Marching into history BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » thesundaypost - New 2 Borneo |
- Marching into history
- Kampung Senah Rayang – a model of inter-faith harmony
- THE BEAST and us
- Medicinal plants around us
| Posted: 23 Aug 2014 09:50 AM PDT by Joanna Yap, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 24, 2014, Sunday Memories of Sarawak Merdeka Band 1993 AS an eager crowd of thousands jostled for the best view of Padang Merdeka on the morning of August 31, 1993, on the sidelines of the open field anxiously awaiting their turn to perform stood over 500 band members and flag girls made up of students from SMK Green Road, SMB St Joseph, SMB Kuching High, SMK Kuching Town and SMB St Teresa. The year 1993 marked the first time National Day (Hari Kebangsaan) celebrations had been held outside of peninsular Malaysia and also coincided with the 30th year of the state's independence since joining Malaysia. With the national spotlight firmly trained on the normally laid-back city of Kuching, Sarawak was determined to put its best foot forward. When the cue came, the students snapped to attention at commands barked by their drummajors. Their souls steeled with courage, they marched onto the field with military precision – shoulders back, heads held high, eyes trained forward – each step crisply in time with the beating drums, their instruments and flags firmly held at the ready. As music from hundreds of musical instruments began to swell over the cheers of the crowd, the immaculately straight rows of people, instruments and flags on the field began to move, unfurling and whirling into a colourful kaleidoscope of beautiful shapes, patterns and imagery. Fifteen minutes later, the seemingly narrow confines of Padang Merdeka reverberated with thunderous cheers and applause as the audience, including the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, his consort and a stage overflowing with federal and state VIPs, roared their approval of the performance they had just witnessed. Then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was said to have declared it was the best of all National Day performances he had seen thus far. Mission (im)possible? However, what most people who witnessed the historical performance didn't know was just eight months before, many of the young performers didn't have a clue how to read sheet music, let alone play marching band instruments, perform gymnastics, juggle flag poles and execute complicated formations – all while marching in time. Steering the transformation of these diamonds in the rough into polished gems was a close-knit team of three Singaporeans who had been brought in specifically for that purpose — Richard Png, Patrick Goh and Simon Ng. Png, a well-known and respected marching band instructor, was key to roping in Goh and Ng to help with the task at hand. Before agreeing to take up the task, Png paid a visit to five selected schools in Kuching in late 1992 to conduct reconnaissance. He expected to find marching bands of similar standards he was used to in Singapore. Instead, the more schools he visited, the more worried he felt. St Teresa had 200 girls ready to be trained but with absolutely no knowledge of band instruments or marching. Green Road and Kuching Town had good bands but were playing recorders, fifes, bugles and drums – not exactly a complete brass band. Kuching High was also in a similar situation with a strong band who were mostly Scouts. Of the five schools, St Joseph's had the most complete band in terms of instruments but members were relatively few. Png realised he had an important decision to make. "I thought to myself ok, this is what I have, and I have eight months and I have nothing to start with. So how? So I decided and I said, Ok, let's give it a go. I didn't know what I was getting myself into," he recalled. Labour of love Many of the students also didn't realise the magnitude of the endeavour they were about to embark on. "Basically, we just followed instructions. They (the school) just asked us hey, you want to join the Merdeka band? and we were like Alright! It was the best unknown decision we ever made," remembers St Teresa's clarinetist Linda Chin. "We didn't know what to expect. Some people couldn't even read notes. It's really amazing how they could train us within such a short period," said fellow clarinetist Priscilla Chuo who was one of the many who had to learn to play their instrument with no prior knowledge. "Of course, our parents grumbled because they didn't understand. As parents ourselves now, we really feel what it must have been like for them," she added. For eight months, band members trained together, ate together and got punished together. If someone was late for practice or dropped an instrument, everyone got pushups. No excuses and no special treatment. Training was physically and mentally demanding on the young students who spent countless hours drilling each step, playing each note and tossing each flag to perfection – often to the point of exhaustion. All of them developed the infamous sock and shirt lines – the visible borders on the skin delineating covered and exposed parts of the body made light and tan respectively due to hours of marching under the sun. The legacy Despite the strict discipline and relentless work ethic enforced by the instructors, section leaders and teachers, life as a band member wasn't as bad as it seemed despite thinking otherwise at the time, some band members confessed candidly. The Singaporeans became role models and friends to many, making sure students were getting enough water, food and rest during gruelling