ONCE UPON A TIME IN SIMUNJAN (4)

Standing 3rd from right at Kpg Sg. Apin, Simunjan in the early 70's

Staff of Simunjan Secondary School, 1974

With my wife during Simunjan Sec.school dinner, 1976

My three years' stay in Simunjan is one of the best time of my life. That was the first time I stayed separated from my family especially my late mom. At the age of twenty and first time separated from family gave me a lot of opportunities and rooms for doing things which I have never thought of doing before.

Anyway Simunjan always remained one of the sweetest and most remembered memories of my life. I would like to share with you a sad story that happened in 1973/74 in Simunjan.It was Sunday and students of the school were allowed to go out of their school compound. Some student would spent the time to go to Simunjan Bazaar , a distance of three miles from school. To go to the town you could either walk or rode a bicycle or became a pillion rider of a motor cycle but with a fare . ( I could not remember how much was the fare, probably RM1.00). But for that Sunday a group of around 50 student went to a picnic spot somewhere near the school where there's a waterfall. It is a beautiful spot, situated at Mount Ngili.

On that fateful day, there was heavy downpour of rain. Water from the mountain that form the waterfall rushed down towards the students. Those student were caught and there was panic. The water that fell down the spot below the waterfall overflowed and rushed toward student who were playing close by. Upon seeing the water rushing down those student rushed away from the spot and saved themselves.

It happened a few minutes only. Then the group realized that one of their friends was missing. They began to look around and some tried to search at the waterfall spot but not successful. The missing boy was nowhere to be found. So, those students rushed back to the school to inform the principal and to get assistance.

That morning I woke up quite late since it was not working day. I stayed in bed longer than other days. My untie, Udak Bibah did not want to wake me. Udak Bibah came to stay with me for a few weeks to assist me in my cooking and laundry. A teacher by the name Mashor came to my quarters and informed me of what had happened. We followed the students to the spot where it happened. Report were made to Police Station and so more help came. Kampung folks from nearby kampung rushed to give whatever assistance. So the search continued. Everybody seem to think that the boy must have drowned in the water spot. We began to search in that pond. I dived in the cold water , still there was not a trace of the boy.

One teacher by the name Ardi or Ashaari, I could not recalled, went further. He followed the flow of the water which led to the downhill. At about one hundred feet below there lies the body of the boy, dead. He must have been hit by the rock when he fell from the platform towards the downhill without anybody realizing what had happened to him.

My friend, Ardi help to carry the body of the boy to his kampung which was quite a distance from the school . In the 70s, you needed to pass through the jungle to reach the kampung.By the way the name of the boy that died in the tragedy was P. Ramlee, an Iban boy. It was a sad day for our school. I was called to the Police station that time to give some detail to the Police corporal, Corporal Tan. It was one tragedy that I still remembered until today. May the the late P. Ramlee rest in peace.

Farewell Sharifah

Last night I attended a farewell dinner organised by Inspection Section of our dept. It's a farewell to Sharifah Rodziah, our one special boss. Special in style, special in attitude. She will move to another location in Kuching to head our divisional office.
Sharifah's first appointment was with Inspection, formerly known as Reconciliation Section. She was there for at least 5 years. But I only joined her last February. And one year with her is one of the wonderful times of my service. At least she's very frank and has given me respect more than I could ask for.
I believed that all of us in Inspectorate Section would miss her. She's one leader that we could rely on when faced by problems and obstacles.
But life must go on. She needed to move. In government service, transfer is one of its characteristics. Furthermore, transfer is a job enrichment. So Sharifah..go on..make your move. You have bright future ahead.

Bon voyage..

I'm sad but life must go on, Its so delicious....said Awang

Itu ketawa dalam tangisan agaknya......
Mama!! why is it Kak Pauline and Kak Liza looking at me?little Zahrah Sophia

one for the album.....

WEE, MIRI & I

Last week I went to Mukah on inspection duty. It was my third . My first was in February last year when I visited Faizal, my third child, who worked in a Oil palm plantation in Balingian.
I went again for the second time in Mac 2006 and stayed for two nights. I felt I am in love with Mukah, such a nice town at the bank of Mukah river. A town fomaous for its sago.

While in Mukah I met my former staff, who, at one time worked with me in the same station i.e Miri. I was in Miri from 1991 to 1999. He's no other than Wee Poh Cheng. Wee is a mixed blood of Chinese father and Melanau mother. Interesting fact about Wee, he can't speak chinese. Wee spoke in Malay, English and Melanau. This is due to the fact that he was raised amongst the Melanau community in Mukah.

Wee started his service in Miri some time in 1994 -1995. A very hard working guy with high spirit, easy going and has a pleasant smile, Wee is very approacable and helpful. With him around nothing is difficult.

I left Miri in 1999 to serve in my home town, Kuching but Miri remained a memory. I came back to Miri a few times since then and while in Miri, Wee never fail to extend his helping hands to me and has treated me the same way when we were together.

Now he is serving in Mukah, his home town and I believe he's happy to be here. With him around he made my trip interesting and enjoyable. He became a tourist guide and brought me to various villages in Mukah and gave me chances to snap a few snapshots. Mukah is a beautiful place to visit. You would be astonished by it's serenity.

So friens, lets enjoy the photos and best of luck to all. As to Mr Wee Poh Cheng, thank you for your hospitality and not forgetting the rest of the staff in Mukah, Aziah, Ida, Ummi Abbas & others. You are all great. Love you all.

FRUITS SEASON

Fruits season is here now. Everwhere you will see fruits, fruits..and fruits. Lots of fruits. Various type of fruits. Thre's durian, rambutan, langsat, mangosteen. You named it, its all here. And the price, rock bottom. A durian cost RM1.00 eachor can be cheaper.

Last friday I went to Pusa Bazaar, on the way to Maludam in the Betong Division. Along the way you can see fruits vendors selling their jungle products especially durian and rambutan.
I did not stop by but proceeded to my destination. Stayed overnight at Sarikei after completing duty at Maludam.

The next morning I started my journey back. Along the way I stopped at various town and bazaar such as Betong, Saratok and Sri Aman. Pick up durian and rambutan along the road. I reached Gedong at 2.00 pm and waited for my son, Faizal, who is supposed to go back with me. He was not at home but still in the plantation. I waited until 5.00 pm.

By 5.00pm Faizal arrived. We proceeded to Kuching. Between Gedong and Serian we stopped by at the road side near a Bidayuh village and bought some more fruits ie langsat and rambutan. I snapped a few shots and proceeded to our destination.

We arrived in Kuching at 7.00 pm. Everybody's ready for tomorrow, Hari Raya Korban (Aidul Adha) but rain is still falling doown and we have to be ready for the worst. Wataer leevel may rise and flood may be here any time as what happen to us in 2003. I just hope for the best..