1966. I saw a tall lanky boy checking into the school. I did not think very much of him at that moment. He could be cool and aloof - the type of Iban boys from the town. But I could not be more wrong.
Philip and I were mates in Tanjong Lobang School in Sixth Form. And we have been the very best of friends since then,or true brothers. He has always been warm and understanding towards me, even though I am a bit older. In Tanjong we shared our lean (both in terms of money and body shape) days. We seldom had two cents to rub together. But sometimes when he had a windfall, all of us in the hostel would have a treat. When my father sent me a registered mail, it could be a $15 gift. What a fortune at that time. And what joy I had to share with friends.
We studied hard because that was the only way for us to get out of the vicious cycle of poverty. (Royal Professor Ungku Aziz is one of the best economists of the world. He understood poverty like nobody did. He was my Vice Chancellor and mentor at the University of Malaya 1970-1973, Unfortunately Philip never went to my university otherwise he and Ungku, as we all called him then, would have been the best of friends and the two could have talked philosophy non-stop)
I did not realize that at that time Philip was struggling with his English! He had taken an 8 in Form Five and that was why he did not get a Grade One. But he persevered. He has that trait to persevere until today. I have never quite met an Iban who could struggle for life and death so much as Philip. He struggled for his life, he struggled for his education and he struggled for his family. He did struggle for his position and even his claims as a civil servant. Very few people understood him and his suffering as much as I did. Sometimes life deals out lemons to Philip too often.
But he did he manage to gain a scholarship to go to England, and his English was more than excellent and he read everything he could lay his hands on from Machiavelli, The Prince to Cicero, from Shakespeare to Sun Tzu,from the Greek Mythologies to All Men are Brothers. He reread all those classics when he was working in the civil service and now in his retirement, he is reading more than ever. He has become a philosopher.
Philip worked hard and was both proactive and innovative. His methods of surveying are still being practised in Sarawak these days. He thought good thoughts. But most of the time they remained in the boardroom.
Anyway he was happy to be able to travel the lengths of Sarawak and rub shoulders with the drivers,the low ranking staff. Today after his retirement, he could still call them and they would happily and respectfully tag along their "tuan" all over Sarawak again. You cannot find this kind of boss-staff relationship any more.
These days he has a chicken farm (200-300 ) somewhere along Mile 32 in Kuching. He gets up early when the birds start singing. He feeds the chickens and then goes for his coffee in the bazaar which would be teeming with folks of all races. Chickens,a pig or two, barbequed fish, vegetables both imported and local, would be seen every where. And Philip would take all these in with his coffee and roti kaya as he chats with his acquaintances and fellow farmers.
As if by magic by 10 o'clock all these activities will come to an end. Plastic bags,empty bamboos,and the remains of the day will be strewn everywhere. It would be time for Philip to go back to his farm. Once back in the farm, he can laze around again, basking in the sun so to speak. Then he would take his pipe out and have a good smoke.
Occasionally he will doze off - his afternoon siesta if he has no company. He will wake up to feed his chickens and soon it will be time to cook his dinner.
Well, he chuckled when he talked about all these. when you are retired you wonder if you have a true friend. Where are all his friends? Perhaps they are still busy with their board meetings,conferences, seminars.
A few days ago, he was told to go and receive his KMN. He found it too much of a hassle to present himself to the Agong. What would the badge do for him now? He is not applying for another job! And it is not a cash reward either. He still can do with a few cents more.
He has left all his computer technology behind and he carries an old Nokia which he finds still serviceable.
He gives his pipe another puff and he is ready to speak on The Golden Lotus and its implications. Be always ready to have time in your hands. He will take you on a journey of learning.
