Salahuddin — caring, humble and inspirational

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Without fail, Salahuddin (centre) celebrates the Lunar New Year with the Chinese community and their leaders every year.

The former Head of State attending the wedding of one of Naroden’s children.

Salahuddin (front row left) and Naroden (front row second left) during a visit to Singapore.

ON February 28, 2014, Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng bade goodbye to the people of Sarawak as their sixth post-Independence Yang di-Pertua Negeri — with tears in his eyes.

Wearing an emerald green Baju Melayu, the much loved 92-year-old former Head of State was leaving office upon expiry of his gubernatorial term.

At an emotional farewell ceremony on the Astana grounds, Salahuddin shook hands with state leaders, their wives and his relatives and personal friends.

He took his time bidding an impassioned goodbye to everyone present before getting into his car bound for his new residence at Telaga Air.

Salahuddin’s fate has strangely inter-twined with that of the people of Sarawak.

As early as 1977, he was already appointed the third Head of State for a four-year term. In 2001, he was reappointed the sixth Head of State and stayed longer this time around — for a total of 14 years — until his term ended on February 28, 2014.

Time seemed to have stood still that morning. It was an emotional moment. Salahuddin is, after all, well loved by Sarawakians who know him personally and by those who may just see him from a distance but have been touched by his humble and affable personality.

For Datuk Naroden Majais who served as Salahuddin’s Minister-in-Attendance on many occasions since 2001, February 28, 2014 meant something more. It was an occasion infused with a great sense of void for Naroden and his family.

“He has left many indelible marks on my political career, especially with his warm, affectionate and down-to-earth nature. It is this quality in him that makes me and my wife (Messenah Ahmand) feel he is like a father to us.

“To me, Tun Salahuddin’s altruistic poise, compassion, magnanimity and piety are incomparable. As a towering figure with restrictive verbal expression, his body language, fatherly gesture, charm and magnetism speak louder than his words,” said Naroden who is Assistant Minister in Chief Minister’s Office (Entreprenial Development).

Despite his high social stature, Salahuddin seldom turned down personal invitations from friends and relatives.

Naroden said he feels greatly indebted to the former Head of State for gracing the weddings of his three children.

Salahuddin’s love for Sarawakian of all races has been exemplary. He visited them without fail, especially during the festive seasons of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Gawai Dayak, Chinese New Year and other religious or cultural festivities.

Having great respect for tradition and culture, Salahuddin made it a point to attend major cultural events such as the Regatta in Kuching.

Despite his advanced age, he often traversed Sarawak to attend events of cultural and traditional significance as Head of State. One such event is the annual International Tidal Bore Festival in Sri Aman.

Salahuddin not only dutifully fulfilled his social obligations but had also gone further by getting involved personally in wherever undertakings he deemed helpful to the people.

He has adopted five needy children, providing them not only food and shelther but also much love, care and attention — as if they are his own.

“His care for poor children is almost unmatched, extending them a fatherly hand when and wherever he can.

“Along with Tun Abang Openg Abang Sapiee, Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abdul Rahman Yaakub, Tun Datuk Patinggi Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mumhammed Noor and present Head of State Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tun Salahuddin has been a blessing to Sarawak,” Naroden said.

The Assistant Minister considers himself blessed to be Minister-in-Attendance to a man who finds joy in bringing happiness to people around him with his positive and optimistic outlook.

One thing not known to many is Salahuddin’s sense of humour which can be rib-tickling.

Naroden said such a trait has kept the loving bond between Salahuddin and his wife, Toh Puan Norkiah, very much intact – as can be gleaned from one small humorous incident.

During a trip back from Kota Kinabalu, Salahuddin decided to continue the journey by road to Lawas for an official function before taking the flight back to Kuching. On the way, the entourage stopped over for lunch at a restaurant in Beaufort on the western coast of Sabah.

One of the dishes served was ikan keli (catfish). After enjoying a sumptuous meal, Salahuddin wrapped up what remained of the fishhead with some serviettes and quietly tucked it in his pocket.

On reaching the guest room at a hotel in Lawas, he shoved the wrapping into his wife’s hand. Norkiah accepted it, thinking it was some special delicacy Salahuddin had kept for her.

However, when opening the wrapping, she found to her horror a fish head staring straight back at her. Salahuddin had a good laugh.

“The next day when the story was related to the rest of us, he was still very much impressed with the stunt he pulled on Toh Puan Norkiah. His affection for his wife comes in many forms. The ikan keli joke was one of his ways to keep their relationship ‘warm’. That is Tun Salahuddin — always jovial and enjoying every moment of his life,” Naroden noted.

What the assistant minister finds most admirable about Salahuddin is that despite his status as Head of State, he remained down to earth and exuded a persona that in no way accentuated his exulted position.

After performing his official function in the national capital (Kuala Lumpur), for example, he would just go out with his small entourage to the city, looking for something to eat — and durian was always the favourite. He would ask the driver to stop at any durian stall by the roadside, then select a few fruits himself before sitting on a plastic stool (provided by the stall) to enjoy a ‘durian feast’ with his retinue. On such outings, he never stood on ceremony.

Naroden has fond memories of such impromtu walk-about with the former Head of State. But imbedded deeper in his mind perhaps was a small event in June last year during an official trip with Salahuddin to Kuala Lumpur.

It was already midnight. Naroden and Messenah were about to retire when an aide-de-camp knocked on the door to deliver a message that Salahuddin was summoning Naroden to his room immediately.

“Thinking something had happened to the Head of State, I rushed to his room on the same floor. The other members of the entourage had already gathered there. And as I entered, I was greeted by a birthday song.  “How he found out that my birthday — 60th – was on that day, I’d never know. But it was such a pleasant surprise for me — a gesture I will never ever forget.”

Naroden wishes Salahuddin a long and healthy life.

“He will surely be missed not only by my family and I but also the people of Sarawak for his personal charm, grace and exemplary service to the state.”