Ten Sarawak figures who died in 2023

KUCHING: So far this year, Sarawak bade farewell to ten important figures, each holding a distinct place in the state’s narrative and community.

Those departed included leaders, national heroes and politicians, known for their dedication and service to their respective fields.

Bong Kee Chok

Bong, recognised as the communist leader who signed the 1973 Sri Aman Declaration, a peace treaty, passed away on Feb 6 at the age of 91.

Survived by four children, he lost his wife in 2019.

Known for his past role as the former director and political commissar of the now defunct North Kalimantan People’s Army (Paraku) and Sarawak Communist Organisation, he died peacefully in his sleep.

Having engaged with the communist movement since his secondary schooling days in the 1950s, his clandestine activities spanned about two decades until the party’s decline in the 1970s.

Bong signed the historic peace treaty with then Chief Minister Tun Abdul Rahman Yakub at the Sri Aman Rest House on Oct 21, 1973.

This symbolised the end of the communist insurgency in the state at that time.

After laying down his arms, Bong ventured into rubber tapping, engaged in hawking, sold insurance, and later ventured into pig-rearing as a business.

Datuk Robert Lian Balangalibun

The late Robert Lian

Robert, the former Sarawak Immigration director, passed away on April 2 at the age of 67.

Originating from Bario, he had a distinguished career, serving as the state Immigration director for a commendable 18-year period, and then retired on July 20, 2015.

His significant contributions included spearheading the establishment of eight crucial Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) centres.

These CIQ centres were the Brunei CIQ, Meropok CIQ (Lawas), Mengkalap (Trusan), Bandar Ruang (Limbang), Tedugang (Limbang), Sg Tujuh (Miri), Lubok Antu, Biawak, and Tanjung Manis.

Jamilah Shukri

Nancy and her late sister, Jamilah.

Hajah Hairuni @ Jamilah Shukri, the elder sister of Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, breathed her last on June 16.

She was 70 years old at the time of her passing.

Jamilah had played a significant role as the deputy president of the Malaysia Homestay and Kampungstay Association. She notably served as the coordinator for Kampung Santubong Homestay (KSH), contributing greatly to the local tourism sector.

Her dedicated efforts and leadership in KSH resulted in remarkable achievements.

Recognising the exceptional success of KSH, the organisation was honoured with the esteemed Outstanding Entrepreneur Award for Clustered Homestays at the national-level ‘One District One Industry’ (SDSI) showcase in 2016.

Major (Quartermaster) Michael Riman Bugat

Michael, a national hero, who dedicated 31 years of service to the Malaysian Army, passed away on Aug 7.

He served in the army from January 22, 1973 until his retirement on March 8, 2004.

At the age of 71, he succumbed to a prolonged battle with kidney disease that he had been fighting for several years.

During his tenure, the last unit he served in was the 511 regiment (Territorial Army), where he was the quartermaster.

In June 1, 1979, Michael exhibited bravery by confronting communist terrorists alongside a combat intelligence platoon led by the late Datuk Kanang Langkau.

In recognition of his service, he received the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) medallion.

Jelaing Mersat

Jelaing Mersat, a former two-term Saratok MP, passed away on Sept 1 at the age of 75.

He was first elected as the Saratok MP in 2004, and subsequently re-elected in 2008. He contested under the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) banner, representing Barisan Nasional.

Following his successful re-election, he assumed the roles of Deputy Minister across various portfolios including Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Minister of Transport during his tenure.

Before venturing into politics, Jelaing had a career in education. He first served as a teacher and later as a school principal at various secondary schools within the state.

Datuk Seri Ambrose Blikau Enturan

The late Ambrose Blikau Enturan

Blikau, the former Katibas assemblyman, passed away on Sept 9 at the age of 70, following complications from a lung infection.

Survived by his wife, Datin Sri Marie Therese Mathias, two sons, one daughter, and eight grandchildren, Blikau dedicated nearly four decades of his life in the political career before retiring from active politics in 2021.

