker because I have used one hair shampoo twice since September.

But does black and new hairs reflect youth? According to some writings, when our testosterone level reach certain level we age— wasting muscles, wrinkled skin and losing hairs. Growth hormone may help to make us stay young for a while but then we may develop Carpel Tunnel wasting. Keeping your thigh muscles developed may prolong the destruction of our male hormone from diminishing fast too. Yet by taking certain supplements and our Bidayuh Traditional Tea, I found that my masculinity improves, my prostate hypertrophy under control and the best part….

My barber asked me one a day a few years back,”Hey, doctor what did you do to your hair?”

I inquired, “Why? i have not done anything.”

He told me, “Your bare part on top is gone. Now new hairs are covering it!” He said in amazement. Sure my “Bishop hat” had been covered by new black hairs!

All I had been taking regularly as a new addition to my diet is the herbal Tea which I had asked my Traditional Healer friend to produce. He had earlier told me that his father died at 92 looking tall and straight. Many who had taken the tea had a new lease in active life…. Produced in the original form it was very effective for hypertensives, diabetes and old people. Now the shredded approach of production is not as effective but it is still all right.

So what is age really?

It is your diet and your way of life… the better the diet and the more balanced you will live better… an active way of life with balanced exercise will surely keeps you healthy.

My own friend who was assessed by onlookers before he got sick a year ago to be in his fifties when his real age is over 70, now looks older than his age. His problem stemmed from a “De-conditioned” heart because one year of mourning when he just ate and slept. After the mourning period, he wanted to do all the work he had done before. The same evening he was hospitalized for Heart Failure. He almost died a number of times. Now he is recovering and I advise him to slowly do the necessary exercise to strengthen his Heart.

It appears growing old is a matter of choice. However getting a younger bride like our Chief Minister of Sarawak is not good remedy for staying “young and vibrant”. He just got bullied publicly by his new young wife of 28 years old compared to him, almost 80 years old. So grow old graciously and accept what you have invested to stay young!

Avoid the defects…

“AVOID THE DEFECTS OF YOUR COUNTRY”, says Gracian, a philosopher, etc. He went on to say, “Water shades the good and bad  qualities of its beds through which it runs; people share those of the region where they were born. Some owe more than others to their mother country or city, for they were born under favorable skies. No country, not even the most refined, has ever escaped some innate defect or other, and these weaknesses are seized on by neighboring countries as defense or consolation. It is a triumph to correct, or at least to dissimulate, such national faults. By doing so, you will be revered as unique amongst your people; for what is least expected is most valued. Other defects are caused by one’s lineage, condition, occupation and by times. If all these defects come together in one person, and no care is taken to foresee and correct them, they produce an intolerable monster.”

It would be a great 2011 if all of us can avoid the defects of our nation, Malaysia. We need to work together to “correct” some of our faults, especially if we can reduce “the influence of money politics” amongst our less informed brothers and sisters who do not foresee the  economic  devastation created by succumbing to its power. No country can afford it in the long run. Russia communism fell down for in the end no one really do their best to survive, because is guaranteed… things to eat, place to live, etc..Greece is in trouble because a lot is expected from the Government living a life way above what the nation can produce…We, in Malaysia, is going the same road unless less and less subsidy or “legal corruption” is achieved.

Politics along racial and religious divide is another fault for us to avoid. Unless more and more can work together towards better  economic goals without further debates or thinking along those lines, Malaysia and Sarawak will never achieve its full potential to be a richer and better nation. It must begin with ourselves to be self confident of our faith and belief to leave others to breath in their own walls. Debating on who is “more holier than thou” has wrought grieves and heartaches throughout the world. It has made us “victims” for only those who are seen to be “champions” of one or another get ahead. Yet in the end, more often than not, they could not even help their own family to survive without political power.

So let us avoid all the other faults which has bogged us down to what we are to to-day. If we can learn from the success of  our national football team in this year SUZUKI cup, then Malaysia will have less faults and will have a better future….

