Figments of the imagination? BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » thesundaypost - New 2 Borneo |
- Figments of the imagination?
- A settlement of bright people
- Praise dance benefits the whole being
- Bringing back the forests
- Greater protection needed for heritage sites
- Try the healing waters
| Posted: 09 Aug 2014 10:55 AM PDT by A staff writer. Posted on August 10, 2014, Sunday
Would anyone believe us if we told them we had seen a ghost? Well, yes and no. Generally, ghost believers are regarded as "plain nuts or screw loose" and often scolded for hallucinating or being "not quite right up there." But how can anyone be absolutely sure that contact with the other side is all in the mind? The dichotomy of real versus surreal is a head-cracking conundrum. The same is true of normal versus paranormal. Here is a "believe it or not" account of an encounter of the spooky kind related by a friend Max (not his real name) who claimed he once gave a lift to a ghost – or something he thought was a ghost – in his old Ford Prefect sedan. On the night of the Seventh Moon (in July) around 11 o'clock back in the 1950's, while driving home along the old Kuching airport road after dropping a colleague off at the old Mile 7 bazaar, he was waved down by an old man, carrying a leather briefcase, just outside the 5th Mile area. Max pulled up by the roadside and the smartly attired old-timer hopped (with both legs) towards the car and told Max he lived further down the road at Mile 4 1/2 and would appreciate a lift – before inviting himself in! The old man also spun a hard-luck yarn of missing the bus and waiting a long time for the next one, which he said was driven by a brother of his, to come but it never did! Max thought it rather strange for an apparently well-off senior citizen to be waiting to catch a bus in that part of the road this late at night, especially when there was no bus service to the Mile 41/2 area at the time even during the day, let alone near midnight. But Max thought nothing of it until a while later. He was happy to be doing a good deed by giving a fellow citizen, stranded on a dark road at an ungodly hour, a free ride home. Max feared if left alone by the roadside, the old timer could be kidnapped and would probably die trying to fight off his abductors. He did not want that on his conscience. So with the old man secure in the back seat, Max drove off. He did not talk to his elderly passenger along the way. No point disturbing the old guy, he thought. Approaching the 41/2 Mile area, he asked the old man where exactly was his house. Just down the road came the reply. Soon, Max found himself stopping in front of a gravelled footpath, leading to a brightly-lit empty wooden double-storey building some distance from the main road. The old man's home, he presumed. Tall trees cast long shadows on the surrounding overgrown vegetation. Only the bright lights from the building betrayed the presence of a nearby graveyard. The old man alighted, thanked Max for the lift and began taking short jerky hops towards the building. Then, a short way from an outhouse that looked like a worn-down garage, he paused, gave Max a haunting look, waved goodbye, turned around and hopped a few steps further down the footpath before vanishing in a dash of blurring imagery. Surely this couldn't be happening – a person, flesh and blood (at least, that was what the old bloke looked like) disappearing just like that, a goose-pimpled Max wondered aloud. He was sure his eyes weren't playing tricks. And he hadn't been drinking! Had the old man been obscured by the undergrowth encroaching onto the gravelled footpath or fallen into a nearby grass-covered drain, the lights from the building would have caught it. But inexplicably, he just evaporated into nothingness in plain sight. Max was convinced he had seen something "very unnatural" that night. How a wealthy old man had waited for transport at a secluded dark road (with no bus service) when a person of his standing had no business doing so. How the old man was hopping (the gait of ghosts) instead of walking (like you and I) and how he had disappeared into thin air – poof and gone without a trace. Just then, Max's thoughts flashed back to the bus the old man said he had been waiting to catch but which never showed up. What kind of bus was it? A ghost bus from purgatory? And the driver the old man said was his brother – who actually was he? A good brother to whom the old man, probably a good brother himself, had gone to join? Conspiracy theory or not, Max did not stick around to find out. Spooked by the spectral happening, he was off in a flash. On his drive down to Kuching, he saw offerings of cooked meat and fruits placed beside some burning red candles on the side of the road. It was, after all, the night of the Seventh Moon when famished lost souls are let out from the underworld to partake of the offerings in what is known as the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. The next day, Max told me his hair-raising encounter and I asked: "Sure, you are not pulling my leg?" He shot back: "You don't joke about these things, lah. Maybe you like to check out the place tonight. I will take you there but you do the snooping around yourself. For all you know, you might bump into a good brother." Although I took Max's story with a bucket of salt, I did not take up his dare. Thanks but no, thanks! No point poking your nose into the dark side. Today, the area of the ghostly encounter has changed beyond recognition, having been opened up for housing estates and is served by a network of well-lit roads. I was told the old man's house is no longer there. Perhaps, it never was! Maybe the old guy is still hanging around the place, waiting to hitch another lift on the Seventh Moon from some motorist with a weakened aura. But who wants to know?
