With Nancy at Gedong and Simunjan

LAST week, I wrote that I accepted Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri’s invitation to join her weekly ‘Ziarah Kamek’ (Our Visit) constituency rounds. Here’s a continuation of the account of the March 24-26 trip.

Her parliamentary seat P200 Batang Sadong (Malay majority with notable Iban and Chinese composition, and a sprinkling of Bidayuh and Orang Ulu) covers 1,031 sq km comprising state seats N24 Sadong Jaya (76 sq km), N25 Simunjan (323 sq km) and N26 Gedong (632 sq km). There are 19,839 registered voters.

There is no parliamentary constituency the size of Batang Sadong in the peninsula. The entire state of Penang comes closest with 1,048 sq km, holding 13 parliamentary and 40 state assembly seats. The total registered voters are 846,967.

Kamaluddin Effendie, Nancy’s political secretary, provided a perspective that most peninsula folks have no idea about – the larger electorates are connected through the easily accessible multiple media and frequent social interactions, but constituencies with a large land mass and mostly in remote clusters can only be engaged with direct interfacing. Batang Sadong’s 19,839 voters could well be 1,983,900 voters in this framework.

Surreal

Carved out from Simunjan, Gedong is one of Sarawak’s 11 new constituencies. It took nearly two hours to reach Kampung Kanchong from Kuching. The trip would have taken 3.5 hours before the 5km Batang Sadong Bridge was commissioned last year. Waiting for us at the village cafe was assemblyman Datuk Naroden Majais, a six-termer (five terms as the Simunjan representative), who is also Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Resource Planning. We were joined by Kamaluddin, special officer Pele Billy Peter Tinggom, and ex-Simunjan District Officer (DO) Adli Kiprawie. A few minutes later, the current DO Abdul Khalid Manap turned up. Everyone spoke good English.

We were served their breakfast fare, tumpik (sago with rice rolled up) to be dipped in garam apong (palm sugar + palm salt + vinegar). Naroden, who is of a slighter built, could certainly eat.

I had woken up at 5.25am to prepare for the famed Hilton Kuching breakfast spread starting at 6am. The pickup was scheduled at 7am. We reached Nancy’s tastefully designed corner lot home (purchased more than 20 years ago) at 7.12am. By 9.08am, I was transported to a location I have only read about or seen on television – a truly rural kampung setting. Quite surreal.

Three things were apparent to me during the drive, Nancy adores her mum Bibi McPherson’s resilience in looking after the home and her active social work connected to the needs of rural women folk (with Sarawak Federation of Women’s Institutes, founded in 1962). A story she related with relish was about the birth control campaign Bibi conducted on the use of condoms. To Bibi’s horror a year later, the birth rate actually rose! Her investigations revealed that her audience had diligently used the condoms supplied but on their forefingers, like when Bibi demonstrated.

The immense respect for the political culture/philosophy of PBB, and her utmost admiration for the wisdom, courage and dedication of former chief ministers Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and the present Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, was equally telling.

“When Abang Jo took over, he stressed that it is still Team Adenan except for the unavoidable change of captainship,’’ Nancy said, to stress the unity in purpose. She is also tremendously proud to be called to serve. She only knew she had been nominated on the day the candidate list was made known. It was previously Adenan’s constituency (2004 to 2008). It’s nine years since she was first elected and she is still as excited as the day she won the seat, on Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Nancy’s ‘Duracell-battery’ energy

We were in a convoy of three four-wheelers (a popular model). The entourage included Nancy’s bodyguard Qistina, an Iban policewoman from Kanowit, two Kuching lasses, press secretary Syeliza Basri and private secretary Norfaezah Abdul Malik.

The first stop was at the Simunjan Rest House, where first-timer Simunjan assemblyman Awla Dris was waiting. After a brief update, we drove to the nearby Dewan Setia (district council hall) where about 350 local residents were gathered in the packed hall.

After the customary greetings and handshakes by Nancy, Naroden and Awla, we were ushered up on a foot-high elevated stage, with Khalid and I. The event was the distribution of BR1M to 253 recipients. After speeches by Nancy and the DO, 10 randomly selected recipients went on stage to receive the aid, alternately presented by the three YBs. Then, the local leaders took over the distribution.

As we left the hall, I asked five gentlemen wearing corporate dress shirts with the state crest and Penghulu identification to take a group picture with Nancy. I knew they appreciated the recognition.

We walked back to the rest house and Nancy changed into an attractive baju kurung from the blouse and slacks worn earlier. Next destinations were to two kenduri events in Kampung Kelaka and Kampung Nanas.

Half the road in front of the host parents’ house in Kampung Kelaka was closed from the previous night to 3pm the next day. It was obvious many in the village chipped in to assist in the preparations. We were received with hearty handshakes and warm welcome gestures. While I accepted three scoops of rice, I noticed my entourage only took one scoop. I was to learn why very soon.

There were announcements on the winners of a karaoke contest held the night before. I looked at Nancy, perhaps questioningly, and she nodded adding that its part of the festivities of kampung wedding celebrations.

Then we left for Kampung Nanas. This was in an open ground next to a Chinese association hall. The bride’s father is district councillor Sardini, a father of 12 (not uncommon). Again, we had a most receptive welcome.

This time even before we were properly seated, there was a request for a duet number by Nancy and Naroden, and they delivered ‘Doa Buat Kekasih’. Nancy is a singing celebrity in Sarawak, I had learned.

We continued with another round of makan. I took one scoop this time.

Postscript

It’s such a pleasure to witness a Malay congregation without ‘Arabisation’ in the midst. It was baju melayu with splendid displays of sampin and colourful baju kurung. Many wore the songkok. Pity the absence of the kebaya.

Datuk Lee Yew Meng is CEO of Genovasi Malaysia.