First in the World to Invent Microhome
Michael Kuek Sze Chuan of Kuching invented the “Microhome” which is a portable kitchen, toilet and shower unit, the first of its kind in the world. The invention is already patented in all major countries including the United States. Since its invention in 1996, Kuek has sold some 15 units, each featuring a kitchen with cooker, sink and tap, toilet, and shower tent including a shower unit.
The primary objective of this invention is to provide campers and others with a ‘micro’ home that is perfect for outdoor activities. It is self- contained and highly portable, ideal for use within the rear sections of all types of station wagons, four-wheel drive vehicles, and even small vans like the Perodua Rusa, which still has space to seat people in comfort.
Kuek is also planning to produce units using fibre glass instead of wood in the future.
First Musicians to represent Malaysia at WOMEX 97
Erang Lahang, Tegit Usat, Asang Lawai and Uchau Bilong were the first musicians to represent Malaysia at the Worldwide Music Expo 1997 (WOMEX 97).
These Orang Ulu musicians performed at the Palais du Pharo in Marseilles, France, in front of some 130 music professionals. Only three groups, including theirs were invited to perform on stage for 45 minutes each, at one of Europe’s best auditoriums.
Their performance consisted of a rendition of Orang Ulu traditional music, a song and a dance, accompanied by the Orang Ulu sape (traditional boat-shaped lute with three of four strings) and jatung lutang (a wooden xylophone). After their performance, members of the audience approached the musicians to express their emotions. Some were so touched by the music, they were moved to tears!
The event attracted over a thousand music professionals from some 48 countries all over the world.
First International tattoo and piercing artists
Born on 23 September 1971, Ernesto Kalum Umpie, an Iban from Sri Aman, is the first Sarawakian to have extensively travelled abroad as a tattoo artist. Holding an LLB (Hons) Bachelor in Laws, Ernesto chose tattooing as his career in June 1998, and uses different techniques of the electric machine and the traditional method of tattooing.
His studio at Wayang Street in Kuching, the Borneo Headhunters Tattoo Studio, has also participated in several international tattoo conventions, such as the 5th International Tattoo Convention Lausanne, Switzerland in November 1999. Others included The 6th Zurich International Tattoo Convention in May 2000, 2nd Tokyo International Tattoo Convention in September 2000, and the 1st Florence International Tattoo Convention in Italy in November 2000.
Ernesto’s partner, Jerry Jameson Muda, born on 16 October 1979, is the first international Bidayuh body-piercing artist. He received his training from Mark Pinto of Primitives Bodypiercing, Perth, in Western Australia, a renowned body-piercing studio in Australia.
Jerry also received tattooing training apprenticeship from Ernesto, and he is now an internationally qualified tattooist to do full body and surface piercing.
First to set up WAN
In April 1997, the Sarawak Government was first in Malaysia to successfully set up a statewide Wide Area Network (WAN), the SarawakNet. The uniqueness of this WAN infrastructure is that it is planned, designed, built and operated entirely in-house by the Sarawak Government through its IT arm – SAINS.
Extending from Kuching to Limbang and currently linking together more than 100 Local Area Networks (LANs) it is by far the largest WAN undertaken in the country to date.
The SarawakNet is a secured industrial strength IT infrastructure that delivers a full range of services to enable the State Government to implement its e-government initiative of conductive business among government agencies, between government and the commercial sector, as well as between government and the private citizen.
Winner of most prizes for Orchids
Au Yong Nang Yip of Orchidwood Sdn Bhd, Kuching has won the most prizes of Orchid Shows since 1979, and is the first international orchid judge from Sarawak. In his first orchid show, the Agong Shield Orchid Show in Kuching, 1979, he won a total of 15 prizes.
To date Au Yong has amassed a total of 368 prizes. At the latest BIMP-EAGA International Orchid Congress in Kuching, he won 171 prizes. The BIMP-EAGA congress, held from 1 to 5 December 1999, is an internationally recognized event and the grandest of its kind in South East Asia.
Au Yong is also one of the first orchid breeders, having started in 1969. He first acquired 3 stems of Jacqueline concert dendrobrium, an epiphyte breed valued at S$10,000.
He gained his orchid-breeding skills by attending conferences and shows in Singapore and Hawaii, United States. He is also a member of the South East Asia Orchids Society.
Altogether Au Yong has collected and bred over 1,500 varieties of rare and valuable orchids with about 60,000 plants.
(To be continued)