One of the scariest horror stories must be about the orang minyak (oily man or ewe kui kia). During the 1950's and 60's, this disciple of black magic prowled several villages in peninsular Malaysia, molesting young women. Its oil-coated body made it extremely slippery and hard to catch. Besides, it is said to have the power of invisibility. Although the orang minyak was definitely human, many stories have linked it to the supernatural. The oily man is said to be a normal person but in pact with the dark forces, had to rape 21 virgins to possess the black arts. It sought out victims mostly at night. According to one report, a student from a higher education institute in Shah Alam had a macabre brush with this greasy ghostly predator which she described as having "a very dark complexion, piercing deep eyes and oil all over." Throughout the ordeal, the student tried to scream but was strangely mute. She tried to push "the oily thing" away but it seemed all her strength had been drained from her body. She felt hypnotised and was subsequently raped! Her room-mates did not heard or see anything – so they did not come to her aid. None of them saw the elusive orang minyak. So the management of the institute decided to bring in a bomoh to perform an exorcism. Pity, there was no account of what actually followed.
Max's creepy tale got me recollecting the many ghost stories I (perhaps you too) heard as a kid. I am sure most of us know about a spectre called hantu tinggi or the tall (bamboo pole) ghost. It is said this particular ghost grows taller and taller when someone approaches it … until it reaches into the sky. The hantu tinggi usually appears during a passing drizzle on a hot day (hujan panas). The superstitious would place a stub of grass or a leaf on their ears as a camouflage when venturing outdoors during such times. It is believed if your aura is low, you could also run into this tall ghost on a moon-lit night. Usually, the ghost would stand in the middle of a road with legs outstretched to form an arch. In the event of an encounter, you'd do well not to look up at the face of the ghost but quickly pass under its arched legs –- and vamoose! If you try to be funny by mocking the ghost or taking a swing at its long hairy legs while passing under them, the tall fellow will close its legs and crush you. Don't say you have not been warned! The chui kui (water ghost) is another member from the other side whose story most of us are familiar with. It is said to be the restive spirit of a drowning victim and will haunt the place of its demise such as a pool, a lake, a river or some seas. This particular ghost can only be reincarnated after claiming a victim, so the story goes. Rain and snow are its nemesis as these elements will prick the ghost like a million needles! Unlike most ghosts that haunt the night, the chui kui is most active at noon when the sun is directly overhead.
According to a newspaper report, a photo showing what was supposed to be a ghost, caused panic among schoolchildren in the peninsula. The image on the photo appeared to be a ghost-like figure floating behind a boy. The schoolchildren were so scared that they refused to use the school toilets. Copes of the photo had been circulated in schools in Kuala Kangsar, Pantai Remis and Taiping, according to the report. A head teacher told the newspapers the students were advised not to believe such stories. The National Union of the Teaching Profession also urged parents and teachers to explain to the students that ghosts did not exist! The Union suspected it was the work of irresponsible people who wanted to frighten the youngsters and called for action to be taken against the culprits. The apparent prank eventually ceased but the practical jokers were never found or caught nor the true nature of the image properly explained. It's supposed to be like that with ghosts or so I am told! Most times, you don't get to fully grasp the reasons for ghostly sightings. I guess that's what makes us afraid of the unknown … of ghosts. Now you see them, now you don't! I am having goose bumps already.   |
| Posted: 09 Aug 2014 10:53 AM PDT by Chang Yi. Posted on August 10, 2014, Sunday NOT many people know about Lichok – a small Iban settlement about an hour by road from Sarikei and not too far from Saratok. It is made up of two longhouses which were once a whole settlement by itself. Today, it is a thriving community with a population well-educated and looking forward to a bright future. "Lichok can lay claim to some fame," said a professional who wished to remain anonymous. He hails from this longhouse and is happy he can drive back to Lichok from Sarikei everyday. He said Lichok is now in the news because of the Saratok water crisis. But in good times, it's remembered for several good "features." For one, Lichok residents are highly educated. Many professionals are from this longhouse. And one is Dr Ensalie Mambak, a dentist with a clinic in Kuching but returns to Lichok whenever he can. Like most Lichok residents, Dr Ensalie and his family are highly educated. They have also ventured in business and other investments in a fairly big way. A relative, Ali Biju, who is Krian state assemblyman, is also from Lichok. Julian and Martin Entamin, two brothers long associated with the petroleum industry, are from the same longhouse as well. They are a just few of the many outstanding Lichokians. Today, education in the area is very progressive. Many primary schools have been built to continue the good work of the Anglican Church which first started some schools there before the Second World War. Rumah Entamin, under Tuai Rumah Entamin, is proud that its 12 families (splintered from the old settlement of more than 30 families) has produced more than 72 graduates, including two dentists, three engineers and many graduate teachers. Anglican Church history St James Chapel in Lichok, just beside the longhouse, is one of the oldest Anglican chapels in Sarawak. Quaintly designed, the wooden Chapel has served the people well from the time of the Brooke rule. And since then, many Ibans from this area have joined the Anglican Church as priests and deacons. Every Sunday, the Ibans of Lichok and the surrounding areas attend service in the Chapel. It warms the cockles of the heart to see three generations in a family walking to the Chapel early on Sunday mornings. Water catchment area The water shortage