1964 Post Malaysia Days

Post Malaysia saw a very great crop of new students who went on to be great leaders of the state, as you can judge from the list.

It must be the impetus of the new democracy and the new leadership that created the great enthusiasm and energy for learning. I felt the changed atmosphere and everyone was more hopeful than ever. We had bigger dreams and we were more daring.

It was like reinforcement had arrived and the brigade was charging forward.

I had gone back to Ulu Medamit and during the holidays I had tapped more rubber and picked more fruits with my parents. Our longhouse was also experiencing changes in that timber was being extracted and like a spider spinning its cobweb, the Limbang Trading Company was taking over the land and the people. Tractors drove up the hills cutting the hills up, resulting in yellow ribbon like strips imprinted on the green surface.

Limbang had a small airfield then and Towkay James Wong in his linen suit, dark sunglasses and white floppy hat would alight from a Norman Brittan Islander, 8 seater plane to meet a welcoming group of Ibans still in their feathered hats ,Malay Hajis and Chinese coffee shop owners.

Meanwhile, I was in Form Four and I continued to read more history and more English. Shakespeare became oft quoted by us and every evening, the guitars were taken out. (more on that later.....)

Check out your names and find out who is where...and perhaps let me know and we can have an update. Hope it is useful.

Daniel Teho Regan
Patau Rubis
Putit Matzen
Ilias Razali
Morshidi Kawi
Edward Assim
Halimah Ibrahim
Fatimah Suhaili
Hadi Abdul Rahman
Ahmad Hamid

Masleh Yahya
Sulaiman Ladis
Spuan Annu
Boon Ching siong
Kueh Chiung Ming
Wong Tian Chow
Chye Sew Meng
William Hii Hiong Ing
Kong Shou Chong
Robert Merayang

Jepet Achoi
Sia Dak Yuang
Chye Min Liu
Tang Chok Nging
Rose Wong
Andrew Kiew
Edward Goh
Suen Chong Siong
Sinclair Tan
Paul Voo

Lee Chui Wah
Yahya bin Drahman
Reduan Frederik
Awang Basri
Khadijah Muip
Moh bin Marais
Salleh Yahya
Ahmad Kawi
Zainuddin Latif
Bahari Drahman

Loh Siew Moi
Adenan Mohammad
Rokiah Haji Jailani
Hj Minah Rambli
Normah Ahmad
Annuar Along
Freddy Vatsaloo
Zakaria binYusof
Siner Anak Sipeng
Ariffin Hj Ibrahim (Limbang)

Michael Balan
Siti Zaharah Hussaini
Joshua Jenan
Ismail Hussin
ABENG LIM (Kuala Belait)
Amdrew Bangkang
Justin Kirim
Umpang Ujai
Hilary Nyambau
Ahmad Tajuddin

Frankie Juram
Linus Ngidroi
Cecelia Frederiks
Razali Awg Putit
Johan Yahya
Yusoff Abang
Tabys Muip
Abdul Rahman
Kong Fen Leong(Limbang)
Paul Hii Sing Kiong

Rohayah Saar
rosni Shelbi
Kong Nguk Yin
Yusoff Bunut
Gela Baul
Empeni Lang
Zamhari Ediwi
Ismail Sahari
Mariam Dawood
Horace Brodie

Joseph Jinap
Kadir ali
Ishak Dawood
Huong Yew Hu
Chu Lee shie

I have often wondered how much of the Sarawak State Anthem, Fairland Sarawak, we can remember. I dug out my old song book and here it is for you to read:

Fair land Sarawak we will never cease to honour thee
And with our Loyal Sons defend your Liberty
From your high forst hills down to the open sea
May freedome ever reign, men live in unity
Proudly our flag flies high above our Country strong and free
Long may our people live in peace and Harmony.

The lyrics was written by F.C. Ogden and the musicv revised and arranged by GRK Freeth.

And I was very very happy to note that it was also sung in Iban, as there was an Iban translation by Umpang Ujai. The anthem was also sung in Chinese and Malay.

Here is the Iban translation:

Pemanah Sarawak kami selalu mri puji
Nyaga penglantang menoa, anak kami
Ari bukit,kampong ngagai tasik nyadi
Pemaik meruan, kami begempang ati
Tinggi menira bediri datas menoa kami
Gayu mensia diau ikun enggau rami

Thus in my life time I learn God Save the Queen and Negara Ku and two state anthems. All have unbelieveable resounding musical notes!