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10 quotes by Tunku Abdul Rahman about raising living standards in Sabah and Sarawak through Malaysia in 1962

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Before the federation of Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, 1963, there were meetings over meetings held attended by different delegates from Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo.

One of those meetings was held on Jan 6, 1962 in which the representatives met up in Kuala Lumpur. They touched upon different subjects including citizenship, transfer sovereignty, economy and special position of the indigenous peoples.

The meeting lasted for three days till Monday, Jan 8. During the closing session, Sabah’s Donald Stephens said that the pieces of Malaysia’s jigsaw puzzle had fallen into place and the picture it produced was that of a “new, vigorous and young nation in the making.”

Meanwhile, Sarawak delegation leader Yeo Cheng Hoe thanked the prime minister of Malayan federation Tunku Abdul Rahman for his desire to help Sarawak.

Singapore then president Lee Kuan Yew stated that with Malaysia there were no reasons why the standard of living of the people of the five territories should not reach that of more developed countries as we lack neither human or natural resources.

As for Tunku Abdul Rahman, he mainly talked about how Malaysia would raise the living standards of Borneo.

Here are 10 takeaway points from Tunku Abdul Rahman’s address during that meeting convincing Sabah and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia:

1.“I am confident that the rate of development in the Borneo territories would be considerably increased after the merger, sufficient not only to offset or compensate for their loss of the Commonwealth Development and Welfare Funds, but to increase the tempo of their economic activities.”

2.“(About the plan to form a Federation of Borneo States) I reasoned to myself that if the people of Borneo themselves could wish to come together for their own good and well-being of their country in the form of a Federation, why then should we not join together?”

3.“The only difference would be that whereas in a Federation of Borneo States, as among themselves, the Borneo territories would continue for a long time to be colonies of Britain, in the Federation, with us they would lose the subject status immediately and would gain in stature, and which become independent territories enjoying equal rights and dignity with all other eleven states which now comprise the Federation of Malaya.”

4.“Please do not think that by embracing the territories of Borneo, Malaya is looking for territorial aggrandizement. We are linked by a common cultural heritage and historical background and financial and economic interests.”

10 quotes by Tunku Abdul Rahman about raising living standards in Sabah and Sarawak through Malaysia in 1962
(Left) A photo of Malaysian flag and (right) Tunku Abdul Rahman.

5.“You might say that the British have promised you independence. The question is when will that come about? Should your independence depend on normal development, I do not think you will achieve it in the near future. And when your independence finally arrives, you will be exposed to a precarious existence as tiny and powerless preys to the hungry and rapacious powers of the world.”

6.“As for the poor people of the rural areas who had been neglected before (in Malaya), they are getting a better life and a better deal than they had ever had before. The same cannot be said for the people of Borneo.”

7.“There is no single railway track in the whole of mainland of Sarawak, not one road connecting one territory with another. So very little has been done to improve the lot of people living in Borneo today.”

8.“To suggest that by joining us in Malaysia the Borneo territories would not be our equals, and to suggest that by joining us they would lose their right to practice their own religion and culture to pursue their own customs and the right to study the languages of their forefathers is not true, and is a falsehood which had intentionally been spread by forces which hope to take control of these territories for themselves.”

9.“The Borneo territories too have their won aborigines who live in the most primitive way in the very deepest part of the country. But even the Ibans, Kayan, Kadazans and Melanaus – to mention a few of your indigenous peoples-suffer today such neglect as we Malays used to suffer. It sadden my heart every time I think of the fact and welfare of the sons of the soil of Sarawak and Sabah.”

10.“Therefore, it is only logical that if the Borneo territories want to secure strength through unity, they should unite with the (Malaya) Federation and Singapore which alone can give us all strength viability and unity.”

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Pasar Batu Tarakan, where Indonesians shop for Malaysian products

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When visiting Indonesians want to buy souvenirs at Tarakan island in North Kalimantan, the place most people suggest is Pasar Batu Tarakan.

But for Malaysians, it might not be the most ideal place. This was because Pasar Batu Trakan sells mostly Malaysian products.

