Little Iban Warrior

Little Iban Warrior Launching

This is actually a backpost of the previous launching of the Little Iban Warrior book. I had wanted to read the book before I want to place some information about it in my blog. I am not going to write a review of the 140 pages of Lt. Colonel (Rtd) Linus Lunsong Janti's recollection of life from a small Iban kid right up to his life in the Army. There's a brief summary of it at the Renjervalour website. Instead I urge everyone to purchase a copy of his book where he shares his life story as a soldier. I dare say we do not get too many authors from those who are in this profession. Lt. Colonel (Rtd) Linus shares the joy and sadness (or bitterness) of life in the military and also described of his special relationship with the present Sultan of Johor (Our former King). He dedicated 20 good years of his life to being a soldier - and some of those were dangerous years because if the enemies do not get you at that time, other elements such as the Commando training he underwent will.

The launching of the book "Little Iban Warrior" was held at the Merdeka Palace on 24th August 2007. The book was put in this impressive Ice sculpture.

David was the ever humorous emcee for the evening - and though he said he was a last minute replacement and was not prepared, he is a natural at the job after "a few glasses"

The environment at the launching hall was quite 'traditional' with the statue of an Iban Warrior holding a shield and sword. With so much food and free flowing beer, I could have written about those too but I do not want to lose focus. There were other distractions as the hall was full of friends and colleagues - and two pretty Iban Maidens in traditional wear.

Y.B Encik Alexander Nanta Linggi, Member of Parliament for Kapit officiated the launch event. The YB had informed the audience on the need to give continuous support to our servicemen, those who are still on the tour of duty and those who have already retired emphasising there is a need to look after their welfare and of their family.

And finally the launching with the presence of the VVIPs like YB Dr. Stephen Rundi, Temenggong James Jimbun, Datuk Celestine Ujang in the background

The special copy for the Yang Berhormat

Instant Fans: Mr. Andrew Tukau Salang (Sector Head for Environment & Natural Resource of the State Planning Unit), with Mr. Alexander Anthony Banyan (Assistant Director for the Foreign Assistance & Technical Aid of the State Planning Unit)

VIP Fan: During the launch there were a few moments of sharing by Lt. Colonel (Rtd) Linus and also his buddy in the army Lt Colonel (Rtd) Fathol Zaman Bukhari (in stripes) who came all the way to Kuching Sarawak for the launch. There was a moment during the speech when the Little Iban Warrior was moved by the memories in the army that he had to stop in between tears. In the picture above, you can see Mr. Rentap Jabu getting the signatures of our two warriors.

Earlier on the distribution of the book was meant to be amongst firends and relatives, sold by word of mouth. However due to its demand and popularity I adviced Lt. Colonel (Rtd) Linus to make use of established distributors. Some overeseas queries was quite hard to meet as the extra cost of postage differs from one country to the next. Thus this book is available for purchase via the Ruaikitai website as the Pegari Magazine group has agreed to assist. If you have any further queries about the book you may also call or SMS him directly at 019-8272505.


Now talk about the distractions just now - no warrior's tales is complete without the presence of Iban maidens in full traditional wear. So I got their autographs and particulars too :)...finders keepers :)

Comments

How can I get my hands on that book?
I will send you a book written by my uncle. I pre bought 20 copies.

Send me your home add to my cellphone !
Chris Anakapai said…
Ooooo...
baka ni ka ngulih ka bup nya?
in my last 2 weeks of teaching practice. so far, okay...
nda sabar ka pulai sarawak...
cyrildason said…
hmm.. I was looking for the Iban maidens which you mentioned..

seems like you save the best for last...heheh
Chris Anakapai said…
Thanks for reserving one for me. :)
Hehehe... yeah, i'll make sure the students be nice to my 'baby'. :)
mr daddi said…
Is book on "Little Iban Maiden" going to be published as well?
Sekeda ari tibak jerita Colonel Linus dalam jaku Iban. Bup tu ulih dibeli online ba www.ruaikitai.com, Rega RM30.00 nyengkaum kos ngepos. Beli di opis PIP, Bintulu, RM25.00. Rega tu nadai ditiki laban dikena nulung Colonel Linus.

Kenyau ari terubah bekelala enggau Raja Muda Johor dalam taun 1978 suba, tiap kali aku ngindik kaki di Johor, aku tetap madah ke iya. Iya enda kala enda ngambi lalu nganjung aku enti iya bisi dia………………. Nyau langgang berapa taun udah nya, iya pan lalu dichiri nyadi Sultan Johor, pengudah pemarai apai iya Sultan Ibrahim.

