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PERSONALITY 2011
Bidding a fond farewell to our state’s pioneers by Francis Chan
THIS year saw the end of a political era with the passing of the last two members of the pre-Malaysia Council Negeri Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min and Datuk Seri Tra Zehnder. They were not only the longest surviving members of the British colonial State Legislative Council and the pioneer members of the Sarawak Undangan Negri in 1963, but also among the most vocal and colourful leaders of their time — larger than life figures in the political arena of the fledging nation Malaysia from the 60s to the 70s. While Wong was a born politician directly involved in the formation of Malaysia as a member of the Malaysia Consultative Council going on to be a deputy chief minister of the state, Tra was never comfortable in politics, she was a reluctant politician. However, like Wong, she played a key role in the formation of Malaysia, going down to the ground to explain to the Ibans the need for Sarawak to join the other states in forming the new nation. We can only wonder how far Tra would have gone in politics if she had chosen to seriously pursue a political career but her true calling was to help her people as a community leader and her foray into politics was a necessary step for her to voice the grievances and hopes of her people. She succeeded very well on both counts. Among her biggest admirers was Wong who mentioned her speech in the fi rst
chapter of the last book he wrote before his death ‘Memories of Speeches made at the Council Negeri 1960-2001’. Tra scored many ‘fi rsts’ in her life as a politician and community leader — the two that stood out were being the fi rst woman member of the Council Negeri in 1960 and the fi rst woman to be appointed Temenggong in 1988 after she quit active politics. Arguably Tra’s biggest contribution to her community was the appointment of a day to celebrate a Dayak festival. She brought up the issue at the Council Negeri meeting on March 7, 1961 and it was that speech which Wong chose to begin his book with: Mrs Tra Zehnder: “What steps have been taken by the government to implement the proposal to declare a specific day as a Dayak National or Festival Day since this matter has been thoroughly discussed by District councillors throughout the country and over Radio Sarawak.” It took a lot of spunk for a diminutive Iban lady to speak up for her people in the company of the colonial masters and top local citizens. While the colonial acting deputy Chief Secretary who presided over the sitting had agreed with her proposal, it was not until 1965 that June 1 was gazetted as a holiday called ‘Gawai Dayak’. Wong’s political career spanning from 1956 to 2001 was more tumultuous than Tra’s, peaking as the state deputy chief
minister in the early sixties and plunging to the depth of detention for two years under the Internal Security Act in 1974. Wong quit active politics in 2001, devoting much of his time to his business, writing and his favourite past-time — golf. He was also a prolific writer, publishing several books on his life, political career and a collection of poems. The three books that he wrote which stood out were ‘ No Joke James’ about his early years centering around his father, ‘Price of Loyalty’ on his years under detention and the last book he published before he died, ‘Memories’. There was never a book about Tra until Dr Hew Cheng Sim collaborated with Rokiah Talib to write her autobiography which was launched July 13 this year, barely two weeks before she died at the age of 84 on July 22. Appropriately the book was entitled ‘Tra Zehnder – Iban Woman Patriot of Sarawak.’ We must be thankful to the two authors for it gives as an intriguing account of Tra’s life and an important aspect of Sarawak’s history which could have been lost forever. In his later years when he was the last man standing among the members of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee Wong used to joke that he was the ‘last of the Mohicans’, alluding to a Native American tribe wiped out by white settlers in America. He died a few days
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3. EXEMPLARY: Tra will always be remembered for her dedication to civic duty, public spirit, and devoted service. 4. BORN POLITICIAN: Wong played a key role in the formation of Malaysia as a member of the Malaysia Consultative Council going on to be a deputy chief minister of the state.