If only we can think deeper into what the wise Greek philosopher says…avoid the defects of OUR country in 2011 by acting wisely in the coming State and Parliamentary elections…

BIDAYUH WAY OF LIFE – my story…part 1

It has been an interesting short journey of living in this world from the 40′s till now. Even the true time and day of my birth was not recorded as then no one seemed to care not the minute or of the day… only the season. Thus I was born during the harvesting period resulting in leaving half of the paddy field not harvested. The essence of my story is time did not really matter. Even the birth of a child did not really matter to the Government of the Day too. It was the Brooke era of the Second World War and the Japanese was still around. Luckily the invaders did not bother with our village, even our chickens, pigs and paddy were not taken from us like other places. There maybe other villages which have this luck for I do not check with elders of all BIDAYUH villages. But I do know that our village, Kpg Blimbin was not harassed or bothered.

However there were two occasions as the story goes that the Japanese soldiers wanted to “get our chickens and pigs” but for some strange reasons they never come. On the first occasion they returned upon reaching a muddy patch along the way where there used to be a lot of  water fowls, we called “SIKUKOUK” about two kilometers from the village. On the second occasion, they went back because apparently one of them died of a “Heart Attack” when crossing a river about one kilometer from our village. After that, they never bother our village.

Yet those were the days when we live in poverty compared present terms and conditions but those were the days when we were also be free and independent. There was little or no Government except rumors of “headhunters” would throw the village into a frenzy. Even the word of “JAGA PINYAMUN”(watch out there is a headhunter around) would scare the child into hiding. A warning of  “MA ODI JAK OGGI PINYUMAN” (do not go there maybe a headhunter) would stop a lot boys from venturing into those area. But it was also the days of no theft, rape or other crimes committed. It was the time when we did not need the Police or the Army. All they had was a village Head who would impose any punishment or fines on any offenders in a single session of gathering of the Elders with the witnesses and the aggrieved. Otherwise life is carefree – no formal classes or school too.

Our village consist of  three longhouses and four detached houses – one of them, my mother’s brother who also the Priest and the Village Head at that time and the other my father’s “Bangalo” with BELIAN roofing and materials, the only one with such roofing at the time. Sorry, I could not recollect the exact number of doors in each longhouse but each one had more than five doors definitely. Besides some would be empty, during the non Gawai season as the owners would be staying in six other sub-villages of Kedowon Sojuh, Kedowon Sobah, Mongag/Onai, Kaman, Buta and Koong. Now these sub villages have attained the village status of  Pedaun(KIDOWON SOBAH), Bijuray(MONGAG/ONAI), Kaman and Bijongon (BUTA). Kedowon Sojuh is still a subvillage with a few families now while Koong has been  abandoned after a devastating cholera outbreak killing many residents.

The village came alive during the festivities and communal ceremonies. Then every door would bustling with activities while we, the children would be running around the longhouses, just playing around “hide and seek”. Two of the longhouses were interconnected by the platform facing each other in an East-West position while to the North on the East side the two longhouses were connected with a single Belian post with bamboo railings acting as the Bridge. To the South sat our village Head house made from local materials. My uncle’s house was on the North end of Western longhouse. His was the only house where we had to go down/climb a staircase made from a single Tree trunk, if we were to hide there.

In this old village of Kpg Blimbin, we had our fun of growing up but also a time of grief when babies died one after the other from a diphtheria epidemic. It still sticks in my ears of the high pitch wailing of a mother in the evening to “announce the death of her child”. Those were the days of fear and sorrow. A whole generation would be wiped out. What made it more fearsome was that a bird seldom heard to-day would be heard flying over the village in the evening of such death. We were told that this bird “flies upside down”.