Most of these products were brought in from Tawau, Sabah which is a 40-minute plane ride or four-hour boat ride from Tarakan island.

Malaysian Milo, the most sought after item at Pasar Batu Tarakan

If you ever take a flight from Kuching to Pontianak, you might notice many Indonesians carrying Milo as their hand-carry items.

They found Malaysian Milo to be more delicious than the Indonesian-made one. Plus, it is thicker, less sweet but richer in cocoa flavour than theirs.

So Malaysians, do not be surprised if you can find Milo at every stall at Pasar Batu Tarakan.

They are sold in different weights as well as 3-in-1 versions, just as you would find them in Malaysian supermarkets.

Other Malaysian beverages sold at Pasar Batu Tarakan were Nespray milk, Old Town Coffee, Ovaltine, Quaker Oat and children’s milk Lactogen.

Speaking of oats, one of the hottest items at Pasar Bayu Tarakan is made-in-China Twinfish Oat Choco. However be careful, as this is supposedly the most counterfeited item in Malaysia. Its distributor Jie Cheng Hang Sdn Bhd claimed that there are over 16 brands of the similar product in Malaysia. And the one found at this souvenir market came from Malaysia.

Apart from Twinfish Oat Choco, Indonesians also love Malaysian Apollo cakes. A Malaysian favourite childhood snack, the market also sold plenty variety of Apollo cakes there.

So what do Malaysians buy at Pasar Batu Tarakan?

Although Malaysian products made up 90% of the items being sold at Pasar Batu Tarakan, it does not mean Malaysians cannot buy anything interesting from there.

You can buy affordable crackers (kerupuk) made from locally caught fish like ikan tipis and ikan bulu ayam.

If you are a coffee lover, you must take one packet of Kopi Malinau Equato. It is one of North Kalimantan’s very own robusta available in dark and medium roasted variety.

Pasar Batu Tarakan, where Indonesians shop for Malaysian products
Pasar Batu Tarakan, where Indonesians shop for Malaysian products
Pasar Batu Tarakan, where Indonesians shop for Malaysian products
Pasar Batu Tarakan, where Indonesians shop for Malaysian products
Pasar Batu Tarakan, where Indonesians shop for Malaysian products
Pasar Batu Tarakan, where Indonesians shop for Malaysian products

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KajoAsks: What drives Sabah-based skincare brand The Borneo Scrub

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What is it like to start a fully online skincare endeavor in Sabah? KajoMag asked Casandra Timothy the ups and downs of running The Borneo Scrub, a 100 per cent natural skincare solutions and cosmetics brand.

Established in 2015, the brand focuses on using locally sourced ingredients in Sabah. Their signature – and most sought after -item is the Coffee Face & Body Scrub.

KajoAsks: What drives Sabah-based skincare brand The Borneo Scrub
Casandra Timothy
KajoMag: What sparked your interest in starting The Borneo Scrub?

Casandra: My husband, Azel, is a typical caffeine and coffee addict, he can’t live without his coffee and his multiple caffeine boosts. So one day out of the blue I joked about making a skincare product with the coffee he usually drinks (Ground Tenom Coffee). He said why not, I went ahead and made some scrub with ingredients we had on hand and the husband was also the first human guinea pig for the product.

The results were impressive even for the early unrefined batch. His skin, which was always dry and flaky had instantly transformed into baby skin after washing off the scrub. The rest of the family members became additional guinea pigs, then friends. They then started asking whether I was selling it and the rest is history.

KajoMag: What is the best part of running The Borneo Scrub?

Casandra: The best part about running The Borneo Scrub is seeing the reaction of people when they have tried your product. Seeing actual validation and approval of your handmade product, seeing how it amazes people is an indescribably good feeling and it still feels the same even now.

Another equally great part is meeting other entrepreneurs, business owners, all these people and social connections that would have never existed for us if The Borneo Scrub didn’t exist.

I know it should be one thing only but I have to say, if The Borneo Scrub did not exist we also wouldn’t have tried participating in business pitch competitions. It was a whole new level of learning and experiencing. My husband in particular really enjoyed this.