He first clinched the seat in 1979 when the constituency was carved out of Song. Despite a brief setback in 1987 after losing his seat to Felix Bantin Jibom from Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), he returned triumphantly in 1991 and continued to hold the seat.

He also advocated for the establishment of the Song fire station, rural health clinic, SMK Song 2, Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), and the implementation of solar power under the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES) for longhouses.

Blikau was previously appointed as the executive director of Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd from 1987 to 2000 and in 2014.

In addition to his contributions at the corporate level, he held prominent ministerial roles as Assistant Minister of Resource Planning, Assistant Minister of Finance, and Assistant Minister of Rural Development and Public Utilities.

Datuk Talib Zulpilip

The late Talib Zulpilip

Talip, the former Jepak assemblyman passed away on Sept 15 at the age of 72.

Born on Sept 13, 1951, Talib secured his initial election as Jepak assemblyman in 1996.

The constituency, established during the 1996 redistribution, is entrusted with returning a single representative to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) through a majority voting system.

He also served as the Minister (Integrity and Ombudsman) in the Chief Minister’s Office since 2017, and was an esteemed member of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

Additionally, he had previously undertaken responsibilities as the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Development and the Assistant Minister for Urbanisation.

Talib’s legacy in the Jepak constituency spanned five consecutive terms, beginning in 1996 and persisting until his recent passing.

He left behind his wife, Datin Dr Zaliha Abdullah, four children, and four grandchildren.

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd Nor

Bujang, a former Sarawak State Secretary, passed away on Oct 10 at the age of 88.

Born on Aug 8, 1935 and raised in Kampung No. 5, Sungai Lajim, he left behind his wife Datuk Seri Dayang Lela Abang Zawawi and two sons and four daughters.

His educational journey began at St Joseph before furthering his studies at the University of Malaya in 1949, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with honours.

In his career, he served as the Lawas District Officer in 1962 and was appointed as a First Class Magistrate in Lawas in 1965, holding the position of Chief Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources until 1965.

He was appointed as acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry three times replacing a British Expatriate Officer at that time.

In 1965, he served as Sarikei and Bintangor District Officer until he was sent for a course in The Hague, Netherlands under the Colombo Plan Fellowship Award in the field of National Development.

Bujang Nor was then appointed to hold the position of Sarawak State Deputy Financial Secretary upon his return from the Netherlands in 1967 before assuming the position of Sarawak State Financial Secretary from 1971 to 1984.

He was subsequently appointed as the fourth State Secretary in 1984 until 1992.

Datuk Lihan Jok

Lihan, a former two-term Telang Usan, passed away on Nov 16 due to kidney complications.

At the age of 66, he left behind his wife, Datin Freda Mujan Jok and four children.

Lihan, a Kayan from Long Bedian, Ulu Sungai Apoh in Baram, served the Telang Usan state constituency from 2001 to 2011 before he was succeeded by current Telang Usan assemblyman Datuk Dennis Ngau.

In 2011, he was elected by the Sarawak State Assembly as a senator before being re-elected in 2014 for a second term.

In addition to that, he also sat on the board of trustees of the Dayak Cultural Foundation.

Tan Sri Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha

Abang Abu Bakar, a former minister in the Prime Minister Department, passed away on Dec 4 at the age of 82.

In the first cabinet of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he held the positions of Deputy Minister of Defence and subsequently Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 1990 to 1999, before serving as the Minister of Defence from 1999 to 2003.

The son of the late Datuk Bandar Mustapha also held the role as the deputy president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) from 1988 to 1998.

Abang Abu Bakar was also an assemblyman for Kuching West then from 1973 to 1981 and also represented Satok constituency from 1979 to 1981.

He was a Member of Parliament for Paloh from 1981 to 1990 and later Kuala Rajang from 1990 to 2000.

Abang Abu Bakar left behind his wife, Puan Sri Tunku Maziah Tunku Mustapha, a daughter and two twin boys.

The passing of these 10 figures were a great loss to Sarawak. May their souls rest in eternal peace…