Bisi sekali, pengudah berandau lemai di Istana, iya nganjung aku pulai ngagai Kem Majidee. Datai ba pintu masuk ngagai kem, dia kami duai meda pintu pagar masuk kem nya ditutup. Nemu ‘guard’ ke jaga pintu nya benung tinduk. Di‘horn’ iya kerita, enda ga guard nya dani. Meda baka nya, Tuanku pansut ari kerita lalu bejalai ngelawa guard, lalu digerak iya. Peda aku guard nya nyau puchat kelat, panik.
Tuanku lalu bejaku, “Guard, minta maaf kawan, mengganggu awak tidur. Ini Raja Muda Johor, mau masuk ke dalam menghantar …… ke Officers Mess. Tolong buka gate,” ku iya bejaku enggau lembut bendar.
Aku ingat mega sekali, pengudah ke alah main golf ba Kelab Golf Angkatan Tentera, aku ngemasahka rekung ba bar kelab nya begulai enggau dua iku kaban. Udah nya Kaptain bar lalu nyempil ngagai aku, ngasuh aku nganjung kantung golf ngagai Agong ba Istana pukul enam lemai nya laban kaptain nya nemu aku bekaban enggau Agong. Meda pia, aku lalu berumban mandi enggai ke jam suntuk. Laban aku nadai transport, kaban aku Manjit nganjung aku ke Istana.
Chun pukul 6, kerita kami duai pan nuntung ba Istana Johor. Peda aku ba palan engkah kerita mayuh amat orang begari manah dia laban lemai nya bisi Ex-Service Dinner . Tak kami duai Manjit aja ke bebaju pandak lengan, lalu berasai malu mega.
Dipandakka jerita, lebuh Tuanku ngelawa aku, “……., nama pengawa dek lemai tu …….?” pia ku iya iya nanya aku.
“Enn..nadadaiii ah, tak baru udah main golf aku tu tadi, nyau deka mulai ke diri ke rumah ga aku tu.” Pia ku tudah aku ga nyaut, gegetar asai laban ke enda nemu kebuah iya ti nanya munyi nya.
“Apo…” ku Tuanku, “enti pia aram enggau aku party!” Udah nya lalu nyambung, “nganti aku ditu dek, aku begari dulu!” Aku nyau enggai nyadi bejaku. Ka madah enggai, enggai ga nyadi. Madah deka, berunding ga aku dalam ati, kati deka nurun dinner enti bebaju pandak lengan? Meda baka nya, kaban aku Manjit lalu mupuk, ninggalka aku dia.
Enda lama udah nya Agong pan pansut, bebaju setail Hawaii. “Tuanku,” ku iya ngangauka bini iya Permaisuri Agong, “aku ka mai anak Iban tu party. Ngena baju tu mih aku, awakka sebaka enggau enggi …… nya. Enda nyamai ga iya enti iya kediri bebaju pandak lengan dipeda orang din legi.” Tak naka-naka mih asai ati aku din. Iran ati, kati tau tak deka mai aku ke begari enda menuku? Udah nya, sanggup ga iya bebaju Hawaii, ketegal ti enggai ngelakka aku kediri aja bebaju pandak lengan!!!
Pengudah nya kami duai lalu nuju Istana Besar. Aku duduk ba mua. Datai ba Istana Besar, kami duai lalu nuju ‘banquet hall’. Dia peda aku bala Jeneral enggau bala VVIP bebaris nganti penatai lalu meri basa ngagai iya. Aku pan ‘numpang sekaki’ ga laban kami duai ke bejalai berimbai-rimbai. Iya mih semak mija tinggi ba mua din, aku ngelimpangka diri lalu ngiga palan kerusi ke kusung. Dia mih aku ngenduh, asai ke beli endar. Nya mih aku meda, tak semua mata mensia endang diiching ngagai aku. Nyangka dalam ati sida din, “…sapa enda mensia nya…, gari pan enda menuku?”
Tuanku mega enda tentu kiruh ke semaya jam. Iya bisi jam kediri empu. Suah bendar iya datai tauka nurun bejam-jam ngelui ari ti udah ditetapka. Pia mega, iya suah ngaga pemutus ke ngenyit, enda disadang.
Sekali, lebuh aku ngaling iya main golf di Jagorawi Golf and Country Club ba Jakarta, aku nganti iya sepagi-pagi, bisi 4 jam!! Taja pia, aku endang udah melaba lalu udah ngadang laban udah nemu bulu iya. Ukai sekali nya aja, suah ba maya ke bukai sebedau nya. Nama dih, aku nganti aja, ngirup kopi. Iya mih iya datai, “Sori, lama endar dek udah nganti aku nih?” Pia ku iya, lalu nampung, “kati udah ngirup tadi?” Baka ke enda meda aku benung nunga ai ga iya.
“Udah aku breakfast,” ku aku ga nyaut.
“Ngirup bia dek, kena ngering ke isi,” ku saut iya. jaku nya nyau udah nyadi buah jaku iya niap kali ti betemu enggau aku. Tak ai bia belama asuh iya irup aku laban iya udah nemu endar bulu aku. Baka landak, udah ditemu iya ba baga.
Sekali lebuh iya nemuai ke Sarawak, aku mih diasuh iya madahka iya jam siti-siti program iya, tang nya mih tadi, iya empu ga ke ngubah jam, ngaga jam kediri. Pukul 7.30 lemai, nitihka pematut, iya ngulu Royal Banquet ba Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak di Petra Jaya. Tang, pukul 7.30 lemai nya, kami duai agi ba Sarawak Golf Club!! Suah aku nenerakan batuk seraya nilik jam lalu minta peda iya, ngicha ke iya nemu jam nya chukup endur mupuk. Tang, nama saut iya lebuh ninga terakan aku? “Kawan, fahamlah….”. kami duai datai ba dewan Undangan Negeri nyau 2 jam laun!!
Hari siti pengudah nya lebuh iya deka pulai ke Johor, meda iya laun, aku lalu nguji ga ngena taktik aku, ngicha ke iya nurun ke padang bilun Kuching nitihka jam mih, kenu ku ati aku din. Aku nerakan lalu bejaku, “Tuanku, mayuh endar bala nembiak bebaris nisi jalai nganjung pemulai nuan. Empa panas sida iya. Bedau mupuk tua?” Ku aku. Iya lalu merening aku, bejaku, “…….., berapa iku Agong ba Malaysia?”
“Siku aja mih.” Saut aku ga.
“Enti siku, lapa enda tejaga ke Agong siku pia?!” Bantah iya.
“Boleh Tuanku.” Saut aku ga, berasai nesal, nyau baka ke ngansak iya mupuk, nyau asai ke ukai bejaku enggau Agong!!!
“Pandai pun.” Saut iya. Datai ke sehari tu lalu datai ke ila-ila, aku tetap ingat ke pekara nya.

