The late Adenan greatly missed in Lundu

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AFTER six days of his passing, the administrative centre of Tanjung Datu constituency in Lundu town is still mourning the loss of their beloved assemblyman – the late Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

A great sense of loss seemed to be still hanging in the air. Although generally the people continue with their lives, many still talk about their beloved YB Tok Nan. It was so easy to strike a conversation about this man who had been their state representative since 2006.

He was obviously loved and respected by his constituents. In the May 7 state election, Adenan was given 92 per cent support by his voters which enabled him to garner 6,360 votes from 6,936 constituents who turned out.

A local Chinese businessman who only wanted to be known as Richard said Adenan’s demise was a great loss to the people and voters of Tanjung Datu.

“He was so different. He was outspoken, very frank and direct. He was okay with everyone, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated. He could sit together with anyone. He was so friendly,” Richard told The Borneo Post on Monday.

Richard said before his passing, every now and then Adenan would come to Lundu with his wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu in the company of Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and wife Datin Sri Feona Sim Junaidi.

“They would go around to meet people. The four of them were always seen together. Lundu people really loved him. On Wednesday, when the news was confirmed, a Chinese friend of mine shed tears on the spot. Even now when talking to some of them, they still feel sad for his passing.

“He came to Lundu so often. We saw them together all the time, where he would just go around town, sat here and there. We could see that he just loved Lundu,” said Richard.

In reciprocation, he said about 70 to 80 shops in Lundu and all the shopkeepers or shop owners gave Adenan their whole-hearted support.

On the candidate to replace Adenan, Richard, who declared that he did not know much about politics, hoped that it would be Jamilah.

“She was with him all the time. And as I know only her, so I thought she might be a suitable candidate because she knows all the ongoing projects and plans to develop Lundu.

“Anyway, I just hope the person taking over from Adenan would be someone who will continue what Adenan had started – the state autonomy policy and so on,” said Richard.

Without doubt, the Chinese in Lundu loved him. A voluntary call for a gathering in Lundu by some Chinese leaders to remember Adenan last Saturday saw more than 1,000 of them turning up.

Adenan is well-loved by his constituents, said Mary, who shed tears when she was asked how she remembered the late chief minister.

“I am a Selako Bidayuh but I can’t stop crying whenever I think of him. I just think that he was like a father to us all and we still miss him,” said Mary, who refused to give her full name.

Mary and other natives in Lundu said they truly missed the late chief minister as they saw him as a great and compassionate leader.

Ketua Kampung Sylvester Dias of Bokah, who has been assisting in the Catholic community in Lundu district, said he and his committee had gone to seek donation from Adenan in late 2014 and he was surprised that the late chief minister had willingly approved RM1 million for the new church in Lundu which would need at least RM5 million to build.

“He was an open-minded leader. Although he declined to announce the sum which he gave us in Lundu, we knew that he was indeed a humble and approachable leader,” said Sylvester, adding that RM200,000 came from Opar assemblyman Dato Ranum Mina.

He hoped that Adenan’s successor would be as generous to the church as Adenan was.

“In my whole life, I have never raised that amount of money. But with the help of the late CM Adenan, we will soon be able to start the building of our new church before Gawai,” he said.

His sentiment was shared by Cr Gom Boyet of Lundu District Council, who said the late chief minister was close to the people and easy to approach.

“Just before his passing, we had a function at the waterfront where he was supposed to come but due to illness he was represented by Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. And we were all shocked that he suddenly passed last Wednesday,” he said.

Gom disclosed that Adenan had planned many projects for Lundu and hoped that these projects would be completed for the benefit of the people.

“One of his favourite projects is the Lundu Waterfront. Once completed, it will further beautify the town. Actually he had wanted Lundu to be a must-stop centre for tourists. But due to his untimely passing, we hope that his successor will be able to continue his legacy,” said Gom.

Meanwhile an Iban from Sempadi, Michael James, said he truly missed the late Adenan as he was very daring to claim the rights of Sarawak.

“We will miss him dearly as he had been very vocal. And because of that, we feel proud of being Sarawakians,” he said.

Michael hoped that whatever initiatives Adenan had done for Sarawak would be continued by the new chief minister.

“We hope our new Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg will continue where the late CM had left so that Sarawak will truly have its rights back,” he stressed.