Not long after the death of my elder sister, we moved away from the detached House, never to return without knowing the reason why. Only lately one of cousin explained to me that it was considered “taboo” then to built a house of belian completely without other timber. One told me that our house should not have been built there because it was too close to swampy area. I still remember when we would into the swampy jungle for “hide and seek”. I remember my sister died of fever. We were just playing around the day before still but waking up next morning I asked my mother why they wrapped up my sister in white clothes. I told her it would be too hot and “How can she breathe?” But my mother cried instead.. it was the first death I witnessed first hand my three year old sister…

We moved to a farm hut next to a farm which eventually evolved into the present Kpg Blimbin site. The house I built to keep memories of our life is the fourth but on the same site more or less. It is where I grew up till I went to stay in a boarding at St Peter and Paul, now called St. Stephen in 1957. We went hunting, fishing, or just playing around in the jungle to look for anything eatable. Fish aplenty, I could catch enough for my own meals most of the time. I was not good in using the sling to catch birds or squirrel compared to others but I was pretty good in fishing and also collecting durians during the season. In fact I skipped schools on days during the durian season which is not only fun time but also it brought in good money. I collected and my parents would sell.

Politics- your life and future

“Politics is dirty”, is the most frequent answer to those who want to know what is going on but refuse to be involved in politics. Even some who are registered members of poltical parties make the same comments to me often times…

My standard answer is and will be the same. “Politics IS NOT dirty, but some politicians ARE and they pollute poltics making it appears dirty.” I also add, “Politics is vital to life for it determines the type of life we can have.”

In fact politics is like water and fresh air is essential for the survival and well being of mankind. Without good and healthy politics a nation can die and a new Government or nation will evolve. For instance, Malaysia was born out of the politics of Imperialism and the surge of Communism. The fear of Federation of Malaya being overwhelmed by the Communists led to the birth of Malaysia.

The need for some to have the racial security and power, they form racially based parties. Failing in achieving their forces alone they would form block of racial parties under a common agenda and symbol, BN of Malaysia. In some countries they will form a coalition after an election in order to govern as it is done now in England between the Conservative Party and Liberal Party.

A good government can help the nation to progress and achieved economic success unexpected like Singapore. A government which only talks but remain ineffective, you will have some countries like our other neighbours. Malaysia can be better but too much politicking and too little concern to get rid of politics of Patronage has mired us to our present state of affairs where our nation may default on our debts if “subsidies continue” said Idris Jala…

In order to avoid defaulting on our debts, it is vital that good and honest professionals and individuals to be fully involved to replace those in BN who are letting us down now. Most of them are a waste of time and money but they will remain there unless more concerned individuals get in. I has made the mistake of thinking that anyone can do the political job until I realized that the Bidayuh will get nowhere in 1982. To ensure that Sarawak reach its full potential more people are needed to stand for what is right for all Sarawakians. We cannot leave our fate to the present set of leaders.

Sarawak needs to change from its present set of leaders who could not stand criticisms but sent out rude remarks to NGOS and others who care about our environment and Biodiversity. We cannot be blind to the destruction we have impacted on our environments. We have to mitigate against flooding we have created to Kuching for instance. Politics of Development must be people friendly. We must enhance our environment rather than damaging it. We must spread the wealth rather than to concentrate it to the few to control and rule the rest…

To get the work done though, we need your full involvement to clean up Sarawak politics… Be a contributing member of any party and be vigilant against political parasites in your respective party or better still join hands with me to do so…

Nyobeng Sebujit, BULUN, 2010 – Lessons to be learned…

Yes, I am back after three days silence – no phone calls or whatever. The event as it had been when over a hundred seventy of  us from Sarawak  tracked the jungle foot path going up and down the hills and two mountains to get to the “SISTER” village of Kpg Gumbang. Both journeys lasted over eight hours to complete depending on the number of rest stops we have to make to accomadate the least “fit and hardy of the group. In 2008, the two journeys were uneventful except that we were tired. Going on the 14th and returning this year. a group of 40 of us barely made it the village.

Lesson 1.

Must follow local knowledge.

