That's Life

Congratulations to Daniel Jubang Kanyan

"That's Life...." those words would always ring in my ears everytime I get together with my cousin Daniel. It summarises our chit chat sessions when we have to end our get togethers - unlike when we were kids - we would talk about everything and anything till we sleep. Now we have families and commitments, time is a bit limited. Its different as we grew up, each of us taking our own paths - mine leading me to join the State Civil Service while he went into the corporate world. Currently he holds several directorship as reported in the Borneo Post 12th April 2007 edition. We both agree that whatever shoes we fit in and whatever roles we play, its something that we should enjoy doing. Ah... that's Life....

Me and my cousin Daniel (lef) in our younger years, our visit to the Zoo Negara Kuala Lumpur in the 70s I had to hold his hands as he was frightened of an approaching Orang Utan not in the picture that time, (middle) in the 80s getting to know what Government means with the Parliament building in the background, (right) at present, comrades in arms serving the rakyat

When he recieved his letter of appointment as the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sarawak in early April, I welcomed the news as I believed it was his calling. Being the grandson of the late Penghulu Temenggong Koh Anak Jubang it would be an enormous task indeed - (Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke made Penghulu Koh the first Paramount Chief of all the Ibans in Sarawak as his services had been vital in bringing about the Great Peace Making in Kapit in the 1920s).

Book on the late paramount Iban Leader Temenggong Koh depicts a colourful detail on the life of this great Iban leader

Swearing in as the Right Honourable Chief Minister's Political Secretary


VIPs attending the Swearing In ceremony


Family Album: (From left) Mrs. Daniel, Mr. Daniel, Datuk Temenggong Kenneth Kanyan anak Temenggong Koh (Daniel's Dad), Councillor Tapah (Kapit District Council) and Susan Bulan Kanyan (Daniel's sister)


YB Abdul Karim (middle) chats with the four new political secretaries after the swearing in ceremony. They are (from left) Ahmad, Awangku, Daniel and John.


Video Clip of the swearing in in YouTube - Click on Play

So its timely to congratulate you now cousin! The youtube video will allow your mum, Aunty Datin and your Sister Carol to witness your swear in ceremony in Kuala Lumpur as they were not able to make it to the ceremony. Such is the power of the Internet - which I hope we will be able to share its influence and develop the access to the rural parts of Sarawak. Its not gonna be easy as bridging the Digital Divide between our rural folks and those in the urban areas has become part of my goal.

I end this blog with the lyrics of Frank Sinatra's song (remake by Westlife) which would summarise all that we have been through and what we will be going through later - Congrats and welcome to the team.

THAT'S LIFE


That's life (that's life), that's what all the people say
You're ridin' high in April, shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said that's life (that's life), and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks stompin' on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin' around

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life), I tell you I can't deny it
I thought of quitting, baby, but my heart just ain't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird and then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing
Each time I find myself layin' flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life), that's life and I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cuttin' out but my heart won't buy it
But if there's nothin' shakin' come this here July
I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball a-and die

Comments

Robinson Unau said…
A new beginning,a new journey for Daniel aka Bujang Regas..:)
All the best.
Apai Salleh said…
Interesting Des. Look forward to reading your book when you retire......hehehehe

I am sure I'll be around then, in the background somewhere.
Anonymous said…
Excellent!!
benjaminujang said…
woo..manah amai nyak..
sigi nyukung 200% aku..
dini ka meli bup nyak??
n i'm proud of our ancestors..!!
Chuck said…
Congratulations old friend. Glad to see that you are doing well and may the future bring even greater success. Best wishes to your family. From a good friend from your London days.
Petara Sebayan said…
thats a good posting u got there
not so many iban people could write something like that