KajoMag: There is a rise of local SMEs using locally sourced ingredients to make skincare products in Malaysia. How do you deal with the competition?
KajoAsks: What drives Sabah-based skincare brand The Borneo Scrub
Coffee Face and Body Scrub


Casandra: Competition is very normal. We honestly don’t worry about it a whole lot because we believe the customers can tell the difference. Furthermore, word of mouth and actual reviews tell the best story.

When we started to be more commercially active within Sabah, and Kota Kinabalu particularly, there were about 3-4 local home made businesses selling the exact same type of products e.g. natural body scrubs.

We all did our own thing, focused on quality and customer service. We never had any issues (that we personally experienced) with competition. The way we see it, as long as it can help the market grow and get the public more interested in home made products with local ingredients, no one really loses out on anything. Plus, we elevate the whole supply chain.

KajoMag: Can you name a moment of failure in your business experience that you learned from or that helped you improve your business or the way you work?

Casandra: For us, we don’t consider it moments of failure. This was because when everything is done and settled, and we look back and reflect it’s actually just ill made decisions that didn’t work out very well. One particular situation was acquiring a commercial property as a specialized production and retail HQ.

Seeing that we are a home based enterprise, after some months we realised we were losing money to a place that we rarely even used. Having your own store or place to sell your stuff is great and everything but it’s arguably not the most effective way, depending on your product and customers.

So after a few months we decided to let the place go. We lost a moderate amount of money due to renovation costs, tenancy contract etc. But looking back now we really did learn a lot from there.

KajoAsks: What drives Sabah-based skincare brand The Borneo Scrub
The Borneo Scrub’s Cazel’s Face Oil
KajoMag: Care to share any long-term goals for The Borneo Scrub?

Casandra: One of our targets is to be one of the must-have souvenir products for tourists to try, to buy and to gift to friends back home.

We’re currently supplying our products to Kadaiku (under Sabah Tourism Board) and souvenir chain stores in KK. We also have agents servicing various states. Currently it is going very well and next step is to partner and collaborate with beauty spas.

We also plan to diversify products, we had a few different products in the past. Unfortunately, the amount produced was not much due to high cost. Nonetheless, we have received great feedback on them. So we plan to pursue this option when we are able to.

In addition, at times we aren’t able to cope with the demand from souvenir stores since our products aren’t made in factories in large batches. Thus, we also hope to solve this problem (good problem to have) when we are able to.

KajoAsks: What drives Sabah-based skincare brand The Borneo Scrub
The Borneo Scrub’s Lip Care Line

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Why is there a badger on the old Sarawak coat of arms?

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If you have never seen the old Sarawak coat of arms, you can spot it on the pediment above the pillars of the Kuching General Post Office on Jalan Tun Haji Openg.

There you will see the shape of an animal on top of a shield and the words “Dum Spiro Spero”.

Now comes the question what is that animal? It is actually a European badger, an animal that cannot be found in Sarawak.

If you are not familiar with a badger, remember Trufflehunter from The Chronicles of Narnia, one of Aslan’s followers?

Why is there a European badger on the old Sarawak coat of arms?

The White Rajahs were a dynastic monarchy of the British Brooke family. With the first ruler James, they founded and ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946.

The heraldic arms of the Brooke dynasty were based on the emblem used by James. It consisted of a red and black cross on a yellow shield, crested by a badger.

This animal, in Middle English, was known as a “brock” and was also a nickname for people named “Brook” or “Brooke”. Hence the animal refers to the dynastic surname.

There are different kinds of badgers out there such as honey badger, American badger, European badger, Asian badger and Japanese badger.

The closest thing we have to the European badger (Meles meles) on the coat of arms is the Bornean ferret-badger (Melogale everetti). Although its only known certainty of location is on Mount Kinabalu and nearby regions in Sabah, it is suspected it can be found in Kalimantan and Sarawak too.