One lost his way and was left behind without the knowledge of the group he followed inadvertently on a longer windy path which avoided climbing only one hill. He is a stranger to jungle tracking being sploit by modern mode of transportation – rididng motorbike everywhere here. Most barely made walking on a very slippery and muddy jungle foot path unprepared for our walk – but it was our own fault for listening to a fixation two of our 2008 veterans who wrongly assumed the “lunung” track would be easier despite advice of our “journey’” Leader from Gumabng who told us that the path was more or abandoned and told muddy without proper maintenance and that the mountain path though long had already been prepared for our trip. The group opinion was divided but the “outsider” overwhelmed the locals who this time formed the minority. After walking about one hundred meters of the chosen path determined by our journey leader, we had to turned back to follow the outsider group. We almost did not make the journey for the path were not only muddy and slippery but have “bridges” of solitary tree trunk, the size of  6-8 foot diameter or two bamboo trunks not properly anchored that I had to go down to the streams three times… As a result it took us one hour more to complete the journey and many of us were limping because of muscle aches and pains and myself having an annoying pain in my left knee – for the first time ever in my life…forcing me to walk dragging my left foot all the way for three hours going and the whole day of the 15th. What a sight and an impression I left to all the strangers and kampong folks who do not know that my “LIMP” only started midway through the journey. For the first time in my life I had to walked dragging my left foot along.. all because we rejected local knowledge and follow the decision made by a “starnger who was unfortunately stucked by his 2008 experience that coming home trip of 2008 was easier and faster along the “lunung path” in 2008. I was also swayed by that experience and taught the lesson of  “must follow local knowledge”. Local knowledge is mostly recent… it is not based on history but the day -to-day conditions…

Indeed on our return journey only ten out 40 made it back on foot took about nine hours walk because I had go the hill on “first gear instead of an easy and fast 4th…I had to go down the prepared steps with my right foot leading and then my left to follow on the same step and so on … whaa really going down any hill on a snail pace…Despite the trail was well prepared, it took us nine hours to finish the journey whicxh could have been less than seven hours if ONLY my left knee was NOT injured by the “UNSEEN”.

Lesson number two.

On a trip like what we made, follow the chosen path to avoid the dangers posed by the unseen..

Our trip was about bringing the guardian angels from the Gumbang Headhouse to help and witness the ceremonies of “NYOBENG” in the headhouse of BULUN, Sebujit. A sending of ceremony was made at the Gumbang Buruk on the morning of the 14th but the “krokong contingent plus one Malay from KL ” did not join the anointing ceremony thus were left unprotected. This group of oevr twenty had to make the journey home through Serikin involving walking about two hours to the boat ride to Seluas and then a ride to border and the  two more rides back to Krokong… The fear of not making it back along the footpath to Gumbang…wrong again. Even myself made it back essentially on one “very tired right leg”.

My pain in my left leg was injured by “foreign bodies being impacted by the unseen”. It caused a pain which had a funny impact on my walk. It felt like something sharp is there in the joint. The knee is normal in size as my right knee. Fortunately with me there two Bidayuh Traditional Healers who were able to extract three foreign bodies out of my knee that now while doing the typing there is NO MORE PAIN in moving and flexing the knee. Traditional healing has help me to be able now to almost make my normal step on the third day after the injury. Yesterday I was still partially dragging it. Look my particular pain did not respond to the pain killers which I did take. Making the wrong move really hurts  but I am too old to cry…

Lesson Number three, there is something special about Bidayuh Traditional knowledge.

Our forefather had learned through generations how to survive in the harsh reality of living in the hardiest condition..Bidayuh is still on this earthe because of their abilities to survive without modern medicine and amenities. Instead they have a way of life where by working together in harmony they able to live through epidemics of various tropical diseases as well dangers from the unseen. Through ceremonies like NYOBENG, they get the blessings they seek to survive.  Unfortunately the knowledge accummulated our thousand of years  are passed down by oral traditons making it the knowledge confined only to the few celebrants. Thus the mytics and misunderstandings about “BIDAYUHISM” – the Bidayuh way of life has led to wholesome conversion to the “NEW” religion of Christainity and Islam in Sarawak.

