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Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Speak up! Speak up!
The ability of speaking more than one language is a valuable personal asset. — Photo from I HAVE great admiration for anyone who speaks another language besides his own mother tongue. A friend of mine, an Iban, who sadly had joined his Maker, spoke fluent Mandarin and several other Chinese dialects and also the Sarawak Malay. He also spoke Melanau (the Bintulu variety). There was never a dull moment to be in his company. During a happy occasion such as a wedding reception, someone who proposes a toast laced with good humour in two or more languages can turn a solemn situation into one full of laughter. Even during semi-formal discussions like seminars and workshops, it is always interesting to listen to speakers switching from one language to another at will, and yet, can still be fully understood by everybody else in the room. It's a very effective way of disseminating information, especially where the audience consists of people from various educational backgrounds. A language is only useful when, through it, the message is crystal clear – no ambiguity. If two or three languages could convey the same message, so much the better. An audience consisting of various ethnic groups of individuals with varying standards of literacy would greatly benefit from this sort of situation. Malaysians must appreciate the fact that they are allowed to be multilingual. At one stage in the history of Malaysia, there was an attempt to discourage the publication of literature written in Iban, or any other indigenous Borneo languages. The federal government policy then was that every Malaysian must speak Bahasa Malaysia and write in Bahasa Malaysia only. Over time, it was realised that this strict application of the language policy could not work in a multiracial society like Malaysia. I could have told them that! The unity of a nation does not depend solely on one national language. Switzerland has four national languages: French, German, Italian and Romansch. Politically, it is one of the most stable countries in the world and certainly, one of the richest in Europe. Please note carefully that I am not proposing for Malaysia to have four national languages. Not at all. Let the Malay Language remain our 'Bahasa Kebangsaan' (national language) and every Malaysian must continue learning, speaking and writing in it. And let the other languages of the various ethnic groups making up the population of Malaysia be used on a daily basis without hindrance, as is the position now. For the past 30 years, the structure of that language policy has been somewhat relaxed. It is what public policy should be if a multiracial society like ours is to sustain itself. It is hoped that this attitude will be maintained by the government of the day for as long as possible. Whichever political party in power in the country, let the language policy continue to be liberal. Yesterday, someone drew my attention to a report in The Borneo Post of June 22, 2025. It was about a public-speaking competition organised by the Sibu Chapter of the Federation of Sarawak Chinese Independent Secondary Schools for the students from 14 Chinese independent schools in the state. I salute whoever conceived the idea of a public-speaking competition in three languages: Mandarin, Malay and English. What a great idea! We are on the same page. I hope that one day, there would be a competition of this nature in the future: the use of the Iban language or any of the indigenous languages in Sarawak. The organisers of trilingual competitions, please bear that in mind. First, learn one of the languages. It is high time we actively learn each other's language. I wish someone would start a school or classes in the native languages. The Iban language is already a subject taught in a university in Malaysia, but other indigenous languages are not. Think about possibilities. The importance of a language is not confined to communication between individuals, but it is also crucial to racial understanding and racial harmony. The loss of the language means the loss of the culture of the speakers of that language and, with it, racial identity. Ask the Hawaiians what they feel about losing their language. They used to have their own language, but after English was made the main language of the islands and the lingua franca for daily communication, the use of the indigenous language began to wane. Eventually, generations of Hawaiians did not use their mother tongue on a daily basis and the language slowly died out of lack of regular use. For the past 50 years, some young Hawaiians have been trying to revive interest in the language. I do not know what the status is now. My source, a native Hawaiian introduced to me by Dr Yusuf Hannifah in Honolulu in 1971 and became my regular correspondent for years, had passed away. End of personal communication. The latest I heard about the interest in reviving the Hawaiian language was when I read about a group of musicians from Hawaii who came to perform at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Santubong. In a press release, they meant to showcase, through their performances, their depictions of the traditional culture in their own ancestral knowledge in their language (The Borneo Post – June 22, 2025). The sound of music and the lyric of the song can be an excellent medium of communication. For example, the famous song 'Bekikis Bulu Betis' composed by Penghulu Andrewson Ngalai of Sibu, has been sung by the non-Ibans in every conceivable occasion. It is such an excellent medium for the propagation of the Iban language. Back on the 'kulaiwi' artistes. They highlighted their work as part of 'a larger cultural movement to revive Hawaiian language and tradition'. Note the revival of interest in the Hawaiian language and see the importance of the human tongue for the sustainability of human civilisation. * The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper. Iban language Melanau native sarawak