Why is there a badger on the old Sarawak coat of arms?
Sarawak’s old coat of arms (left) beside the one used today.
The current Sarawak coat of arms

Instead of a badger, we have our own Rhinoceros hornbill befitting the state’s nickname ‘Land of Hornbills’. The bird itself wears a shield on our current coat of arms. This design was established in 1988. The hornbill’s wings have 13 feathers representing all the Malaysian states.

It also features Malaysia’s national flower, the hibiscus.

Right below the hornbill is a banner bearing Sarawak’s motto “Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti” which means ‘Unity, Effort, Service’.

This motto was to replace Kingdom of Sarawak’s Dum Spiro Spero.

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The non-Malaysian’s guide to economy rice

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Economy rice is a Malaysian favourite when it comes to lunch. It is a type of food stall usually found in hawker centres or food courts across the country.

Recently, a Malaysian even went viral for his Instagram account dedicated only to this rice dish.

Also known as nasi campur or mixed rice, chap fan or chap chye ping, economy rice is quick to have, affordable and reminds us of mom’s cooking.

Here is your guideline if you are a foreigner visiting Malaysia for the first time and wondering what this ‘economy rice’ is:
1.It might look like a buffet, but it is not a buffet.

The first thought if you see an economy rice stall for the first time is “Oh look, it is a buffet!”

No, it is not. I have too often seen foreign tourists take too many dishes and be surprised at the exorbitant price afterwards.

There are four factors contributing to the cost of your nasi campur; the number of dishes you take, the types of dishes (meat costs more than vegetables), the portion amount per dish and your location.

Most of the time your economy rice in a fully air-conditioned shopping mall costs more than the one at an open-air coffeeshop. Additionally, some states in Malaysia offer cheaper nasi campur than others. For example, generally the price of a plate of nasi campur in Kota Kinabalu is more expensive than in Kuching.

2.In Malaysia, there are Chinese, Indian, Malay, vegetarian and Dayak types of economy rice.

Here in Malaysia, thanks to our multi-cultural society we are blessed with so much good food. So you can choose the different kinds of nasi campur from Chinese to vegetarian.

For Chinese economy rice stalls, the most common dishes are sweet and sour pork, braised tofu, stir-fried Chinese vegetables, and deep fried food.

Meanwhile, Malay and Indian stalls will typically serve up curry dishes, and more spicy fare.

Specifically in Sarawak, you can even find Dayak cuisine among the economy rice.

The concept of picking your own dishes is similar to Nasi Padang or Nasi Campur in Indonesia. Singapore and Thailand also have the same concept.

The non-Malaysian's guide to economy rice
A nasi campur stall in Kalimantan
3.Some Malaysian economy rice stalls only open during lunch hour.

Lunch time is the favourite meal of the day to have economy rice. Since most of them cater to office workers, they only open during lunch hour from 12pm to 2pm.

With that in mind, some of the best and affordable stalls are located near office areas.

But how to choose which economy rice stall to go to? First of all, make sure it is clean. Plus, the better quality nasi campur stalls have warmers beneath the food. Then you can ensure your food is served hot.

4.Come with a group of friends if you want to taste more dishes

An economy rice stall can consist up to 30 different type of dishes including meat, vegetables, eggs and tofu. You can select any combination of these dishes together with a bowl of steamed white rice.

Here is a trick; if you want to taste more dishes, bring a group of friends. Each and every one takes a different kind of dish so that everyone can have a taste.

Bon Appetit!

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10 reasons why Malaysians should be talking about gum health

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Systema recently launched a free gum health check website as part of “Systema Gumbatte Towards 1 Million Gum Health Checks” awareness campaign 2019.

With the collaboration of the Malaysian Dental Association, the campaign aims to help Malaysians achieve better oral health outcomes with the ultimate goal of motivating more people to retain 20 of their natural teeth when they are 60 years and older. (The average person has 32 teeth in total.)

On March 19, Systema organised the “Gum Health Forum for Sarawak” at Pullman Kuching to introduce the campaign as well as their Advance Anti-Plaque Toothpaste for Sarawak.