Yet the “death of BIDAYUHISM” will leave a big hole in our abilities to cure illnesses. Without the help of two Traditional healer I may limp for life. A knee surgery may not leave me with the perfectly functional knees that I have all these 66 years of my life…

Another Year to improve ourselves

2009 is now history. Through the year, we must have sailed through or fumbled along the way. It was another year to learn about friends we can trust, and to meet people whom we had not met.  I met many of  my school mates at Dragon School during our 50th anniversary Dinner and another year to learn about Traditional Healing Practices of the Bidayuh. It was a historic year for me because I started the year with saving a young girl life in Sabah on the 6th January from Paraquat poisoning.  Air Asia helped also by flying the antidote to KK free of charge.

2010  began with my nephew’s son wedding celebration at Hilton last night. Many relatives from the bride’s village, Kampong Stenggang were also there including Datuk Peter Minos. What is unique about it all is that if I were to tell groom’s grandfather that one of his grandson will be celebrating his wedding celebration at a major hotel in Kuching in 2010. He would have laughed and said, “Todah, mungkin ngabos oyoh pun susah.”(What a pity, even buying a pig would be difficult). Yet I was happy that things have changed and that I was celebrating our New Year eve at a wedding at Hilton, not foreseen by many about sixty years ago when Hilton and many other Hotels were non existence.

Yet what we enjoy to-day in Malaysia is behind the Canada I had enjoyed in the sixties in Canada. They already had taller and bigger buildings. Yet the cost of living was low – for instance a whole chicken cost about 50-75 cents Canadian, two pork hocks at 25 cents, the rental for a room with a common kitchen was 20 dollars Canadian. I saved Canadian dollar 120 or more a month out of 160 a month stipend money, that on my third year from the savings I made, I could buy a second hand Volvo in 1968.

To-day, while my nephew’s son celebrated his wedding at Hilton last night, there were friends who told me they could not afforded a chicken for Christmas. Ever wonder why in a land of plenty there are still hunger. Why chicken are now so expensive to many that they cannot afford them to celebrate Christmas, Hari Raya or Chinese New Year? Where do the Billions of RM announced BN leaders go?

If you ever wonder, would 2010 be a year where we can commit ourselves to STRIVE for a Better Future? Why STRIVE you may ask?

STRIVE means we need to struggle against all the challenges thrown into our path by BN propaganda machinery. We have to struggle against our own limitations and weaknesses to be better prepared for the tasks ahead. But STRIVE is also a philosophy of how to get ahead:

S means to start small. Whatever you can do no matter how small, get it done.

T means Think possibilities. Thinking of ways to resolve problems is the biggest asset God has given us as a gift.

R means to reach further. We have to extend our network fo friends and supporters.

I means to Invest wisely our time and other resources.  The most limited of all resources available to us is  TIME.

V means to Visualize success to stay motivated.

E means to expand wisely.

Thus STRIVE can be a philosophy of getting things done one at time to get over any challenges thrown at us. It is also important to remember that the WILL to get things done must be there in the first place.

Have a very successful 2010.

Do you still believe that the BN Government is the Durian?

Time to remember

True, I have not written any post  for a while now.

Now is the time to remember, “what goes up will come down”. Look at what is happening in Iran, thirty years ago they rejoiced in the streets to welcome a new era heralded by the late Ayatollah Khomeini, their Supreme Leader after the fall of their SHAH. Now they are fighting for a new era after thirty years of having a Supreme Leader. Innocents still have to die in the name of Iran as was before and also so many times before. Look around you there are many instances of good and bad times – time for growth followed time for death, time for enjoyment and time to cry, time for wealth and time for poverty. Only time can and will be humbled the Supreme, the Great or whatever as long that man forgets that there is time to wither and die and time to fall. Thus it is better to cherish every moment and every day rather than to mourn and groan.

