Dunstan Melling
KUCHING: New Sarawak Tribune executive editor Dunstan Melling Undau, 66, was a man who always put the state and his professional responsibilities above his own personal needs.
His contribution and involvement in the development of the state and people was always active on the mainstream. In lots of ways, his contributions should be exemplified and emulated by everybody.
Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom made the remarks when paying tribute to one of his closest friends.
Mawan, who is also SPDP president and Sarawak Scout Council president, said the late Dunstan’s demise was a great loss to the media and also to the state scout movement.
Dunstan was the State Scout chief commissioner.
Mawan said the late Dunstan never failed to execute any task given to him and he also never let himself to be idle.
“It is a deep loss to the media fraternity, a deep loss to all of us who were his personal friends. I have known him for a very long time. We were very close friends, I knew him since the 70s.
“He (Dunstan) had made a big contribution to the state. In fact, he was at one time a ‘model belia’ (youth role-model). Being executive editor of the New Sarawak Tribune, he had written numerous development and political pieces on the state,” Mawan told the press yesterday when commenting on the tragic accident that took the life of Dunstan in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
He highlighted that Dunstan was a friend who was always around when needed, contributed and participated in solving problems.
“This was despite himself struggling with personal and family matters while improving his life. He never concentrated just on his own problems and was always out to improve and make contribution to society,” continued Mawan.
Dunstan died in an accident that happened at KM30 of Jalan Sri Aman-Kuching around 1am yesterday. He was said to have died on the spot after the 4WD pickup he and his wife were travelling in collided head-on with a lorry ferrying gas cylinders.
His wife Jacqueline Bungai Gawan, 62, and the lorry driver sustained bodily injuries.
The late Dunstan was heading towards Saratok for official duty while the lorry was heading towards Kuching.