Here are 10 important things KajoMag learned about gum health from the forum:

1.Gum disease has overtaken cavities as the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

This is due to prolonged plaque build-up in between teeth, along the gum lines and in gum pockets due to poor brushing habits and usually remains undetected for long periods of time.

2. 9 out of 10 Malaysian adults suffer from gum disease.

A 2010 study conducted by Lion Corporation on 450 Malaysian adults revealed that 80% of respondents had at least one visible sign and symptom of gum disease, the most common symptoms being bleeding and swollen gums. Only 1% realise that they have gum disease.

3. The main cause of gum disease is plaque

Plaque is the soft sticky film that covers your teeth after you have food or drink. It also contains billions of bacteria. When plaque builds up in between teeth, along the gum line and inside gum pockets, the toxin from the bacteria will damage gum tissues.

4. Periodontal disease can affect the health of the whole body

Studies have shown that your poor oral health can increase chances of cardiac disease, pneumonia, diabetes, and premature birth.

5. How do you know that you have a good gum health?

Your gums should be pink in colour, not red. Healthy gums also leads to healthy bones.

6. There are two types of gum disease

The two types of gum disease are called gingivitis and periodontitis. The good news is gingivitis is reversible by brushing your teeth while periodontitis is irreversible.

Periodontitis is when your gums become inflamed, turn red and your gums bleed easily when you brush. If left unchecked, it can then spread into the gums and into the bones and ligaments supporting your teeth, loosening them.

How to take care of your gums?
10 reasons why Malaysians should be talking about gum health
You can get rid of gingivitis by brushing your teeth. Credits: Pexels.

7. Mouthwash is not essential to gum health

According to Dr Tie Sing Fong from Sarawak Health Department who spoke during the forum, mouthwash was invented for people who were not able to brush their teeth, such as people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease.

Corporate companies have turned them into commercial products which Dr Tie believed were not necessary to use.

8. Flossing is an important part of your oral health care

Dr Tie stressed that flossing was important to do every day, if not every alternate day.

9. It is not necessary to brush your teeth after every meal.

The main cause of gum disease is plaque. According to Dr Tie, plaque is only formed between two to four hours after you eat something. Hence, brushing your teeth twice a day is sufficient enough.

10. Should you rinse your mouth after brushing or keep the toothpaste in?

There is a belief that you should not rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. It is believed to be better for overall dental health to leave some toothpaste in your mouth for better oral care. Once again, Dr Tie debunked this myth, citing a study that there was not much difference if you rinsed or not after brushing your teeth.

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Why rainbows are formed according to Dusun legend

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A rainbow is a natural weather phenomenon caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets, resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky.

Due to its beautiful and mystical appearance, it has been a subject of mythology and superstition from different cultures across the world.

In Hawaiian legends, the rainbow maiden Avuenue is believed to be the messenger for her brothers, the gods Tane and Kanaloa.

Meanwhile, the rainbow is depicted as an archer’s bow in Hindu mythology.

In the bible, rainbows are a sign of God’s promise. After the Great Flood in the book of Genesis killing all living things excepts those on Noah’s ark, a rainbow appears to symbolise God will never send another flood to destroy the earth.

Though it can be a full circle, we usually see an arch formed by illuminated droplets above the ground.

This archIng shape of the rainbow has also inspired many myths to see it as a bridge.

Why rainbows are formed according to Dusun legend

A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky.  Credits: Pexels
The rainbow as a bridge in various cultures

If you are a big fan of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), then you have watched all three Thor films. In the films there is a rainbow bridge called the Bifrost that is guarded by Heimdall (played by ultimate gentleman, Idris Elba).

According to Norse religion, the Bifrost connects Midgard (earth) with Asgard, home of the gods. It can be only used by gods and those who are killed in battle.

Similarly in ancient Japanese beliefs, rainbows served as a bridge to enable their ancestors to descend to earth.

Meanwhile, the Maori has a tale of Hina (moon) who caused a rainbow to span the heavens and down to the earth to allow her mortal husband to return to earth to end his days since there is no death in her celestial home.

