JOHN WAYNE

In 1965 there’s a boy from Bintulu who entered our school. I was in Primary five. That boy named John Wayne, Eurasian, came with his family to stay in our village. He entered our school and joined my class. Everybody talked about him as a smart boy and keen football player.

Years gone by we built our friendship. Everyday John Wayne came to my house, played and studied together. We ate together and it was a wonderful time for me.

Come 1966 we faced a tough challenge during that era. We sat for common entrance examination. Both of us managed to pass through the obstacle and we entered St. Thomas School.

Something happened during the three years together. John was adopted by our primary school teacher and stayed with the family. Our friendship began to diminish due to certain misunderstanding.

We sat for Sarawak Junior Certificate Examination in 1969 and I managed to cling on and proceeded to enter form four in the same school but not John. He did not further his study instead after some years he joined government service as a fireman at the Department of Civil Aviation.

Time passed by as we live our life on our own directions. John married his childhood sweetheart and so am I. We stayed together in the same housing estate but seldom has time together. I guessed life now is totally different from what we have thirty plus years before. I have retired but John still in service. I believe he is now somewhere in Bintulu. How do I know that. Guess what, I was informed by his son, Fikri. Yes, I met his son who is now with SAINS, govt owned company dealing with Sarawak ICT. The face of John Wayne is certainly reflected in the appearance of Fikri…ah the Almighty Allah…

ONCE UPON A TIME IN SARAWAK: REGATTA

Sarawak Regatta 2008, a three days' started yesterday at Sarawak river. The Hon. Chief Minister of Sarawak officiating the start of the event. In his speech the Hon. Pehin Sri recalled the history of regatta which traced back during the 2nd white Rajah rule. This year’s regatta took the theme “ Race for peace.” Regatta was held long time ago in Sarawak by the Brooke a step taken by by Charles Brooke to prevent the fighting amongst the natives of Sarawak.

During the 60s when regatta was held in Kuching, a lot of boat anchored at Sarawak river especially in front of Astana and Cheko. Boats came mostly from the coastal villages from Samarahan areas and some as far as Saribas area. A very interesting view indeed. My relatives from Kampung Baru and kampong Serpan in Asajaya would stop at our house in Kampung Pulo HIlir and stayed with us for a night before the regatta to begin.

During one of the regattas in the 60s (probably 1967) I was selling ice cream. I went around the area near Borneo Company up to Cheko selling ice cream which was obtained from one of the ice cream company at Padungan. Selling ice cream was actually a very good and profitable business. Regatta is one way for people to make some money. I am happy to see a lot of people are making a small business activity during the regatta. It is a very healthy and positive thing to do.

In the seventies I missed the regatta. I do not remember watching the regatta during that time. Probably there's none being held or that I have lost interest during that period, I could not recall.

Back in the 21^st century, regatta came back alive and kicking. It is one of the major events held to attract the tourists to Sarawak. It is interesting to ponder why was the theme of the regatta this year “Race for Peace”?