rehearsals, advising them about their studies and motivating them to go further than they thought they could. They could also be as fierce as mother bears defending their cubs when it came to standing up for their students. The impression Png, Goh and Ng left on their young charges still reverberates today. Mentioning blur like sotong or drop down and give me 20 (pushups) – just two of the common phrases the Singaporeans used to shout at the students during rehearsals – can still evoke smiles and grins from former band members followed by a nostalgic recollection or two of Merdeka stories, including of the Singaporean instructors scaling up the gnarled giant kapok (cotton) tree at Padang Merdeka to get an overhead view of field formations. For St Teresa's Jean Voon who played the cornet, it will be an experience she will always cherish. "There was so much hard work put into it and all the fun times you shared with your friends. I have so many great memories. I think it gave us a sense of pride because we never knew we could do these things," said Voon, now a freelance graphic designer. Former St Joseph saxophonist Kenneth Chan shared similar sentiments. "The most memorable thing for me was that we actually made it on national TV. It was a big thing for a 13-year old. Back then, we were young so all we cared about was having a good time but it was one of the milestones of our school days. "I didn't appreciate it back then, but I appreciate it more now," said the dance instructor, adding that many of the principles he learned at the time such as working well as a team were still very applicable in the present. Sarawak united Sarawak Merdeka Band 1993 is more than just a tale about the proverbial underdogs overcoming the odds. The project brought Sarawakians together on a scale that still inspires — even today. The band's success would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of all involved – the state government, especially the late former Deputy State Secretary Datuk Taha Ariffin; International Music House (IMH) teachers, staff and its director Dr Geraldine Law- Lee; the respective schools and teachers-in-charge; the countless civil servants and volunteers working behind the scenes, the parents, and, of course, the students. Post-Merdeka 1993, Goh (Patrick) left the music industry to set up his own business in Singapore, selling kueh which is very popular and has received a lot of media coverage there. He is also the head of an interior fit company. Ng (Simon) continues to teach music and bands in Singapore but has also pursued a career as a professional singer. He has set up an event management company and has ties with a number of countries, including China to do events, concerts, and TV shows. As for Png (Richard), he returned to teaching and is presently running a small company dealing with instrument manufacturing and retailing. He also carries out musical consultation work throughout the region. AS an eager crowd of thousands jostled for the best view of Padang Merdeka on the morning of August 31, 1993, on the sidelines of the open field anxiously awaiting their turn to perform stood over 500 band members and flag girls made up of students from SMK Green Road, SMB St Joseph, SMB Kuching High, SMK Kuching Town and SMB St Teresa. Mission (im)possible? However, what most people who witnessed the historical performance didn't know was just eight months before, many of the young performers didn't have a clue how to read sheet music, let alone play marching band instruments, perform gymnastics, juggle flag poles and execute complicated formations – all while marching in time. Labour of love Many of the students also didn't realise the magnitude of the endeavour they were about to embark on. The legacy Despite the strict discipline and relentless work ethic enforced by the instructors, section leaders and teachers, life as a band member wasn't as bad as it seemed despite thinking otherwise at the time, some band members confessed candidly. Sarawak united Sarawak Merdeka Band 1993 is more than just a tale about the proverbial underdogs overcoming the odds. The project brought Sarawakians together on a scale that still inspires — even today.   |
| Kampung Senah Rayang – a model of inter-faith harmony Posted: 23 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT by Rintos Mail, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 24, 2014, Sunday IN a village on the outskirt of Kuching, people of two different faiths live side by side and help each other in almost everything and in every way. They are from the same ethnic group, speak the same language but have different faiths. Some are Muslims, some are Christians. But they are still like brothers and sisters, relatives, cousins and close friends and have been living in this way since time immemorial. Kampung Senah Rayang is a Bidayuh village off the Link Road in Padawan area, about 95km by road from Kuching. When resettling in the kampung over a century ago, the villagers were mostly pagans before Christianity was introduced there in the 1960's and Islam in the 1970's. Last weekend, I made my fourth visit to the village and each time I was there, I was pretty convinced of the spirit of oneness among the kampung folk. They are still strongly attached to their cultural and ethnic associations and practices. They remain friendly, helpful and obliged to help each other, getting things – events and minor projects – done in true gotong royong spirit as a harmonious community. What is significant about Kampung Senah Rayang is that their evolution seems to correlate with the same cross-cultural communications, religious