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Author: James Alexander Ritchie

Joseph Anthony Kuek — A GIANT OF A MAN!

The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. —  Malcolm X, African-American human rights activist On August 13, Sarawak lost an educationist and part time photographer Joseph Anthony Kuek Tze Hiang. He was 92. Joseph was not only one of the pioneering teachers of the Batu Lintang Teacher’s

Tun Abang Salahuddin turns 100 today

History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul. — John Dalberg-Acton, English historian Even as Kuching continues to transpose into a mega city, we seem to have forgotten the core values of Old Sarawak. Infrastructure such as the old government offices along the Kuching waterfront,

The man who was destined for greatness

Any man who has ever tried to use political power for the common good has felt an awful sense of powerlessness. — Robert Casey, American lawyer and politician If Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan was alive, he would be celebrating his 101st birthday today. Appropriately, yesterday was the first day of

Conquering a lofty dream

I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed: And the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I fail and keep trying. —  Tom Hopkins, writer I’ve met many heroes in my

Penan — A 40-year journey of progress

He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery. —  Harold Wilson, ex-UK prime minister In June 1991, I accompanied then Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg to Upper Baram at the height of the anti-logging blockades. It

Knowledge — the elixir of life

The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life. —  Confucius, Chinese philosopher Reading and writing can be a recreation and a source of inspiration. Last year alone, I kept myself busy by writing 40 feature

Hobnobbing with the kings of sport!

Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you. —  Arnold Palmer, American golf professional If polo is the sport of kings, what is the king of sport? If you think it is soccer then you are wrong. According to a survey, golf is the most popular

Being cruel to be kind

I don’t care if a reader hates one of my stories, just as long as he finishes the book. —  Roald Dahl, British novelist If you think I am a nice guy, you don’t know me. Ask any of my peers, because in my heyday, I was considered a tyrant!

Learning from ‘Kubit Tiup’

Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it’s someone else’s witch being hunted. —  Walter Kirn, American novelist It takes a pandemic like Covid-19 to realise that Malaysia is a country divided! While the stay-at-home policy has been implemented to preserve lives, a year of separation and social distancing

Untold stories of Sarawak’s brave Bidayuh

Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed. —  Bob Riley, aboriginal activist I’m surprised that Sarawak, with its rich culture, has not been able to honour the Bidayuh in our history books. As early as 1837, Skrang Sea Dayak