The world slides, the world goes, and death makes equal the rich and the poor.
— Bangambiki Habyarimana, writer and blogger
I was truly shocked when a friend sent a message on the evening of June 8 about the demise of a very good friend, Jimmy Adit.
Subsequently, I spent some hours exchanging WhatsApp messages with our common friends and colleagues — my last message was sent around 2.15am.
At the work place the next day, Jimmy’s passing was the main topic among colleagues.
Most considered him a prolific journalist, excellent editor as well as a friend whose laughter was contagious.
I concur with these observations but to me, Jimmy’s passing was more than just a loss of a very close friend and colleague, but a kind and generous as well as caring soul.
After all, we crossed paths with each other many times in 1986 and 1987, sometime before our involvement with the media fraternity.
He was serving as a senior staff in Serian District Council while my humble self was attached to the neighbouring SMK Serian, first as senior assistant and later as principal.
We met a few times during public and private functions and bonded due to our common love of music.
He was a member of one local Serian band as lead guitarist and vocalist, but we never played together despite having a common love for rock ‘n’ roll, especially Elvis Presley.
Upon my return from Brunei in 2002, I became impressed with The Borneo Post’s Dayak Music Now and Then column by Jadit, which I later found out was by my old buddy Jimmy.
I never missed any of the copy, especially from November 2004 when I started my first column with then Sarawak Tribune known as “Sunday Local Music Scene”, —using my pen name Anya Kedap.
So I was part of the casualties when the paper closed down on Feb 9, 2006.
On March 27, I reported for duty at The Borneo Post but was tasked to pioneer the Berita Iban pullout of Utusan Borneo.
This was when Jimmy and I reunited after almost 20 years — this time as colleagues.
Instantly, we became close friends and even shared some useful tips to lessen each other’s burdens and stress.
Our friendship went far beyond the office and collegiality for the simple reason that we had a lot in common.
Besides our mutual interest in music, we spoke a common language and shared many interesting folklores as well as jungle stories pertaining to the Iban community.
At times, we would reminisce some interesting moments in politics and antics of politicians, especially our common friends in Serian. There were times when we had a good laugh, particularly when recalling some hilarious episodes involving these politicians and our common friends.
This was when I found out my late friend was playing a role as kingmaker in getting some of the local politicians to get elected during polls.
Surprisingly, he never became an election candidate himself.
Looking at the huge turnouts at his home in Kampung Sorak Dayak in Serian between 2008 and 2016, there was an obvious love from the locals comprising Iban, Bidayuh, Malay and Chinese, for the hugely popular and beloved man.
I was invited to his home there at least six times to perform, starting with a group of four in 2008, alone as well as trips with one or two others, mostly on Christmas eves.
Guests included his siblings from as far as Perak, local politicians and people’s reps.
Both of us also got actively involved in the development of Dayak music, particularly by being in the main committee of Dayak Artistes and Musicians Association (DAMA) started by the late Tan Sri Celestine Ujang Jilan in 2008 and hitherto, headed by Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
Back in 2009, Jimmy and I were among the seven Elvis Tribute Artistes (ETA) performing at The Steppes Pub and Karaoke at Jalan Simpang Tiga.
This was when we started calling him Eljim —his favourite song was Just Tell Her Jim Say Hello, though we maintained our endearment term “unggal” (buddy).
When our Elvis Presley Fan Club Sarawak (EPFCS) was registered with the RoS in 2014, Eljim became a “Live Member” — once he borrowed my red EP jumpsuit for a show in Serian.
He became the fourth ETA to depart this world after the late Reynolds Gregory of Kuching, Alex Ting of Miri and John Sia of Sibu.
I lost more than just a friend and colleague — I lost an Elvis brother and at times, much needed saviour during days of financial gloom.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