Rainbow as a bridge in a Dusun legend

A mystical bridge to connect two lovers is something that the Dusun people of Sabah can relate to.

According to a legend recorded by Ivor Evans in Among Primitive Peoples in Borneo, a rainbow was a path for men long time ago.

“Those who lived up-country used the rainbow as a bridge when they wished to go down-country in search of wives,” he wrote.

When they first made the rainbow, the men would walk directly to the women’s houses.

After the women served them food, they followed the men back to their homes over the rainbow.

Once they arrived back up-country, their marriages were celebrated with a great feast.

Then came an old man from another village asking the men what they did with the rainbow, now that they had their wives with them.

The men simply replied, “When we want to go down-country with our wives we will put it in place, but when do no want it we will take it away.”

Certainly, this legend makes you wonder if this is how people in the olden days deal with LDR.

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Three legends of the orangutan you’ve probably never heard of

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The orangutan is the only genus of great apes native to Asia. Like other great apes, they are highly intelligent.

Furthermore, they share approximately 97% of their DNA with humans.

Due to their similarities with humans, it comes as no surprise that this ape has become the subject of some local legends.

Here are three legends of the orangutan you’ve probably never heard of:
Three legends of the orangutan you've probably never heard of
1.The man who refused to work and became an orangutan

The commonly known legend in Indonesia about the orangutan is that they were once able to speak like humans.

But then they decided to become silent after humans entered the forest. Why? They feared that if people knew that they could speak, they would be harassed or enslaved by humans.

Another legend has it that if an extremely lazy or mean person were to be punished, their would be changed into an orangutan.

2. The female orangutan who kidnapped a human male

Carl Sofus Lumholtz recorded this particular legend when he stayed at Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

There was a man who just lost his wife and children. Out of grief, he took a walk into the forest.

After awhile, he felt exhausted so he took a nap underneath a tree. He must have been so exhausted because he did not realise a female orangutan carried him up to her nest far up on a tree.

The man woke up and to his surprise, he was already high up in the tree, unable to come down.

He was left with no choice but to stay up in that tree. For his survival, the female orangutan brought him fruits and even rice stolen from people’s homes.

One day, the orangutan tried to make her moves on him but the man resisted. The animal was so angry that it bit him on the shoulder. Unwillingly, the man surrendered.

After some times, the orangutan gave birth to child. It was a boy but he was covered with long hair.

The man stayed there up on the tree out of fear for his life until one day when he saw an opportunity to escape.

He saw a ship along the coast putting out a boat for hauling water from the river nearby.

Thankfully, the orangutan was away looking for food. So the man made a rope from his clothes and began climbing down from the tree.

Though the rope was not long enough, he successfully jumped into the river.

With all his might, he swam to the boat. The people of the boat saw him and came to his rescue.

When the orangutan did not find the man at their nest, she was angry. Then, she saw the ship from a distance. She tried to catch up to the ship but failed.

Here comes the gruesome part; she returned to her nest in anger, took their son and tore him in half.

3.The orangutan who was a healer

The particular legend came from Kampung Kiau at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysian state of Sabah.

Long time ago, a group of men went into the jungle carrying blowpipes.

Suddenly, they heard someone singing among the trees. They looked and saw an orangutan singing on the ground.

Ivan Evans wrote in his book Among Primitive Peoples in Borneo the song that orangutan sang,

“First of all I lived at the River Makadau, but I went to the River Serinsin. From there I went to the River Wariu; from the Wariu to the Penataran. From Penataran to the Kilambun; from Kilambun to the Obang, and from the Obang to the Tenokop.

I cannot go up into the trees again for I am old and must die upon the ground. I can no longer get fresh young leaves to eat from the trees; I have to eat young grass.”

Then the men who heard the song, said to one another: “This orangutan is clever at verses, let us shoot him with our blowpipes.”

When one of the men was about to shoot him, the orangutan pleaded for his life.

“Do not shoot me, but make me a hut and let me live here till I die. When you have made my hut, bring your sisters here and I will teach them magic, for I am skilled in it.”

So the men agreed; they built him a hut and brought their sisters to him.