in Saratok has brought some attention to the place. A decade or so ago, the government acquired some small plots of land from Rumah Entamin (Lichok) to build a water catchment area. Several families were paid from a few hundred to a few thousand ringgit, depending on the size of their land being acquired. Since then, everyone has been enjoying piped water from the purification or treatment plant at Lichok. The water catchment area is considered a good government project. The treatment plant is situated further inland – from the bridge over Sungai Lichok. The main Sarawak highway passing by Lichok is always busy – even at night. And a good bridge spanning the Lichok River is the pride of the locals. English speaking population "As a result of the early Anglican Church's efforts, most of the Ibans in Lichok speak excellent English," a local Chinese teacher noted. "I'm comfortable teaching here because many of the parents and even grandparents speak English," she said. The teacher herself has learnt to speak Iban. She pointed out that many of the students in Lichok had good role models to look up to such as Dr Ensalie, his wife Puan Ngian who is a principal in Kuching, and Ian Kuntai who is attached to the PPD in Kanowit. One of the earliest educated Ibans, Stephen Kuntai, was sent to study at Tanjong Lobang in the 1950's. He went on to become the divisional officer in charge of the Cooperative Department in Miri until his retirement in 1994. Today, he is still a strong member of the community. Water woes wreaking havoc A businessman in Jakar near Sarikei has expressed sadness over the water problems in Roban, Kabong, Lichok and Saratok. He said his stocks of bottled water ran out very quickly and he had to hurry orders from Sibu. He had also read about several schools having to close even before Hari Raya due to water shortage. "It's not possible to run a boarding school without water. Some schools have water tanks but we are talking about many hundreds of litres of water for cooking, cleaning the school and the toilets. "Even when we only have a small family, our small tank of water can probably last three days. I vomit when I smell the stench from the toilets. "If my kids were living under such conditions in boarding school, I would call them home. Diseases can spread fast," the businessman bemoaned. He said he tried to keep the price of bottled water down but he knew of people who were hiking prices. "The government should now control the price of bottled water," he suggested. Two Lichokians in Miri over the Raya holidays considered themselves lucky to have been able to come over and stay with their daughter. "This helps. Although retired, we are still very mobile. So we have plan B and even plan C. Those children at boarding schools suffer the most. Some schools were already closed even before the Raya holidays. We cannot imagine the situation at these schools without water," they said. One of them, a boarder in Tanjong Lobang in the 1950's and 60's, added: Water supply is very important. I can understand what it's like to be in a school with 500 boarders but without any water to clean the toilets." A young parent said conditions for boarders in a rural primary school were extremely difficult without steady water supply. She pointed out that in her area, beset by water shortage, she had to boil rainwater and store them in jerry cans for her son to bring to the boarding school. She delivers two cans to her son every Sunday. The young boy also brings five one-litre bottles of water for drinking and brushing his teeth. But by Friday afternoon, he will often have run out of water. "It's sad my son has to bathe in a little pond when the rainwater tank runs out. The school is actually quite good to all the students but when water runs out, water runs out! "It's heart-rending to know some schools in the urban areas have their own water tanks while we are facing severe shortage. How do you like to know your son goes to bed every night without washing his feet," the parent said. A young specialist commented: "There is some injustice here. You see a lot of huge rivers and yet, people are suffering because they have not piped water. There are many people making a lot of money from bottling water and also a lot of people having to pay high water bills every month. Can piped clean water be free for the people?" A friend who is married into a Lichok family concluded: "We just hope the Lichok River will continue to supply water for everyone in Saratok, Roban, Kabong and Lichok itself. "It is sad when the river runs dry. For years, I have enjoyed listening to the rushing Lichok River and the wonderful sounds from the water treatment plant. "If the area needs a bigger catchment area, then we must develop it as fast as possible," he suggested. Water is a necessity and the right of the people according to the Universal Human Rights 1953. |
| Praise dance benefits the whole being Posted: 09 Aug 2014 10:50 AM PDT by Rintos Mail, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 10, 2014, Sunday GRACEFULLY moving their arms to tempo of the music, they sway to the left and the right. As they continue their movement, stepping forward, pumping their arms like synchronised swimmers performing on land, beads of sweat build up on their foreheads, rolling down their noses and faces. This group of mainly women can be seen moving in unison, offering rhythmic praise in a form not unlike a typical Sunday morning service at Tabuan Jaya Neighborhood Park every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. The session normally lasts about an hour. At first glance, it might appear like tai chi, a Chinese meditative exercise, rooted in martial arts, but it's not. Then, what are they doing? Well, they are doing what is called praise dance which originates in Taiwan. Dancing in groups in parks is already a long tradition in Chinese culture and society, so praise dance is just another appropriate form of outreach in this cultural context. Anyway, it's beautiful to see people moving together, manifesting unity and joy in working together. Praise dance is a form of exercise with the movement combining aerobic, dancing and physical exercise, according to Margaret Fong, who is in charge of Tabuan Jaya Anglican Church Dance Ministry. She said through praise dance, a person could enhance his or her physical fitness and improve the spiritual mind as all the