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Datuk Ursula Goh an outstanding female role model by Norni Mahadi
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EVEN though many people think about doing charitable work, not many of them perform it with all their heart and serve with the sincerity of a true Samaritan. For anybody who joins a charitable organisation or volunteers in social work, they should be proud of themselves for their contributions towards creating a loving and compassionate society. Datuk Ursula Goh, a woman with an outstanding personality has been actively involved in various woman-related charitable works without any outside political influence. At the splendid age of 73, Goh has paved an exemplary life that inspires others to follow. Goh has gained local, national and international recognition for her great contributions towards women development.
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2. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Answering the phone at her office as Head of Majlis Adat Istiadat in 1997 when she was 71 years old.
Woman with heart
2.TREE PLANTING: Wife of head of state Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajah Norkiah planting a fragrant tree, assisted by Ursula (middle) and a member of SFWI during the launching of the institute new building on May 5, 2009.
5.URSULA: A symbol of pride for Sarawak.
1. AN HONOUR: Receiving the Bintang Bentara Sarawak in 1976 for services rendered.
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1.DOWN MEMORY LANE: Ursula (fifth left) is attending the ACWW Triennial Conference in London, in the 1980s.
4.SPECTACULAR VISIT: Ursula (fifth left) is posing with the ACWW delegates while visiting the Puncak foothill of Cianjur in Jakarta on 1994.
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short of his 89th birthday on July 18. Wong’s remarkable life as politician, businessman, writer and family man in some ways mirrored Tra’s for she was an outstanding politician despite her reluctance to be one and was a wonderful mother although she never ventured into business or wrote a book. Their deaths just a few days apart brought the curtain down on a political era of the state — a time when hopes were new and men and women such as them rose to the challenge of fulfi lling the dreams of a newborn nation.
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3.WOMAN ICON:The new building of Miri/Bintulu Division SFWI is a symbol of pride to the women institution.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Background Born on June 2, 1937, the grandmother of four grandchildren hails from Penampang, Sabah. She was co-founder of Sarawak Federation of Women’s Institute (SFWI) for Miri/Lutong in year 1965, and is its life member. She has been advisor to SFWI and the Consumer’s Association, member of Marriage Tribunal Miri, advisor to Magistrate Juvenile Court Miri in 2002, council member and chairman of Sarawak Family Planning Association, and chairman of board of visitors Taman Seri Puteri Miri from 1981 to 2001. In 1982, she was awarded a SFWI gold medal for outstanding contribution. On the international scene, she has served three terms as area president of the Associated Country Women of The World (ACWW) for South East Asia and the Far East in the 1980s. She was chairman of the project committee from 1989 to 1992. From 1998 to 2001, she served as coordinator for the East, West and Central Africa area. The programmes she was involved in and conducted were mainly on women’s development and empowerment programmes. She received recognition by being elected world president of ACWW in year 2004. The datukship, one of the country’s highest decorations was given in recognition of her contribution to the government, the community as a whole and her work with nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). Her latest achievement was being named Outstanding Volunteer by Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia in year 2010.
Woman of distinction Being listed among the 200 female role models in the biography of prominent Malaysian women was not something she would boast of. The humble and down-toearth lady continues with her mission to help needy women develop their capacity building to the maximum. The recent outgoing ACWW world president for the second term of 2007/2010 was a council member of the international organisation. “It is my interest to be actively involved in the women-related association. It is very hard for me to explain my interest because women’s association was part of my life in the last four decades,” she said. Ursula said involvement in ACWW had helped in her community voluntary work. Travelling to various countries had opened her eyes besides giving her valuable experience. Apart from visiting women’s projects under ACWW, she has provided guidance on how to improve women’s standard of living, particularly those residing in rural areas, through education, training and community development projects. Her tenure as world president was a tough challenge, she admitted. But the various global challenges have not set her down. Instead she took the challenge and subscribe to the principle of understanding, respecting, being open-minded and tolerant. Commenting on women of today, she said they had been given gender equality and play an important role in development. She said the effort to empower women through organising programmes for them is vital for them to contribute economically and socially. And they do this by playing a significant role in the development of their families, besides making tangible contributions to national development.