In return, he taught the women how each sickness had its own magical ceremony. He also taught them the spells for snake bites and fevers.

Then they went home, a journey which took them about three days, to get rice for the orangutan.

But when they came back to the hut, he was already dead.

From there on, whenever there was sickness in Kampung Kiau, the women who were taught by the orangutan would serve as their healers.

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KajoAsks: Making a social impact through art with Mary Anne Vaz

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Self-taught artist Mary Anne Vaz was born in Penang, but she has called Sarawak home since she married her Kelabit husband.

She uses various mediums in her art including batik, acrylic, water colour and pastels.

A prolific painter like one of her idols Vincent Van Gogh, her work has been exhibited in various places such as Lingnan Museum of Art in China, Pustaka Miri and Saradise Gallery, Kuching.

She now teaches both young and old from an art center at her home.

Not content to just paint, she, together with her art students, have started a social project whereby proceeds from sales of their paintings will go to buying story books for Penan children in Ulu Baram.

Recently, KajoMag had the opportunity to learn more about the artist behind the paintings and her inspirations.
KajoAsks: Making a social impact through art with Mary Anne Vaz
Vaz and some of her paintings.
KajoMag: I understand that you started your journey in art as early as six years old. What do you remember about your paintings as a kid and what made you want to paint?

Mary Anne Vaz: I attended kindergarten where my teacher, a Chinese man gave me a chance to paint. I painted myself climbing a tree. Then I watched my brother paint big canvases with oil paints. I developed a style that was similar to oil painting in that I used very thick paints.

One day my dad told me, “You won a gold medal.” The concept of winning was not in my experience and I replied “ I don’t want a gold medal.” Then, it appeared on TV and in the news. It was the Queens Gold Medal. 
       
I didn’t have any art books or art teachers. All I had was paint, brushes and paper. But there was a book on the human anatomy. From there, I became interested in painting human figures. So, most of my artwork features human figures.              

I am fascinated with the hornbill dances of the Orang Ulu. Several of my paintings are on the dances, tribal attire, and everyday life of the Kelabits. I have also painted the legends of the Kelabits.

Then, I met the famous tattoo artist Ernesto Kalum. I became fascinated with his tattoos and have painted three paintings featuring him, one of them being “Warrior of Peace”.

KajoMag: How would you describe your style as an artist? Are there any painters that you particularly look up to?

Mary Anne Vaz: I am a symbolic artist. My paintings all carry deep messages. For example “ Warrior of Peace” which features Ernesto without his tattoos, without the sword, conveys the message that a leader must lay down his weapons and be vulnerable in order to lead his people to peace and face a brighter future.

I painted this after the summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un. The USA and North Korea meeting was to me a step towards disarmament. This is true courage. A warrior with no weapon is a truly brave warrior. 

I look up to several artists. The first one was Chuah Thean Teng, the Father of Batik, who showed that this traditional style of fabric painting could be fine art. I studied his techniques and created a style of contemporary batik with traditional processes.

The second one is Vincent Van Gogh. I collected books on him. He was a prolific painter and I identify with him as I am also a prolific painter.

The third one is Raphael Scott Abeng from Kuching. He inspired me as a friend and I find his paintings unique and witty social commentary.

The fourth one is Tan Wei Kheng. He is a dear friend; he stretched my first canvas and has always been supportive.

Pustaka produced an e-book on Tan Wei Kheng called Discover Sarawak and I was the researcher and writer of his art. He is also a symbolic artist; his paintings being social commentary and social documentation.

KajoMag: Are there certain places you feel most inspired to paint? If so, where?

Mary Anne Vaz: The place that most inspired me to paint was Bario. Twenty-nine years ago when my eldest son was born , my husband and I walked 12 hours through the jungle from Bario to Pa’ Mada to have the traditional name changing ceremony.

I remember the trees being tall and the floor of the jungle covered with a carpet of leaves. Later, I made a sketch of my father-in-law’s parang and its tree bark sheath.