praise dance songs use Bible verses. "At the same time, it builds a caring body among the community and is suitable for all ages." The founder of praise dance is Wu Mei Yun, a music teacher from Taiwan. Fong, who is the dance instructor, said Wu, who returned to Taiwan in 2003 after retiring from America, started the Praise Dance Series 1 at the age of 68. Each series comprises 12 praise songs with a duration of one hour, and to date, there are six series of praise dance. Fong said praise dance is now conducted "all over the places" – in Hong Kong, China, America, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and certain parts of Europe. The music is also composed by Wu who also choreographes the dances, using a range of styles from Chinese traditional and aboriginal, Spanish and Hawaiian ballet to pop and hip hop. The lyrics are Bible passages. Fong said praise dance offers health benefits such as reduced stress, weight loss and increased joy of connecting with others. "I'm very thankful to the Lord for His love and grace upon me that through teaching praise dance, my health and fitness level has improved. "I have shed almost 10kg and reduced four inches of my waist. And now, I don't have to take any glucosamine pills to control my knee pain," said Fong who has had been with the Praise Dance Ministry for five years now. She said she felt particularly happy while doing praise dance to the soothing music, rhythm and tempo of the songs. And most importantly, the lyrics are words of Bible verses. "While exercising, I can also apply these words as my daily prayers as well as a lamp of my feet and a light for my path." Fong said she learned praise dance when she was in New Zealand in 2008 and started the class at Tabuan Jaya Anglican Church in 2009. Later, she extended it to the community of Tabuan Jaya Neighborhood Park, Jalan Wan Alwi (back of Ibraco Office) and Persatuan Perkhidmatan Warga Emas, Ong Thian Swee Road, Kuching, in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Now, she has another four members as instructors and assistants during dance sessions at three different locations – Tabuan Jaya Neighbourhood Park every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7am to 8am; Tabuan Jaya Anglican Church every Monday and Thursday from 6pm to 7pm and Persatuan Perkhidmatan Warga Emas, Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, every Tuesday and Thursday from 6.30am to 7.30am. Fong was formerly a hockey player, having played for her club – Telecom Malaysia – and the state between 1972 and 1985. She also held the secretary post of the Sarawak Women Hockey Association (SWHA) since 1975 before becoming its president from 2003 to 2010. During her tenure as SWHA secretary and president, Sarawak's women hockey became into a force to be reckoned with in national championships and Sukma, especially between 1996 and 2002. Aside from that, SWHA also produced several players who represented the country in international competitions, including the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. But now Fong enjoys praise dance. "I think I enjoy praise dance more than playing hockey. Praise dance benefits me not just physically but also spiritually. "At this age now, I still can do all the moves," the 67-year-old said. There are now about 100 members actively doing the dance routine. Praise dance member Ding Wei Ing said the exercise had helped remove her bad headaches. "Last time, I used to have headaches quite often. This affected my life – so much so that I didn't feel like doing anything. "But since taking up praise dance at the Tabuan Jaya Neighborhood Park in 2010, my headaches were gone," the 66-year-old said. Ding testified her muscles and joints are more relaxed now. "I feel so happy while doing praise dance with the soothing music and the wordings of the songs. "Another thing is we have good fellowship among the instructors and fellow members," she added. Another member Shirlina Tan, 61, testified praise dance had benefitted her physically and spiritually. "I have been doing it for nearly three years and I really enjoy it. "Praise dance has improved my physical fitness and through the music and lyrics, my spiritual mind has been strengthened." Tan said she really appreciated the commitment of the instructors who teach voluntarily. Apart from praise dance, Fong said members were also involved in community work such as cleaning the Tabuan Jaya Neighborhood Park by gotong royong every quarter of the year. So far, they have participated in the Community Carnival Day, jointly organised with the Kuching City South Council, at the Tabuan Jaya Neighborhood Park in 2012. Activities such as praise dance performance, tug-of-war competition, eating competition and basketball competition were among the programme. Fong said to enhance their knowledge and skills, their instructors-helpers have been voluntarily attending praise dance training courses each year since 2009. The courses are run by Wu (Mei Yun) either in Singapore, Johor Bahru, Taipei or Sibu. It is believed the most important aspect of praise dance is that it provides a holistic approach to health and well-being. Praise dance is a wonderful form of worshipping and dancing exercises which benefit one's whole being. It's seen as good for the physical and mental well-being of the community and the participants. Praise dance reduces the number of working days lost through absentism due to illness, and increases workers' efficiency, concentration, mobility and hence productivity at work. It provides a healthy environment for people to meet socially to share their experiences. It increases mental alertness and bone strength, lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system and enables better sleep. Most importantly, praise dance is good for one's whole being – the inter-connection of the mind, body and spirit – as it involves exercises which express love, joy, thanksgiving, praise and worship, thereby promoting spiritual health. It contributes to bringing the Spirit of God for comfort and healing as one tunes one's mind, body and spirit to the dancing exercises through the music and lyrics. |
