Dr Teo (seated, third right) shows those attending the wake some old bruises he sustained during an assault in front of his clinic at Jalan Permaisuri last year.
MIRI: It was a sombre evening as more than 2,000 people mourned the passing of activist Bill Kayong during the funeral wake at his house in Lorong Jati 6, Desa Senadin here on Thursday.
State PKR chief Baru Bian, Krian assemblyman Ali Biju, Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong, Miri MP Dr Michael Teo, Pakatan Harapan secretariat chief Dato Saifuddin Nasution, Penampang MP Dariel Lei King, Machang Bubok (Penang) assemblyman Lee Khai Loon (Penang) and Native Customary Rights (NCR) activist Nicholas Bawin were among those paying their last respects to Bill during the traditional Iban funeral rite called the ‘Nyengaik’ before his remains were brought for Muslim burial at Lambir Muslim cemetery later yesterday.
The mourners were also seen comforting the widow Hasyikin Hatta and her two teenage children.
The ‘Nyengaik’ began with an elder from Betong, known as the ‘Ayak’ Kalang — considered as a prominent authority of Iban customs and traditions — telling story of Bill’s life and its final phase, as well as the nature of death.
He then elaborated on the ‘tusut’ (family tree), mentioning the original longhouse in Lubau area), as well as Bill’s achievements, contributions to society and significant events in his life, including the fight for NCR rights.
After that Nicholas Bawin, in his eulogy, spoke about ‘Adat Pemati’ — the funeral custom that relates to the period of mourning and the fines (‘adat’) upon those who break specific rules during that period.
Nicholas also acknowledged the role of Miri Islamic Religious Council in allowing and understanding the holding of the ‘Nyengaik’ and ‘Adat Pemati’ for Bill or Mohd Hasbie Abdullah before the Muslim burial yesterday.
Meanwhile, Baru assured all that PKR would attend to the welfare of those left behind by Bill.
“We will look after his (Bill’s) family, especially his two teenage children,” he said.