Shopkeeper from the mountaintop

UP more than 1,000 feet on Mt Siburan, an elderly villager makes slightly over RM3 a day.

It is not the idea of a noble trader these days but for sexagenarian Dirimiss Nikoo, a former contract worker, it is good enough. He has been operating a village shop in Kampung Sentah since 2004.

“Sometimes, if I make more, I will get more food items to replenish my stocks,” he told thesundaypost on a quiet afternoon at his wooden shop.

“I’m all alone and don’t have anyone to take care of. I’m not married – no family. So I gather if I have enough for myself, then it’s okay for the remainder of my days,” the 66-year-old said.

A check on the prices of his goods showed he is making only a few sens margin.

He said he could not overcharge for the food stuff, especially the brands the villagers liked or were familiar with.

Dirimiss pointed out that he was just proud to provide a community service by opening the village shop up in the mountain — with making profit far from his mind.

According to him, Kampung Sentah was once thriving but now, only some 40 odd families with a population of over 100 people live there.

He said the kampung was a few hundred years old but could not recall exactly when people started settling on the mountaintop.

He remembers though that the settlement was started by the villagers from the nearby kampungs — Kuop, Sungai Du’uh, Masa’an, Sinjok, Tijirak, Seratau and Primas.

Later, thesundaypost discovered the village – Kampung Sentah — has been in existence for more than 630 years and is the ancestral home of Bidayuh Biatah clan.

Minding own business

Dirimiss said apart from his own small business, he had no knowledge of any rich entrepreneurseither locally or from abroad.

“I dont know what’s happening in the real business world. I just mind my own business — selling, replenishing my stocks and making a few ringgit,” he laughed.

“Maybe I can be successful if I do business in the big towns or cities and maybe I can become a supermarket owner.

“If I went to study in university, perhaps I could challenge other business people. But I’m happy with what I have and do and will carry on until the day I have to stop.”

Despite being atop a mountain, Kampung Sentah has seen fair development with the existence of basic infrastructures — roads, electricity and water supply. These definitely bring the mountaintop closer to civilisation.

“We do a lot of walking here. In the old days, we took an hour to reach this place because we had to pass through jungle tracks and orchard paths. Now, there is development and government assistance to build a tar road. Our village is accessible by vehicles,” Dirimiss said.

These days, the villagers probably take half the time to reach this place on foot and if you are very fit, it may take 15 minutes, especially for those from Kuching city who frequently walk the mountain trail.

“It’s very important to keep fit otherwise the mountain may not be very pleasant. We wake up early in the mountain, and I open my shop at dawn as some of the villagers might need things like coffee, sugar and processed canned food – for the kitchen or to bring to work or to the farm,” he added.

Dirimiss does not incur much expense – he makes a little profit to buy stocks and pay electricity and water bills.

He said he never thought of opening a bank account and owning properties, and for him, having shop on a mountaintop was “luxurious enough.”

Attracting many visitors

Although so high up, Kampung Sentah still attracts many visitors who go there to keep fit, enjoy the fresh mountain air, and photograph the panoramic view. Most people come during the season of the king of fruits — durian.

Dirimiss said with electricity, he could sell cold carbonated drinks to especially climbers and visitors who stopped at his humble shop.

Earlier, thesundaypost was greeted by the scenic mountaintop view after a spin in the 7-seater 2.5L Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) –the Isuzu MU-X.

With seasoned journalist Peter Sibon behind the wheel and fellow journalist Phil Fair and myself on board, the MU-X was put through its pace up the mountain road.

We gave Peter a pat on the back for his driving skills along the mountain’s single lane. With safety in mind, he made it a particular point to honk when approaching and coming out of sharp bends to warn on-coming vehicles of our presence.

He skilfully navigated the winding road, flanked in most parts by deep ravines, and took us through safely.

Soon the kampung came into view and we knew we had made it to the top of Mt Siburan. After passing a few villagers along the road, we reached the Catholic Church and parked in front of it.

We paused for a while to catch our breath before soaking up the captivating view. It was a photo opportunity for us — with the green backdrop and free lighting acting as a natural studio.

After spending about 40 minutes, chatting with the village’s sole shop operator and some regular hikers from Siburan township, we descended on the same single track.

We had stretched the durability MU-X to its limits and given it the thumbs-up. It’s definitely an SUV in a class of its own.

Reminising the drive up Mt Siburan and the meeting with Dirimiss at Kampung Sentah makes me wonder rather enviously as a city dweller how a person can make just RM3 a day and still be so happy and worry-free. And probably lives longer as well. It’s certainly food for thought.