Yet time alone will not be enough if you want change for the better to come in time for you, yourself, to enjoy the change you may dream of… So it is better to get one thing done at a time or day and cherish its accomplishment.

Our Prime Minister calls for 1Malaysia and then his Deputy calls for a Unity Government. Then lately, PM says BN can govern without a Unity Government. Believers will pray and said now we have a new agenda, yet nonbelievers are still hoping for the new agenda. Politics being politics, only the shrewd and cunning will win. But always remember, time will show that unless BN really change they will surely become the Opposition one blue day. When it happens, depends on how shrewd and cunning the PR group will be before the next General Election – or really how smart Najib is in using the System to rebuild credibility and strength for BN through the changes he promises.

In Sarawak some enjoy very good times still while many are still hurting. This Gawai could be merrier but some cannot even enjoy for one reason or another. It is very strange why for the first time after we launched the official Gawai for the State in 1988 after the Ming Court saga, Jabu was visibly absent at the National level Gawai celebrations. Rumors and speculations said that he is “sick” and needed a “by-pass”. Yet there is no official announcement. Is it time which is changing? Whatever it is, we should wish him well.

Yes, it is still time to celebrate Gawai. One village may still have their Annual festival this July as the date is yet to be confirmed. In Bau District, there were five villages that celebrated their Annual festival the traditional way, namely Kpg Grogo, Kpg Opar and Kpg Stass on the 30th May to 1st June followed by Kpg Serikin and Kpg Serasot a week or two later. In Lundu, Kpg Selampit ahd celebrated theirs with the help of the High Priest, High Priestess and two Priestesses from Kpg Grogo. During these Gawai celebrations, these were times to remember and share as visitors renewed their relationships and shared their successes and failures.

For the Bidayuhs, it is time to remember that 1908/09 padi is a Year OF KILOWONG. There were many complaints by farmers who found that their padi were harvested in many areas without any signs of the padi stalks on ground or within the farm area. A few even claimed that they saw momentarily “men in red” doing the harvesting. Upon checking with the elders, I was told that there is a year of the “KILOWONG” – the “unseen” doing the harvest to get their share. Yet there were farmers whose farms were spared. It is a year to remember and understand why the Bidayuh have to do various ceremonies during the farming season to ensure that they would be blessed with a very good harvest and a successful year.

2009 is also the fiftieth anniversary of  Dragon School, situate at 24th Mile of the old Kuching/Serian road. The pupils, as we were called then, of 1959 are celebrating the 50th Anniversary on July 4th. I am that old? Yeah indeed, it is time to get old and older. So as one grand colleague of mine always says, ” CONGRATULATIONS” every time we meet, I say “CONGRATULATIONS”. Why, because we are fortunate to live another beautiful day as every day in our pension years is a day of rejoice and blessing. Many of  my peers unfortunately cannot attend and I can say only to them, RIP unfortunately. Some choose not to attend. To them we say “CONGRATULATIONS” as you are still around to enjoy the good and bad times.

A big thank you to all who have sent me greetings. May God blesses you all always.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Embrace Diversity…..

My search for a topic relevant for our common survival ended when I read the following woods taken by O.E Bulter in her book, Parable Of The Sower from another book, Earthseed: The Books Of  The Living:

EMBRACE DIVERSITY,

UNITE  —

Or BE DIVIDED,

ROBBED,

RULED,

KILLED,

BY THOSE WHO SEE YOU AS PREY.

EMBRACE DIVERSITY

OR BE DESTROYED.

Malaysians and especially Sarawakians must think through this simple message in our quest to move up to the next level of development towards a real Parliamentary Democracy to safe guard our individual rights to reach our fullest potential, especially amongst those who cry for change for the better. The power of change lies from within as well as outside the individual, depends very much on our own character and motivation in life ….. However in order to invoke real change  around ourselves the power within is the important one.

Only we can sow the “proper seed”….