Borneo Post
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Record-breaking ‘itut' to swing into action at BCF 2025
Abang Carrol (standing sixth left) joins the volunteer crew for a group photo following the successful installation of the itut today. SIBU (June 28): A record-breaking 'itut' — a giant Melanau swing measuring 50 feet in height — has been erected at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase I for the upcoming 21st Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF), set to take place from July 3 to 12. Kampung Nangka Melanau Welfare Association chairman, Councillor Abang Carrol Abang Dris, said the itut has become a symbolic highlight of the festival since its introduction in 2015. 'This marks the 11th consecutive year that the itut has been featured at the BCF. It is gaining popularity as it attracts people of all backgrounds to participate,' he told The Borneo Post when met during the ceremonial installation of the swing today. Abang Carrol, who also chairs the itut organising committee, noted that this year's structure stands slightly taller than last year's 46-foot version. He explained that the swing's poles were sourced from the Permai area, while the steps were crafted using logs from Kampung Banyok. 'Due to the nature of the timber used, the logs are only suitable for one-time use. We will dismantle the itut after the festival and replace it annually. Typically, the wood lasts only up to six months,' he said. The swing will be open to the public from 7pm to 11pm throughout the festival. Last year, organisers faced challenges in achieving their target of 100 participants per day due to three consecutive days of rain. This year, they hope to attract up to 1,200 visitors over the course of the celebration. Abang Carrol highlighted that the itut has evolved into an inclusive attraction, drawing increasing participation beyond the Melanau community, especially among children. 'This is the most meaningful part- bringing people together in unity through a traditional activity,' he said. On safety, he stressed that strict precautions are in place. 'We ensure participants are fit to use the swing. Individuals with high blood pressure, a fear of heights, or those under the influence of alcohol are not permitted to participate,' he said. He also pointed out that the swing would be closed during rain to prioritise public safety. Construction of the itut involved the installation of two large poles with the assistance of a crane and support from volunteers and government agency representatives. A test run is scheduled for Monday (July 1).
Borneo Post
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Telegram ignored over half of Malaysia's takedown requests, says Fahmi
Fahmi says Telegram has shown the lowest compliance rate among all major social media platforms in Malaysia, acting on fewer than half of MCMC's takedown requests. – The Borneo Post photo KUALA LUMPUR (June 28): Malaysian authorities are escalating pressure on Telegram after accusing the messaging platform of routinely ignoring requests to take down harmful content — a move that has led to a rare civil suit and threats of stricter regulation. In a Free Malaysia Today report, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Telegram has shown the lowest compliance rate among all major social media platforms in Malaysia, acting on fewer than half of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) takedown requests. 'I have ordered MCMC to call Telegram for a meeting next week to discuss the issue,' Fahmi told reporters today after an event in Pantai Dalam. The remarks come days after MCMC filed a civil lawsuit against Telegram and two of its prominent channels — Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas — for allegedly disseminating content that could erode trust in public institutions and threaten social order. The regulator said the two channels had published material in breach of Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and that this was the first time legal action had been taken against a social media platform with a local licence. Telegram is registered as an application service provider (class) in Malaysia. 'The move follows Telegram's serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to it, despite multiple negotiation and cooperation efforts by MCMC,' the commission said in a statement. Fahmi added that MCMC had flagged over 1.18 million pieces of harmful content across platforms as of June 24 this year. Only 173,642 of those were removed. 'Of this number, 51 per cent of the content removed were online gambling ads, while 24 per cent were online scams,' he said. 'We will take strict action to ensure Malaysians do not become victims of cybercrime.' While MCMC has no power to directly remove content itself, it can issue requests and expects platform providers to comply. Fahmi stressed that the platforms ultimately bear the responsibility for restricting access to such material in Malaysia. – Malay Mail fahmi fadzil harmful content take down request telegram