Sekali ga maya aku ke Johor, diau ba Hotel Tropical Inn. Aku lalu telefon iya. Tekala nya iya ngasuh aku datai ke Istana. aku diberi awak 5 minit, mesti datai ba Istana. Aku lalu beguai ngena teksi. Ngumba, driba teksi ngumbai aku betundi meda aku madah ka ke Istana. “Haiyaaaa…Encik boleh jalan kaki sajalah.” Saut driba teksi. Amat ga, hotel nya semak aja enggau Istana. Datai ba pintu pagar, peda aku kerita ke memanah nyau bebaris. Aku nanya guard. Iya madahka bisi ngintu hari pengada.
Aku pan lalu tama. Datai din, peda aku iya udah nganti aku ba luar hall. Aku lalu minta ampun ketegal laun lebih ari 5 minit ti udah disebut iya. Iya pan tuchum, nyangka tuchum ingatka diri ti suah agi udah ngenusah aku, nyengkaum beranti ke iya nyau datai ke bejam-jam!!
“Yim,” ku iya ngangau ke Tengku Ibrahim, “bai Iban tu ke dalam alu beri ai. Aku ka sembiang dulu.” Apu….dih apai indai…. kenu ku ati aku din. Taka naka-naka mih aku tu nyau disambut Sultan Johor baka VVIP.
Malam nya laban ti kelalu mayuh VVIP, aku nyau enda ingat sapa bagi VVIP ke diasuh iya bekelala enggau Iban siku tu. Aku mega dibai iya belaban ngirup. Baka selama, iya nemu ai aku endang ai ke bepupu. Tang iya semina ngirup kopi o ais!!

Maya iya nemuai ke Sarawak taun 1992 suba, bejurut dua malam aku enggau iya ba Crown Plaza. Kira ngalih tengah malam ba malam kedua, aku minta ‘excuse’ sekejap laban ti deka meri selamat hari pengada ngagai indai tuai aku.
Tekenyit gamal iya, bejaku, “What?! Why didn’t you tell me earlier I could prepare her a birthday cake?”
Iya lalu ngangau ke General Manager Crown Plaza, ngasuh nyediaka cake. Enda disadang, hotel nadai cake ga maya nya. Meda baka nya, iya lalu ngasuh hotel nepu choklat enggau utai bukai ba siti kutak, dibungkus. Penembu nya, ba kutak nya lalu ditulis iya, - BEST WISHES AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM SULTAN ISKANDAR OF JOHOR.

~Lieutenant-Colonel Linus Lunsong Janti~
-Asal ari Rumah Nyala, Aup, Sibu.