In Malaysia, BN has been able to govern since its formation in the early seventies as an effort to find a resolution to the racial divide which has heralded in the 1969 racial riots after that General election. It heralds in the New Economic Policy which recognizes the need to cater to the needs of the various races by reducing the economic gap between Bumiputra and non-bumiputra population. Winning Parties representing various racial and other interests have always been invited to join to form the Government by UMNO, the backbone of BN. PBS was accepted into BN after it toppled Berjaya, the BN partner during the election where even the PM promised to sink or swim with Berjaya during that State Election. Berjaya, however, was allowed to sink into a political oblivion… However PBS was kicked out later but because they still hold a considerable sway amongst the local voters, it has been taken back in to reduce politicking and also to ensure UMNO supremacy in Sabah.

However the need to unite amidst diversity was not accepted amongst the opposition parties especially between DAP and PAS until the last General election where the only “glue” was provided by the “de facto” PKR leader, Anwar Ibrahim. However that need was not accepted by PKR Sarawak State leader, Dominic Ng, who went on a three corner fight trying to wrest the Chinese majority seat from DAP in Sarawak. The unity amongst the main Opposition Parties in West Malaysia resulted in BN losing its two third Majority in Parliament for the first time in Malaysia history and losing four more States in West Malaysia.

In Sarawak, working in isolation and individually, only one seat, Kuching Bandar went to the Opposition. If only the Opposition parties worked together right from the beginning, BN could have lost at least six seats…. but divided, DAP lost Sarikei seat by 51 votes while PKR Independent lost its deposit in Sarikei!…  PKR lost Limbang by 676 votes in a two corner fight, and DAP lost Stampin by 3070 votes.

Furthermore domination of Sarawak politics by Taib in the last 28 years is due to his ability to unite the divided forces under BN banner under his battle cry of “politics of Development” publicly which in private could also mean “Development of (his)Politics” of dominance…. Destruction of SNAP through the formation of PBDS and later SPDP has paved the way for a total dominance as none of the existing parties in BN can go solo against PBB or BN and dislodged him from power. Furthermore the destruction of  PBDS through  the “instant formation” of PRS has further divided the contending Dayak power to remain subservient to the ruling power. The ability to use the divisive forces within BN and the political  “gamblers” was further demonstrated in the Batang Ai By-election, where BN won by a big majority, even though the local sentiment was against BN. The key was to unite the divisions through the power of money politics….

Now there are lots of talk about allegations of abuse of power, money politics, corruption, false promises, etc against the BN, but until the Opposition recognizes the need to embrace diversity and unite, BN will still has its day, no matter what…

In Sarawak, the continued division amongst the natives has allowed for total political dominance by Taib and his men since his return in 1981.

Until the natives can unite politically to seek a better future, a lot of unnecessary court cases regarding land and political pension will have to continue as both of these issues needed to be resolved by the Courts as appeals for real justice are being ignored for political convenience. Daniel and group had to bring their appeals for their rightful pension right o the Federal Court to have it resolved. They may even have to get another Court Order to get their rightful pensions.

Until we can unite amidst diversity, a lot of unnecessary woes will befall many as BN will use their might for purposes suitable for …..

Have a Happy Gawai season…

2009 – Happy New Year…

2008 is about to be gone to be replaced by 2009.

We wish everyone a Happy New Year. 2009 may not be as prosperous but it will be the year where we have to watch our purse more carefully as the world economy may recover slowly. For serious investors, it will be a year of opportunity as well.No doubt many have already made plans and resolutions for the new year while the others have not. It is important to know what we want to do and achieve if we want to achieve more in life. A general framework is needed so that the details can be fitted in as time moves on.

I like to break mine into various aspects of things which affect my future as well as those close to me. However whether I can fulfill all the goals set or not, it does not make me quit in my quest to be a better person or life at the end of the day. I start by deciding what I want my obituary will be like – the type of person that I will be remembered by, when my “external shell” is ready for burial. Next is my commitment to leave my village, my friends, my family and my country a better place than when I first found them.