tolerance and multi-faith communal co-habitation as manifested by the people of different faiths living in the same community. "I grew up in this village with people who are Christians and Muslims," Rajak Temboh said. Kampung Senah Rayang has a church and a mosque. The village's patron saint is St James and the name of its mosque is Masjid Darul Ehsan Rayang. Rajak added that for decades, the people in the village had been living in unity and harmony despite coming from different religious backgrounds. The 43-year-old said the villagers' respect and tolerance for each other's religion and culture has been commendable – the same now as before. "The beduk and azan from the mosque during prayer times are normal to us – we really have no problem with them," he added. Kampung Senah Rayang is a small village of no particular significance until Felcra came in and developed the villagers' Native Customary Right land with oil palm estates. Today, it is accessible by tar-sealed road – up and down a steep hill. It is situated in a valley by the river and surrounded by hills and natural beauty with green secondary forests and farms all around. The land is used mainly for agriculture with over 75 per cent of the total area used for oil palm plantation. The mosque and chapel in Kampung Senah Rayang were built quite near each other – separated only by a tributary of the main river that flows across the village. Today, the village has become one of the attractions for both local and foreign visitors alike – thanks to its clean and scenic riverine landscape and waterfall. Except on festivals or government functions, taking a day tour around Kampung Senah Rayang or spending leisure time at its waterfall is not free though. Each visitor is charged RM6 for a tour of the village or a bath in the river, and RM4 to go to the waterfall, about 20 minutes walk from the kampung. Above all, Kampung Senah Rayang prides itself on the fact that Christians and Muslims still live side by side in a close-knit community. Remarkably, the Senah Rayang community have remained steadfast in preserving their harmonious way of life – no quarrel between Christians and Muslims but continued understanding and tolerance among them. This suggests that the basis for cohabitation has more to do with cultural heritage than religious beliefs or political convictions. The Bidyauh culture is still very much alive among the villagers where traditional dances and beats of the gong remain the trademark welcome for important guests during official functions. Rajak who is St James Rayang's Chapel security and development committee chairman, said family ties and cultures had kept villagers together over the years. "In our kampung, there are even Christians and Muslims living together. For example, my wife is a Christian while her sister and brother are Muslims but they still live together in the same house." Rajak said Christians and Muslims in Senah Rayang never had any problem with each other's way of worship or religious practice. "The level of religious tolerance is very high. Although of different faith, we celebrate every festival together in true spirit of religious harmony. "If our fellow villagers from another faith need our help, we are always ready to lend a hand," said Rajak, who also heads Kampung Senah Rayang Rela platoon. There are now about 85 households in the village of whom only 24 are Christian families. Children in this village receive their early education at SK St James Rayang, set up by a Christian missionary in the 1960's. Although there are more Muslims in the kampung now, the Christians are never ignored or discriminated against. Village chief Roslee Abdullah said at every local occasion, function or event, the villagers, regardless of their faith, would pull together and their co-operation has little to do with religious beliefs or political affiliations. He noted that a strong day-to-day sense of community life has been in existence in the village to this very day. For instance, Muslims would help Christian families in time of adversities while Christians would do likewise for the Muslim quarter. "I personally have fond memories of growing up in a mixed-faith community. "Throughout my life, I have lived side by side Christians in my village and we have always helped each other," Roslee said. He revealed in some families, there are Muslims and Christians living together. "There are families where the father is a Muslim and the children Christians or the father Christian and the children Muslims. They still live together in harmony under the same roof … no problem at all." Roslee said the villagers had no problem with one another because they believe no religion wants its followers to hate others. He pointed out that the Muslims and the Christians had always been very supportive of each other on any occasions, including social activities. The village headman said in any activities, organised in the kampung, the villagers – young and old – would participate in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere. He added that although inter-faith marriages were rare, many relationships blossomed under these conditions. "This well-balanced community life is a legacy that our generation inherited and it is not lost. This way of life will continue, not just for now but also in the future." Johari Mohd Jeprydin said since his childhood, he never felt or was made to feel he should behave differently towards the Christians in his community. The 50-year-old said over the years, his Christian friends would celebrate Muslim festivals with them and likewise Muslims would celebrate Christian festivals with the Christians in the village. "We have a longhouse in the village where we always celebrate Muslim and Christian festivals together. "We also visit each other's open house and celebrate each other's festivals," Johari said. Even now, Christians and Muslims in Senah Rayang still share the same language and the same space without infringing on each other's boundary or faith. They have managed to uphold this way of life for decades. |