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
11-year-old organist to perform at St Peter's Church Padungan opening
Kai (left) and Kenzie (right) seen during rehearsals at St Peter's Church here yesterday, in preparation for their upcoming performances. – Photo by Beverly Chan. KUCHING: At just 11 years old, Sarawakian-Australian Kai Laird is one of the rare few in his age group to master the pipe organ, an instrument typically associated with seasoned musicians. The young organist is set to perform during the opening ceremony of the newly completed St Peter's Church in Padungan, which will be consecrated in a week-long celebration starting today until July 5. The church, poised to become one of Kuching's latest architectural and spiritual landmarks, features a custom-built Allen digital organ imported from the United States. It is on this instrument that Kai will perform several specially selected pieces over two days. He will be playing 'You Raise Me Up' by Josh Groban and 'Prière de Notre Dame' by Léon Boëllmann, today. On Tuesday, his set will include J.S. Bach's 'Toccata and Fugue' in D minor (BWV 565), 'Be Thou My Vision', and a duet performance of the 'Skye Boat Song' with his younger brother Kenzie Laird, 7, on violin. Kai began his musical journey with piano lessons at the age of three, taught by his mother. Today, he plays four instruments: the pipe organ, piano, cello, and drums. Kai Laird – Photo by Chimon Upon His parents — Robert Wallace Laird from Australia and Beverly Chan from Kuching, Sarawak — are both professional pianists and run a music studio in Australia where they also teach. 'My parents asked me if I wanted to try the pipe organ, and I said 'Okay'. When I played it at St Mary's Cathedral (Perth), I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this is so crazy',' Kai said when met by The Borneo Post. He now practises the organ twice a day for about 40 minutes, and the piano for 20 minutes. Both he and Kenzie are home-schooled, giving them the flexibility to focus on music full-time. Kai enjoys the pipe organ for its sound, versatility, and complexity. 'You can mix all the sounds, adjust them, and even play with your feet. Sometimes I get confused with the pedals or the sounds, but I can fix it afterwards. It's fun!' he said enthusiastically. He owns a digital organ built in 1982, which allows him to practise from home. He looks forward to navigating the significantly larger organ at St Peter's, made by the same company, on performance day. 'There is a lot to get used to with each organ. Some pedal boards are curved, some are flat. The number of keyboards also changes. St Peter's has four manuals, which is really cool,' he said. Kai has already performed in Malaysia, Australia, Scotland, and England, and is currently the youngest organ scholar at St Mary's Cathedral in Perth. Robert and Beverly with their sons, Kai and Kenzie, photographed during the interview. – Photo by Chimon Upon Following his performance at St Peter's, the family will travel to the United Kingdom next week for another recital. In October, he is set to compete in his first organ competition in Sydney. In a field where young players are rare, Kai continues to build a name for himself with discipline, focus, and genuine love for the music, and may well inspire more children to explore the organ too. Related report: Week-long celebration to mark consecration of new St Peter's Church in Padungan Kai Laird Kuching pipe organ St Peter's Church Padungan
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Borneo Cultural Festival 2025's arch symbolises unity in Sarawak's trio heritage
Progress of works on the BCF arch at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 1 in Sibu. – Photo by Peter Boon SIBU (June 24): The upcoming iconic Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) will feature an arch designed with three simple villages representing Chinese, Malay-Melanau, and Dayak cultures, said organising chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley. He said the path beneath the arch will lead directly to the marquee tent in front of main stage. 'This year's arch concept differs from that of previous years. It signifies the strong racial harmony and unity among Sarawakians of diverse backgrounds. That has always been Sarawak's strength ― unity in diversity. 'That is why the structures are built close to each other,' he told The Borneo Post when asked about the design concept for this year's arch at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 1. Layout plan of the BCF arch at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 1. – Photo courtesy of Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Roseley The 21st edition of BCF will be held from July 3 to 12 at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase 1 and 2 here. The Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, is expected to officiate the opening ceremony on July 4, while Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian will be the guest of honour for the closing ceremony on July 12. On the arch construction, Mohammed Abdullah, who is also Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairman, said work began a few days ago and is expected to be completed before July. Another anticipated attraction at BCF 2025 is the towering 'itut', the Melanau traditional giant swing, located at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang. Last year, the 'itut' stood at 46-feet tall and was a major draw among both locals and visitors.