Financial Needs

This is a key area where one must establish a goal. Without money, life will be a mess. With too much money, life can also be miserable as well. There needs to be a balance where life is worth living. Had I gone for too much money, there will be no STAR to-day. However without the money needed, STAR can only as much as it has up to now.

Thus for anyone who aspires to rise up to be on the top of the cream, you must plan your financial needs now. To ensure that you will have the fund you need for any of your plans, you will have to adopt the principles used by a very poor man who sought and followed the advice from a very rich old man, later he, himself, became the richest man in Baghdad. In accordance to the principles he learned, you must pay yourself at least 10% of whatever you earn and invest it in a solid investment with guaranteed interests every month. This fund can only be used to buy land or properties in a good area later. The other ninety percent is the only amount available for your daily needs and for paying your debts if any. Your target is always to be debt free… The more you can save and invest safely above the minimum of the 10% target the faster you will get rich.

Physical Needs.

There is no point to be rich and famous if you neglect your physical and health needs. Being a slave to medications or whatever before you are eighty means you have neglected your bodily needs to stay healthy. Your body needs time for work, relaxation and exercise. It also needs proper diet to meet your daily requirements. Whatever you eat and drink and make you feel fresh and alert is good for you except too much alcohol in whatever forms and also smoking, whatever amount. It is also advisable to stay away from those who smoke, as secondary smoking is bad for your lungs.

Spiritual needs

It is important in the present world of competing spiritual interests to be confident enough of your own faith so as not to be swayed into worrying about what will happen to you when you die. GOD has provide us with our own souls. Just listen to your own soul and be happy that you are alive and well and as our Deputy President, Dr. Dripin Sakoi, does, “He congratulates me for living another day!” I do the same to him. Yes every other day we live in peace , in harmony and in health deserves a “CONGRATULATIONS”.

It is also important to understand as much about others’ beliefs that I have made it a point to read as much as I can about the BOOKS of the GREAT religions of the world.

Family needs

No matter what eventually every man needs a family. It is not only the immediate but also the extended family. The closer we become the happier one can be. Only when the family is all right, only then we can really look after the bigger family, the State and the Nation. It is important we keep in contact and have quality time as much as we can or else we will lose each other.

In Malaysia, we have a number of occasions when families can get together as we celebrate a minimum of four New Years and many other holidays. Besides these holidays, IT has made it possible for immediate and constant contacts through phone calls, SMS, e-mails, Twitter, Facebook and Blogging. Thus interchange of information, ideas and help can be immediate.

Social Needs

Being more of a social animal, we also need to keep a circle of friends for various reasons. I found out that having many friends made my work easier as a politician, even as an opposition member. If we are lucky enough to have friends in the corridors of power, it would better still. The only thing about friendship is that it can also be a handicap if the character we portray or exude is offensive, unreliable or exploitative then one will asking for trouble. I have known characters who have a lot of friends and know a lot of people but command little or no respect.

Thus it is also important to cultivate relationships with honor and respectability.

Overall self development

Finally it is important really to ponder why are we here, now and then? Why are we born? What really is our part and role? Many missionaries from various faiths are ready to provide us with ready answers, but should be satisfied. If we are here to do GOD’S will, how are you going to know that will?

We have to survive to our present status using our five senses. What if there are other dimensions we have been schooled not to explore or believe? Should we not develop our sixth or seventh senses to really know what our soul is really like?

For a better future and a better New Year, we ought to know our real mission for being born by trying to know “what we yet to know”. It is only when we know we can move forward to be a better person. Only when we know more and do more than what we know and do, we can change our world to be a better place than it is now.

Now I wish you a VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. For Muslims, a few days late and the Chinese twenty seven days early, the Dayaks six months too early, showing that even for new years we differ, but we still share the same air, water and land. We do share the same struggle which is to live a happy, healthy and worthy life. Till our souls leave our bodies, we can suffer together or we can laugh together. The choice lies with us all….

HAPPY NEW YEAR, SELAMAT TAHUN BARU, ……