| Posted: 23 Aug 2014 09:40 AM PDT by Peter Sibon & Christopher Lau, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 24, 2014, Sunday AFTER achieving a whopping 1,710km in four days, the latest model of ISUZU 4WD magnificently completed its task of ferrying three adventurous journalists in their two-way journey from Kuching to Belaga and back. Unleashing the Isuzu D-MAX V-CROSS 3.0, dubbed the beast, was definitely a thrilling experience for the three of us from thesundaypost. Power best describes this sturdy pickup truck – 100km per hour feels absolutely like nothing. If you do not constantly remind yourself to check the speedometer, a speeding ticket is almost guaranteed. Comparatively, the beast is a much improved version of its predecessor which one of the three journalists test-drove from Bangkok to Pattaya last year. The beast's raw power, concealed from its bulky and macho exterior, far surpassed our expectations, easily accelerating to 120 to 140 km/hr with a tap of the pedal. Overtaking those behemoths carrying timber and oil on the narrow road throughout our journey was a stroll in the park. On a straight road, the beast easily reached 160km/hr, overtaking other motorists without much fuss. It was something like a race between a wild stallion and a pony. The beast has that confidence in handling high speeds. With 177PS of power available at 3,600rpm, its loud and powerful roar leaves the "pony" behind … in the dust. The beast cruises most comfortably around 120 km/hr. It might not seem anything extraordinary but be reminded of the conditions of the state's inter-district roads. In fact, if the beast were pushed harder, 200km per hour should be no problem. Potholes, what potholes? The term pothole does not exist for the beast. It gave us a delightful experience during our about 30 hours on the road, showing its elegant side in the face of the numerous stretches of roads, badly damaged by the road behemoths. Be it the driver or the passengers at back, the beast is unexpectedly less bumpy than other 4WDs. It would seem the Isuzu D-MAX V-CROSS 3.0 was ignoring the cratered terrain and insisting on cruising smoothly, its suspension confidently handling the potholes and pits as if they weren't even there. The beast, despite its taller appearance, is actually quite stable. On the so called winding highway of Sarawak, it still handles those sharp turns quite well. We sped through those corners at around 100km per hour but still felt comfortable and in control. Driving at night was a crazy experience and we could not have made it without the toughness of the beast. On the lightless road from Sibu to Bintulu, we were grateful for the visibility during the pitch black journey provided by its Projector Ellipsoid system headlamps and built-in front fog lamps. In a class of its own On the arrival at Belaga town, the beast was greeted by hundreds of its distant relatives with similar features such as the familiar cargo backside and chunky wheels. Despite the similarities, the beast stood out from the rest. Love your curves and all your edges; love all your perfect imperfections as what the lyrics of the song we crazed about throughout the trip said, we found the curves and edges of the beast quite sexy. The Garnet Red Mica skin made it the focal point of the town. There is also a chrome radiator grille to accentuate the strong lines of the D-MAX's facade. At the rear, a stylish aero spoiler adorns the flanks of the large cargo area, and the sporty silver coloured roof rails further help set the beast apart. Another reason for our respect for this vehicle is its stylish and voluminous interior which looks sharp and simple with its black toned design and the single command centre found on the dashboard. We have to agree to what ISUZU says on its website: "It's an interior that makes others look inferior." The interior not only looks good but is comfortable as well. Sure, we had our tails burnt for sitting too long otherwise it was quite comfy. The beast's front cabin is wide enough – even for those with claustrophobia. It was also capacious at the back with sufficient room to stretch our legs. It exudes an SUV feeling more than a 4WD truck feeling, not to mention the automatic climate control built into the system that kept us feeling just right – not too cold or warm – throughout the journey. Legendary fuel efficiency The beast does not have a big appetite. The 3.0L variable geometry turbo system (VGS) Intercool Diesel engine has legendary fuel efficiency, packing a perfect balance and economy with its advanced re-engineered turbo plant and cutting edge aerodynamics that inherit the legendary and proven SUZU fuel efficiency global standards. The journey from Kuching to Belaga and back with a few stops here and there, took around two full tanks – about 12km per litre on average which is considered economical for a pickup truck. What the beast lacks is a reverse camera. With its wide stallion body, we found it difficult reversing when we could not really see if there were any obstacles in the way. It would not hurt to also have a louder honk to warn others of the beast's presence, making it safer to overtake. Despite a couple of