| Posted: 09 Aug 2014 10:48 AM PDT by Gerard Proust. Posted on August 10, 2014, Sunday FOR many centuries traditional societies lived within the natural world with minimal impact. The traditional inhabitants of Australia lived there for over 40,000 years and nurtured the land. In the last 200 years, this has changed with the loss of much of the natural areas. What is left of these natural areas (the forests, the grasslands etc) is degraded and fragmented. The good news is that many people are doing something to fix these imbalances. The main problems are habitat loss, weed invasion, erosion and feral animals. I feel privileged to be an ecological restorator and work in many amazing places restoring the balance. The work is hard but so rewarding. After assessing an area, I take a crew in to start the forest regeneration process by various on ground works (ie removing the weeds etc). These work areas vary from islands, river systems to mountains, rivers and deserts. A journey of time – The river journey After three failed attempts (due to weeks of rain) we were finally off on our mini work-play adventure. What could be a 20km or 20-minute drive through a country landscape would be a 10km or three-day canoe trip down one of Sydney's main river systems. Our mission was to record and map all the invasive woody weeds and control, by stem injecting with herbicide, as many as possible. Four of us set off in two fully laden canoes from a sandy bank under an old disused suspension bridge. The natural beauty of the steep sandstone valley was captivating and made it hard to keep focused on the task at hand. We soon fell into a rhythm of slowly paddling the wider sections where we recorded the most weeds, so it was these sections where we had to get out and stem inject as many as possible. We recorded 15 different woody weeds species and the main ones we controlled were Honey Locust, Privet and Box Elder. The worst weed was Honey Locust, which forms dense stands, excludes native animals and has thorns designed for major damage, which I can attest to after getting stabbed in the temple, neck and hand with painful results. All up we recorded over 2,500 woody weeds (at 150 different GPS points) and controlled over 1,000. There were many narrow rocky sections where we took on the rapids till they got too shallow and then we had to start dragging the canoes. In several sections, the water disappeared under the boulders and we had to do the long portage of hauling canoes over difficult terrain. It was in these fast rocky sections that no weeds had established. Finding a suitable camping place was difficult due to the rocky and/or steep shores and slopes. One was found high up the bank on a mini-bench. After setting up hammocks, drying clothes and having a spartan dinner, a warming fire was appreciated to contemplate the expanse of time and place under the brilliant clear sky. We were 1km (as the black cockatoo flies) from the main highway and rail line and 60km from the Sydney central business district but it seemed like we were miles from anywhere. I thought of the time and enjoyment we took from the 5km of river we travelled compared to the pace we all usually go about on this planet. As we worked our way downstream, we saw and heard many native animals. While not in the amazing biodiversity league as the Kinabatagan River in Sabah, it still yielded some great finds despite its current state. In areas where the native forest was still intact or had elements left; we saw Azure Kingfishers darting along the banks in search of fish, Wedge-tail Eagles being chased by Magpie Larks, Swamp Wallabies bounding through the dense ferns, Diamond Pythons sleeping in their favourite sunny spots, Water Dragons diving for cover and Long-necked Turtles floating in the shallows. We heard the lugubrious cries of the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, the mimics of the lyrebird, the coo-ee of the Brown Fruit Dave and the nocturnal whoo-hoos of the Powerful Owl. I know that these animals will only increase in number with projects such as this one where government, community and professionals are working to restore the damage we have done over many years. We have started work on 15km of the river with plans to expand to 45km over the next five years. The river is 170km in length so I am determined to do and see as much of this and other systems on this fragile planet while I am still able. As we left feeling exhausted but also elated from our last few days, we passed a large mixed flock of Firetail Finches and Double-barred Finches bidding us farewell. They reminded me that despite what humans have and are doing to this planet, there is a strong natural resilience out there that we can tap into to continue the restoration process. The Malaysian Nature Society Established in 1940, the Malaysian Nature Society is the oldest scientific and non-governmental organisation in Malaysia. Our mission is to promote the study, appreciation conservation and protection of Malaysia's nature heritage. Our 5,000-strong membership, spread across 12 branches nationwide, come from all walks of life, bound by a comment interest in nature. For further information on membership or our activities in Kuching contact us at mnskuchinggmail.com. For information on our activities in Miri contact Musa Musbah (sammua@yahoo.com). You can also visit www.mns.org.my, http://mnskuching@blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/mnskb. |
| Greater protection needed for heritage sites Posted: 02 Aug 2014 10:59 AM PDT by Joanna Yap, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 3, 2014, Sunday STANDING tall in the heart of the Main Bazaar along Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg is the old General Post Office. Built in 1932 by the third and last White Rajah of Sarawak Charles Vyner Brooke, the building still looks as majestic and grand as it was when it was first opened. In part, this is because it was still being used and maintained as a post office up until recently. Its neoclassical design and massive columns have been a source of pride for locals – many of whom likely posted mail or collected parcels from there at least once in their lives. Thus, it will come as a shock to many to learn this beloved Kuching landmark does not enjoy protected status under current heritage laws because it is less than 100 years old. Scratching the surface There are two laws which presently govern heritage sites and antiquities in the state, Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) president Karen Shepherd told thesundaypost recently. One is the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993 (SCHO) while the other is the National Heritage Act 2005 which is applicable to the whole country and covers areas not addressed under the former. However, their existence has not prevented Kuching from losing many of its historical buildings in the 20 years since the SCHO has been in force. One reason is why there is a need for the law to enlarge and further define what heritage is. Many people don't really understand what heritage really means and why it is more than just about preserving old buildings and historical sites, Shepherd explained. Age is just one of many factors which should be taken into consideration when determining heritage value as heritage is both tangible (buildings, objects, art) and intangible (language, customs, practices). The tangible and intangible aspects of heritage are often intertwined. Changing or removing one aspect will often cause a ripple effect in another. It could result in unintended consequences such as the dwindling number of businesses at Carpenter Street – the result of large projects in the Main Bazaar area which not only altered the flow of vehicle and foot traffic but ultimately resulted in a drastic change of culture, Shepherd pointed out. Ground zero More than half a century since independence from British colonial rule, the socio-economic and political fingerprints of British influence can still be traced all over the heart of the old city, centred around the Main Bazaar which sits on the bank of the Sarawak River – from the pre-war shoplots, lining the then major thoroughfares (such as Wayang Street, Carpenter Street, Ewe Hai Street and India Street) that formed the lifelines of trade and commerce, to the colonial architecture of the Sarawak Museum, the Astana, Fort Margherita and the old Courthouse complex. However, these vestiges of colonial times can be counted as among the better off. Over the years, a number of their peers have been lost – some forced to make way for development projects while others suffered through careless, garish facelifts which often ended up vandalising the very features which made them unique and for which they were cherished. Many more have simply fallen to the ravages of time and neglect – pale shadows of their former glory and their future existence ever increasing in doubt. Old Kuching lies at the epicenter of the quiet battle between the old and the new as the state government and developers push ahead with an ambitious multi-million ringgit reinvention of the waterfront and Main Bazaar into what it hopes will be a vibrant heritage, tourism, business and entertainment hub. Pre-war buildings like the General Post Office and the New Orleans-inspired building, built in 1907, which houses the present Sarawak Textile Museum, are finding themselves in the shadows of ever larger and newer development projects. Rising awareness At the same time, the collective sense of loss felt by some Kuching residents has been channeled into a collective desire to preserve what's left of Kuching's historical buildings and sites and ensure the intangible knowledge and history contained in them are not lost forever amongst the cacophony of modernisation. The Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS) was founded in 2006 by a passionate group of individuals to increase public awareness about the value of preserving heritage sites, encourage interest in local heritage and support heritage conservation initiatives. Recently, the group held a small preview exhibition with Urban Sketchers Kuching called Foretaste to raise awareness on conservation issues. It featured the works of five urban sketchers depicting present day Kuching and the old town of Siniawan. Among scenes captured were the India Street pedestrian mall, the Brooke Dockyard, the old Satok Wet Market before its relocation to Kubah Ria, and Padungan. The small launch held at The Ranee boutique hotel was warmly received with more than 70 people in attendance. Compared to when the group first started, public interest in heritage matters had increased over the past few years, Shepherd shared. "From my personal perspective, there are two sides to it. One, there have been a number of losses over the last few years and people feel strongly about it – the wet market at Gambier Street, the godown, and the Summerhouse at the Museum which had its beautiful stucco work removed. "We saw a number of buildings that have featured very well in our lives – like the cinemas – disappear and I think people were getting to that stage where they felt they would have nothing. "At the same time, there have been a number of successes like the Courthouse, the Waterfront and Fort Margherita. I think people are starting to see the beauty and value in it (preserving heritage). Sometimes, it's not until you almost lose something or lose something that you realise its worth." Nevertheless, Shepherd stressed that more people needed to voice their opinions and concerns to better influence the decisions of policy-makers and actions of law enforcers in heritage matters. Call to action SHS member and Foretaste coordinator Anna Wee was among those who felt compelled to join the SHS as she saw her beloved city losing more and more of its iconic places and buildings. One of the biggest challenges society faces is changing the way how people perceive and value heritage, including convincing private property owners why old buildings should be maintained instead of demolished to make way for new shoplots. "Unfortunately, many owners do not see the need to maintain even the facade of their buildings as they see no value in it for them," she shared. This is also partly because there are no by-laws which protect buildings with heritage value nor specify what modifications or renovations can or cannot be done to them. Anna pointed out that by-laws were needed not just to improve the administrative and legal checks and balances but also provide a more secure future for heritage sites which have escaped the touch of demolition or decay so far. "Look at the old Courthouse complex. It has not been well maintained. I've organised functions there before and the walls are peeling. You get the feeling that maintenance has become a low priority," she said, adding that all the Acts in the world will not work if there is no political will. Shepherd agrees. "Our goal is to try and help people to see the beauty in their history. At the moment, the