If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.
– Toni Morrison, American novelist
Two days ago I was awakened by my own acclamation in my own mother tongue. Somebody in my dream was asking me about what happened to my Iban book that I promised to write to which I answered: “Udah ditulis (done/written already).” That was actually spoken in soliloquy and it was the phrase that woke me up around 4.30am.
Yes, in 2013, coinciding with my 59th birthday, Sarawak Press Sdn Bhd agreed to help publish my book entitled ‘Anak Menua Ulu’ (A Rural Son), containing 59 Iban articles comprising my write-ups in SADA Sarawak an Iban pullout of BM daily Utusan Sarawak – some of which were award winners.
Then Senior Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, whom I have known since 1975, had already signed the foreword – happily and proudly. The entire contents were all proofread and arranged, including photos and the stated copyrights reserved. Only the fund was not available.
I was informed the publication might be possible after the scheduled 2013 general elections. In fact I was really looking forward to the publication with the book cover featuring my photo together with my friend and former USM lecturer Prof Dr Clifford Sather posing in the middle of a jungle path leading to Ulu Bayor longhouse in Debak two days prior to the Gawai Antu in the said community dwelling in 1988. But after the 2013 general elections and the state election in 2016, fund was still not available and hitherto the book never came into being.
Articles contained in Anak Menua Ulu comprised my write-ups for SADA Sarawak since 2011 and included a Kenyalang Press Award winner of 2012. I am also happy to share with readers that I won four other awards consecutively in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, thereby making a total of five Kenyalang Press Awards (News Reporting in Iban Language) won – and putting to rest criticisms by sceptics pertaining to my usage of the language spelling ala Krian and Saribas accent.
I recall in 2006 when I was tasked with starting the Berita Iban pullout of Utusan Borneo daily, I was under close scrutiny by some quarters that were mostly bent on pointing out mistakes etcetera-etcetera. Some said the words used were ‘too strong’ (in terms of spelling/pronunciation) because I concurred with the BM ‘baku’, thereby changing the spelling of ‘Jako Iban’ to ‘Jaku Iban’ (for the Iban lingo) or burong (bird) to burung or kampong (forest) to kampung as well as similar words ending with ‘ong’ (changed to ‘ung’). Likewise, words such as ‘maioh’ (many or plenty) and ‘maia’ (when) are changed respectively to ‘mayuh’ and ‘maya’.
And when the syllabus for ‘Jaku Iban’ was made at the end of 2006 (meant to be used starting Jan 2007), it was 100 per cent in concurrence with mine. I therefore had the last laugh.
Little did they know that I was in constant contact with Iban writers and teachers such as Jantan Umbat (who was SMK Julau principal before me) and Janang Ensiring. So those in the Jaku Iban syllabus committee such as my friends Christy Duin Tangi, Mensan Jeti and Thomas Tegong Laka gave their thumbs-up to the Iban language and spelling used in Berita Iban.
Now that I am still writing for Suara Sarawak’s Iban pullout Ruai, I still maintain my contact with Jantan and Janang and have added to my networking prolific writer Dr Robert Menua Saleh who is another Tun Jugah Foundation (TJF) figure. His current works are also found in Ngingit, a very informative monthly publication of TJF which publishes local articles written in both Iban and English.
Our aim was that Anak Menua Ulu would be handy for those taking Bahasa Iban since Year One until their SPM examinations for school students. With the language and spelling in concurrence with the school syllabus, we then believed its contents could help push up students’ understanding of Iban culture and traditions. Now these are just wishful thoughts and an unfulfilled dream.
Nevertheless, I am glad that Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (Sultan Idris Education University) in Tanjung Malim, Perak has an Iban Language Unit that offers education up to PhD (Iban Language Education). My google shows it is now staffed by two Iban female lecturers who are both Masters of Art degree holders.
Since a very young age, I already started reading all the novels written in Iban, commencing with the first one Dua Belas Bengkah Mimpi (Twelve Dreams). The earlier authors included Benedict Sandin, Henry Gerijih, George Jimbai, Lawrence Senaun, Edward Kechendai, Andrea Ijau, Joshua Jali, George Garai and later were joined by Jimmy Donald, Jimbun Tawai, Thomas Bangit, Janang and Jantan, Christy Duin plus some others.
Since 2006, I have enjoyed sharing with readers articles on Iban longhouse life, culture and customs including augury and paganism. My Iban article about the universality of Iban language won the Kenyalang Press Award (News Reporting) in 2015.