I then painted it in contemporary batik style. It is now in the Sarawakiana collection of Pustaka Sarawak. I painted the fireplace in “Kelabit Lady” which was exhibited in China in the Lingnam Museum of Art in Foshan in October 2018. 

KajoMag: Can you name the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from being a part of the Sarawak art industry?

Mary Anne Vaz: The biggest lesson I have learned in being part of the Sarawak Art industry is that an artist must be dynamic, keep learning and growing. No doubt skills with brushes are important, but digital skills are vital to share our art and connect across nations.

Being multilingual is also important. When I went to China I prepared myself by learning to speak Mandarin.

Alta Moda Sarawak is a good example of how artists are being dynamic. Coming together to move forward. The leaders in Alta Moda Sarawak have created a bridge to tomorrow.

KajoMag: Care to share your hope for young artists in Sarawak?

Mary Anne Vaz: My art studio in Miri grooms young artists from as young as six years old. So, my hope is that parents take art seriously.

Give your child a chance to use the correct tools to paint. Give your child a good art tutor to mentor his growth. Let young artists develop their own style. I am happy that in my studio there are several young artists with very high potential.

I share my own techniques with them and encourage them to have their own vision. Parents have been very supportive in giving them time and resources to grow. What we need is more opportunities to exhibit the work of young artists.

KajoMag: Tell us more about your social project to buy books and reference books for the Penan children in Ulu Baram.

Mary Anne Vaz: My students and I started sending books to schools in Ulu Baram with the help of a friend who travels there regularly.

Each time my students sell a painting for RM50, they voluntarily donate RM10 to buy a story book. I also buy books that promote early reading such as books using phonics.

I will put about 20 books in a bag and give to my friend who takes them to the teachers there.

When I sell my paintings. I also buy some books for this purpose. I am thinking that story books are a source of joy, different from school books.
The Penan children and other children who live far from town may not have a chance to enjoy story books. Besides these, I have also bought encyclopedias for them.

About Alta Moda Sarawak

Interested viewers can catch Vaz and her works during this upcoming Alta Moda Sarawak.

To be held from March 7-9 at the old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Building in Kuching, 24 designers and brands will be taking part in this event which aims to highlight the many colours of Sarawak’s cultures and diversities.

Check more of Vaz’s works on her website or follow her on Instagram.

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Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019

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There were a lot of things going on other than racing at the fourth edition of Kuching Heritage Race (KHR).

Themed ‘Darul Hana Revisited’, the one-of-a-kind race kicked off at Chung Hua Middle School No 4 last Saturday on Feb 16.

  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
  • Silat, pantun and many more at Kuching Heritage Race 2019
About Kuching Heritage Race 2019

Almost like a small-scale Amazing Race, the race had a treasure hunt and maps were provided for participants to find stations or control points.

Every team made up of two to five people was given a ‘passport’ with clues for the location of each station. (About 60 teams took part, making this treasure hunt really competitive 😄)

At each station or checkpoint, the participants had to complete missions related to local culture and heritage.

Some of these tasks included performing the Malay martial art of silat, playing the kompang, making roti canai, completing a pantun and making air mawar.

Additionally, there were ‘brainy quizzes’ on the history and heritage of Kuching at some stations. Teams with the correct answers had a few minutes taken off their running time.

For the first time, this year’s Kuching Heritage Race took the participants through residential areas such as Kampung Muda Hashim, Kampung Dagok Timur, Kampung No. 4 and others.

With that, the race was able to introduce participants, both local and non-local, to Kuching’s heritage sites.

The team that was able locate all the stations and complete all the tasks in the shortest time was the winner.

Last year’s champion, the Sarawak Convention Bureau, was able to hold on to their title and become the overall winner once again.

Kuching Heritage Run is also aimed to raise money for deserving underfunded projects.

Proceeds from this year’s race were channeled to several organisations including Single Mothers Association, Kuching Parkinson Society, Sarawak Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).

Kuching Heritage Race was listed on Sarawak Tourism Board (STB)’s calendar of events.

Also present during the event were permanent secretary to Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee and Brooke Trust director Jason Brooke.

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