aesthetic here is still very much for new and shiny things." "To preserve heritage you have to involve a large number of people and different agencies – city councils, government, NGOs. If you look to Penang as a model, they have a heritage unit which oversees everything. If the government wants to get really serious about preserving heritage, they will need to set something similar up and to give it some (serious) teeth. "Heritage and tourism can be uncomfortable together but actually tourists come to a place like this because they want to see something that they cannot see anywhere else. Our goal is to help people to see the beauty in their history," she said. Good tourism sense Freelance tour guide Rose Au and director Rosemarie Wong of The Ranee boutique hotel, are firm believers that demolishing the old to make way for the new is not necessarily better when it comes to promoting tourism in the state. For example, certain temples have been dropped from local itineraries following renovation works which have done away with the temples' unique features. "Fewer guides are taking them there because the temples have lost their aesthetic value," Rose noted. Rosemarie pointed out that one way of preserving old heritage buildings and antiques is to repurpose them through the lens of modern interior design and contemporary concepts, and where possible, incorporate the old into the new. The Ranee itself is an example of how this balanced and tasteful play between the old and new can greatly add value and create good experiences for visitors. The hotel is situated within two 19th Century shophouses along the Main Bazaar and facing the Waterfront. Taking advantage of its location in the historical quarter, the hotel uses antiques and locally sourced material like pua kumbu in its designs. For example, separating the Ranee's lobby from the in-house cafe is a partition made from wooden beams recovered from the site during the hotel's construction phase. "We have also used some of the old beams to make the amenities benches which are placed in our bathrooms. Not only does it impart a unique experience to our facilities but it is also more environmentally friendly as old objects find new life," Rosemarie added. More voices needed Preserving Kuching's heritage while pushing forward with modernisation is a complex issue, necessitating on-going engagement and pro-active participation not only between the property owners and government departments but also with subject experts from various disciplines, including urban planning, architecture, heritage societies and non governmental organisations. "The whole point of heritage is not that it's the past; it's the link between the past and where we are now. No one is suggesting you stop it in time and nothing can ever be touched. The thing is to maintain the heritage so that it can continue into the future," Shepherd explained. She encouraged anyone with an interest in Sarawak heritage to consider joining the SHS, including professionals and members from diverse backgrounds and fields, to get involved as it would help society to represent a wider range of opinions, views and suggestions in their efforts to ensure continuity of Sarawak's heritage. SHS is presently conducting a membership drive and is planning to follow up Foretaste with a series of programmes, public talks and activities over the next few months. To learn more about the SHS or to join their mailing list, email sarawakheritagesociety@gmail.com. The society can also be contacted via their Facebook page Sarawak Heritage Society Shs. |
| Posted: 02 Aug 2014 10:57 AM PDT by Rintos Mail, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 3, 2014, Sunday NATURAL hot springs with geothermally heated under-ground water can be found in some parts of Sarawak. There are two popular sites in Kuching – Annah Rais in upper Puncak Borneo Road and Kampung Panchor Dayak in Serian. The one at Annah Rais is naturally occurring in the middle of the river while the one in Panchor exists naturally in the middle of a secondary forest. Both are Nature's gifts to be treasured. I relished my time relaxing and letting the mineral-rich water flow into my pores in both hot springs. I was told by Panchor hot spring staff some people made it a practice to visit at least once a month for their health – and sanity! Water from the Annah Rais hot spring is a bit clear while that at Panchor appears slightly yellow-brownish or milky. It has been widely speculated that hot spring waters are laden with sulfur, silica, radium, selenium, boron, magnesium, manganese, lithium, calcium, sodium, potassium, silver and many other minerals. So far, no studies have been made to detect the presence of dissolved minerals in both hot springs here. The Annah Rais hot spring, believed discovered about 300 years ago, was open to the public in 2011. Co-operator Ringin Edo said the early settlers regarded it as a holy place to seek charms and blessings. "According to my grandfather, long time ago, people who believed in the power of superstition, would go to the place to meditate. "They would bring some something with them such eggs, bananas, local potatoes, betel leaves and tobacco as offerings to the evil spirit there. "They would also sing some folk songs to praise the spirit," the 63-year-old recalled. Ringin said while meditating – normally between 8pm and 10pm – a person would remain still even if beaten by mosquitoes or other insects, or seeing strange things, animals or snakes passing by before the spirit appeared. The spirit would then ask the person what he wanted. "According to my grandfather, in the old days, men liked asking for charms so they could marry the women of their fancy. "However, more often than not, the spirit would tell them he could not fulfil their wish because he has no power and could do nothing." Ringin, a former teacher, also related a story told by his grandfather about an old woman who went to meditate in order to seek help from an evil spirit to heal her eyes. The woman was almost blind but after the meditation, she could see. "It was just a story or coincidence – nothing more than that. Or maybe superstition. It's up to the individual," Ringin surmised. However, he pointed out that soaking in a hot mineral spring at Annah Rais could help relieve joint pains. "If a person has a swollen ankle, he or she can dip it in the bearably hot water three or