Reflections, and the way ahead

I AM sure that many of you have all heard that evergreen song ‘My Way’ a great many times – you might even have sung it yourself at home, in the shower, or at a karaoke session.

What you may not know is that Paul Anka wrote the song especially for Frank Sinatra after he had heard the latter announcing his retirement from public life as a recording and performing artist.

There is a nice background story to this.

In the mid-1960s, while on vacation in France, Anka heard the popular song ‘Comme D’habitude’ (As Usual) by Claude Francois, and he loved the melody but was unsure what to do with it initially.

In the late 1960s, Sinatra announced his retirement after doing one final album; Anka put the melody of the French song to lyrics and delivered it to him to be recorded.

Sinatra recorded ‘My Way’ in one take, and it became his signature song, spending a record-breaking 75 weeks in the UK Top 40, revitalising his career and making him put off retirement for another 10 years!

The lesson from this anecdote is that all it takes is one small momentous event in one’s life to change it forever.

This past year has been a rather momentous one for me as I have reached a stage in my life when I should be chilling out, lazing around, reading books, listening to music, watching online movies, and enjoying my cheese and wine.

Not that I am not already doing all that, of course – and yes, I am happily pottering around on social media nowadays, doing voluntary work, as well as updating a few forums and groups, as well as my own personal account!

In this week’s column, I would like to make some personal observations on what I would consider to be the present ‘state of the federation’.

Insofar as Sarawak is concerned, we are doing splendidly.

The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has been performing as well as to be expected in all the ways to further develop the state, enhance the livelihood of its citizens and render reasonably efficient services in all the various sectors to the different strata of society.

The era of modernisation, especially in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), and the uplifting of living standards and the care for the poor, the needy and the handicapped continue to be pursued in earnest and with sincerity.

Progress is being made with elevating the immediate and future needs in terms of revamping the public transport system, the care for the ageing and the aged, the healthcare of all including those in the remote less reachable areas, and the economic and social welfare of its citizens.

Despite all these, there will continue to be shortfalls, gaps and shortcomings in certain areas and with certain segments of the populace – all of which will no doubt be continued to be the ‘spotlight on’ and ‘complaints of’ emanating from the opposition forces in the political arena.

In my opinion, we are now seeing a more level-playing field than before.

It is also a relief and a big change of the influence of political presence from the federal level.

Has anyone noticed that there are actually a lot fewer visits nowadays by federal ministers from the various portfolios?

Maybe it’s also because there are now many more ‘federal ministers’ who are actually from Sarawak and Sabah.

I think many from across the pond have also noticed, probably for the first time, that both Sarawak and Sabah may have lagged behind in physical development such as roads, bridges and transportation; but we are way ahead in terms of racial harmony, unity and diversity and richness in natural resources.

In so many other ways, we are actually more progressive and modern in our outlook and livelihood.

Not surprisingly in the past couple of years I have met folks from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and even Singapore who have told me that they would love to ‘relocate and retire in Sarawak’.

Their reasons? We are multi-racial, peaceful and harmonious; there’s also plenty of good food, nice places to stay or visit; and our folks are very amiable and friendly people.

Yes, they all like the slower pace of living, the smaller, quieter and more quaint towns and villages, and they always feel safe and secure, without any racial undertones or tensions anywhere.

To conclude, I would like to just mention my own personal change of pace, which in retrospect was not actually intentional, but more fortuitous.

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 had virtually killed off my other career in film production services as that business sector simply fell off the cliff when international film companies stopped coming over to Borneo.

By the time it had recovered three years down the road, many newbies had taken over and most of the previous pioneers had left.

Sometime in June 2018, Madam Phyllis Wong of The Borneo Post had approached and invited me to start writing a weekly column for the newspaper.

I had agreed, and ‘Just Another Point of View’ debuted on July 7, 2018.

Seven years later, this is my 383rd column.

This opportunity had kept me going, transitioning back to my days as a reporter/journalist, when I was barely 20 for the now-defunct ‘The Vanguard’, for my mentor Desmond Leong.

I had also briefly had an online column for Rajah Murugaiah’s ‘The Ant Daily’ in the mid-2010s.

I am grateful for this chance to be able to put my thoughts and opinions into my writing, and to share whatever ‘anecdotes and personal stories’ from my past, and from what experience has continued to teach and impart to me.

I would like to wish you all a most blessed New Year 2026 ahead!