shortfalls, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. You can count on this tough pickup truck on all types of terrain. It's no wonder the second generation Isuzu D-MAX has quickly risen to be an icon in the world of pickup truck motoring. Its exemplary robustness, fuel efficiency, safety and a significant number of classy leading features have made it one of the most accomplished new products to emerge from this Japanese motor manufacturing giant. "The Isuzu D-MAX has received rave reviews since its launch about a year ago and even garnered two Car of the Year titles and a Best Value for Money awards. "Its magnetic appeal is without doubt due to its wonderfully-balanced package that ticks all the right boxes," said COO of Isuzu Malaysia Daisuke Ishida. We also want to take the chance to thank Isuzu for the offer to test-drive the beast. It was great timing as the Pesta Belaga Rainforest Challenge just got underway. It was a wonderful experience and opportunity taming the beast which no doubt had added much spice and colour to the trip. |
| Posted: 23 Aug 2014 09:30 AM PDT BORNEO abounds in medicinal plants. From the earliest days through to today, village folk have used them to treat ailments. They are also part of Chinese traditional medicine, surviving hundreds of years. The Dayak community also have their own catalogue of plants to treat illnesses. Science has been interested in these plants but only recently has there been serious study. The first applications were for the study of cancer, the possibility of a cure, or at least a breakthrough treatment. Plants are a fickle bunch to study. They are different morning, noon and night. The time of year, either rainy season or not, and the soil conditions are factors examined in the studies. One cannot simply dig up a plant and move it to England and expect it to have the same chemical composition as it has in Borneo. The village herbalist or traditional healer is the person who has acquired the knowledge of plant life. He/she knows when to harvest and when to let the plant lie fallow. The herbalist is aware of the subtle changes in the weather, which allows medicinal properties to reach their peak. However, the village herbalist or traditional healer will not give up this knowledge easily, having spent years acquiring the secrets, passing down the unpublished materials from one generation to the next. The herbalist holds on to this expertise. Savithri Galappathie from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia and his colleagues, have made an attempt to summarise what little knowledge exists on the subject of traditional remedies. They have studied some of the plants that are recorded under the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre's Traditional Knowledge Documentation Programme. The plants they studied were possible cures or treatments for bacteria or fungus-related diseases and their affects on the microbes were measured. The following six plants were the subject of their study: Lepso (Baccaurea lanceolata) This tree, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, grows to a height of 21 metres, has a thick skin and bears a sour white fruit. In 1989, the plant was found to have alkaloids, a nitrogen-based chemical. Alkaloids have been found to have an effect on the human body. Examples are nicotine, anti-malaria drug quinine and others. In 2010, an electron microscope identified three unknown and four known compounds. Fibraurea tinctoria This has several common names, including Uwar Birar, Akar Badi, Akar Kinching Kerbau, Akar Kuning, Akar Kunyit, Akar Penawar, and Sekunyit. It is a large, woody, dye producing plant. It can grow up to 40 metres in height and has a stem diameter of five centimetres. It was found to have anti-tumour properties. Getimang (Goniothalamus tapisoides) This is a small tree about five metres tall. It is a member of the Annonaceae family along with the next two plants Goniothalamus velutinus and Polyalthia hookeriana. Kayu Hujan Panas (Goniothalamus velutinus) This plant is about three metres in height and with a stem of about three centimetres in diameter. Sinai (Polyalthia hookeriana) This tree grows to between 15 and 25 metres tall with hanging branches and dark green leaves and has a yellowish red flower. It is found mainly in lowland and submontane forests. There is little information available about this plant. Kayuh Lilui (Pyrenaria sp) This species generally grows worldwide and has no known chemical properties. It belongs to the Theaceae family. Members of this genus are generally small trees or shrubs. The studied followed scientific procedures. The effectiveness of the extracts from the six species mentioned in inhibiting or stopping the spread of six types of bacteria and one fungi were measured and recorded. All of the plants tested were shown to have an effect on the bacteria, but Baccaurea lanceolata showed an ability to be a strong killer of all six types of bacteria used in the study. Polyalthia hookeriana also had an effect on four of the six bacteria tested. Pyrenaria sp was an effective fungicide. The plants seem promising. There are some diseases which have mutated beyond common antibiotics and these plants seem to be excellent candidates for their treatment. However, more rigorous testing needs to be carried out – a long process indeed. The above was adapted from: 'Comparative antimicrobial activity of South East Asian plants used in Bornean folkloric medicine' by Galappathie G, Palombo EA, Yeo TC, Lim DSL, Tu CL, Malherbe FM, and Mahon PJ (2014); J. Herb Med. 4: 96-105. The Malaysian Nature Society |
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