four times and it may heal. I have tried many times and it worked." Natural feature The Annah Rais hot spring is a natural feature, caused by underground water, being heated by geothermal forces and brought to the surface where it empties its hot water into Sungai Semadang, more commonly known as Sungai Sarawak Kiri. There are two pools there – one bigger than the other. Visitors may sit around the bigger or smaller pool or dangle their legs in Nature's hot tub. There is a small leakage in the smaller pool in the middle of the river. If not for this, the water will be much hotter than the bigger pool's. The leakage allows the cold water from Sarawak Kiri River to enter and reduce the temperature. Ringin said without the leakage, one could boil eggs in the smaller pool – but whether the egg is safe to eat or not, he isn't sure. Although there is no scientific evidence to show the presence of dissolved minerals in the water, he believed the Annah Rais hot spring contains calcium sulphate, magnesium and silica. These minerals are said to help heal joint and muscle aches. The Annah Rais hot spring attracts both locals and tourists but whether they come for the healing or not, Ringin can't say. The busiest days are normally Saturday, Sunday or public holidays and on average, 100 people come to soak in the springs. On weekdays, the visitors are mostly tourists. Visitors can choose between hot and cold water. To cool off, they may just sit on the shallow cold pebbly or sandy riverbed. A few outdoor showers and changing rooms are available. To get to Annah Rais hot spring, the journey starts from Mile 10, Old Penrissen Road, also known as Jalan Puncak Borneo. On reaching Annah Rais longhouse, cross a Bailey bridge and proceed along an about 1km stretch of gravelled road before coming to another Bailey bridge. After crossing it, continue driving and look to the right for a wooden building with a signboard – Welcome to Annah Rais Hot Spring. Curative properties Like most hot springs, the water at Panchor, about 40km from Kuching City, is also believed to contain various dissolved minerals which can cure certain diseases and even heart ailments. The Kampung Panchor headman's heart problem is said to have improved after he soaked in the hot spring everyday for six months. Some like putting mud from the hot water on their skin, claiming it did "some wonders" to the skin. Bathing in hot springs has been considered a popular relaxation activity because of its so-called health benefits. Although modern medicine has been slow to establish the scientific basis for the benefits of this long-held practice, its lengthy history serves to validate its soothing beneficial effects. It is believed the healing properties of hot springs generally come from their mineral compositions. Hot springs water generally warm or even hot. Crossing several layers of rocks on the way up, the hot spring water emerges at the surface as mineral water whose properties vary from place to place, and even from one hot spring to another. Thus, most of the health benefits of hot springs come from their mineral composition and the geothermal energy underground where they spring from. A soak in a peaceful, mineral-rich hot spring is widely thought to help relax stressed muscles and relieve joint pains. The complex way hot springs affect the skin glands and blood vessels may be the reason behind the various subtle health benefits reported by people who like to bathe in hot springs. A soak in a hot spring causes a slow increase in the body temperature, thus killing harmful germs and viruses, especially those in the skin. Bathing in thermal water increases hydrostatic pressure on the body.This promotes blood circulation and facilitates oxygen transport into the cells all over the body thus, improving the nourishment of vital tissues and organs. In addition, the facilitated blood circulation helps dissolve and remove toxins from the body. Other health benefits Another health benefit of a hot spring bath is the supposed increased metabolic rate, including the triggering of the secretions of the intestinal tract and the liver that facilitate digestion. Frequent bathing in hot springs (especially over three to five weeks) is also believed to help normalise the functions of the endocrine glands and the autonomic nervous system. During a hot spring bath, the body absorbs trace amounts of minerals such as carbon dioxide, sulfur, calcium, magnesium and lithium. These trace minerals help provide healing effects to different organs and systems in the body. These seemingly subtle health benefits include increased immunity due to stimulation of the immune system; physical and mental relaxation; endorphin production; as well as gland function normalisation. The water of a mineral-rich hot spring is high in negative ions, which can help promote feelings of physical and psychological well-being. Moreover, the direct application of mineral-rich thermal water (particularly that which contains sulfur) can be therapeutic to various skin diseases, including psoriasis, dermatitis and fungal infections. This may be the reason why some doctors recommend hot spring soaks to such patients. Some mineralised waters are also used to facilitate healing of various wounds and other skin injuries. Lowering blood pressure is another significant health benefit of a hot spring bath. Nevertheless, it is important to consult your doctor first whether a hot spring bath is good for you, especially if you suffer from a certain chronic condition. Goodness of hot springs THERE is nothing that makes me feel better, physically, mentally, or emotionally, than a long soak in the searing hot mineral springs at Annah Rais. I feel my joint aches fading away along with my stress and cares – my soul is restored and I feel like myself again. My second visit to the hot springs about two weeks ago made me feel like going back again. The art and science of balneology is not well known or widely practised in Sarawak although the use of hydrotherapy or balneotherapy is increasing dramatically worldwide. In fact, in modern Europe and Japan, the medical science of balneology is already an integrated part of allopathic medical practice and preventative medicine. It is reported that in France and in Japan, "taking of the hot spring waters" is covered by the national health care plan. |
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