“The last of the Mohicans.”

Dear Reader,

This morning a group of us visited the residence of the late Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min to pay our last respects to a great statesman. I was touched to see Datuk Amar’s favourite hat placed atop his casket.


YB Baru Bian, N70 Ba’ Kelalan, signing the register.

Until Sunday, Datuk Amar was the last man living who was a signatory to the formation of our nation Malaysia. He was a founding father of our nation. Let us NEVER forget that. He was, as Datuk Michael Bong (Datuk Amar’s brother-in-law) put it, “the last of the Mohicans.”

I was also touched when Datuk Michael Bong mentioned that my late grandfather, Ivory Kedit Ipa, was one of the founders of SNAP. He is correct. SNAP was founded and constituted in granddad’s home in Lintang Park all those years ago. It was my father, Albert Rumpang Kedit, who carried the newly written constitution of SNAP from Seria (Brunei) to Kuching for the protem committee to endorse. So yes, my family has a long history in SNAP.

But my grandfather would not have approved of how the current leadership of SNAP has allowed a once glorious party to become the sham that it is today. Such pity. Perhaps I should join SNAP and resurrect the ideals that granddad and his fellow founders subscribed to?

And then at lunch I read in the Borneo Post a comment (click HERE to read) by that fellow Mr. Mawan, who never ceases to amaze me with his churning out of insensitive statements. He said, “There is a possibility that the state’s first deputy chief minister would be given a posthumous award. He may no longer be around but recognition may possibly be granted.” Twice, Mr. Mawan qualifies himself. Twice!

Firstly, why wait until the man is gone to honour him? Honours are best bestowed when the person being honoured can receive and enjoy the honour himself, not posthumously when he is gone. All this while, was the government blind to his achievements? Did it take for him to pass away before the government finally recognises that within their midst was a mountain of a man?

Secondly, why qualify yourself, Mr. Mawan? Using words like ‘possibility’ and ‘possibly’ only goes to show that you are not certain of what you are saying. Is it because you need to get permission from your boss first? Half-hearted protestations of honour should not be uttered in the presence of the deceased, Mr. Mawan. It is just not polite. Worse, it only reveals your unquestioning obeisance to your boss.

The late Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min deserves nothing less than a Tun-ship, like his compatriot Tun Jugah, also a founding father of this nation. But I doubt it will come to pass. Prove me wrong, Mr. Mawan.