There is nobody like Awang

MANY senior citizens of Miri who frequented the old district office in the 1970s to the 1990s would remember the endearing and kindhearted Awang Jamalludin Awang Adom.

They would describe him as the office boy who was always helpful, ever ready to facilitate any matters and affairs that needed to be sorted out at the office.

Even after his retirement in 2005, Awang Jamalludin has remained helpful, becoming a cheerful volunteer in many social and community activities in Miri.

He has many friends who are active in non-government organisations (NGOs) like the Senior Citizens Activities Centre (PAWE) Miri, the Palliative Care Association of Miri, and Malaysian Red Crescent Miri Chapter.

‘Popular’

During his days as an office boy, Awang Jamalludin never failed to greet anyone coming to the district office.

Everyone, young and old, big and small, called him ‘Awang’ and his cheerful disposition made him a popular personality in Miri.

It was not only his friendliness and hospitality that the people liked; his attitude gave them a sense of belonging and also that genuine community engagement, which in turn gave Miri District Office a good reputation as well.

“When it comes to work, I just want to do things, even the smallest of them, with love.

“That is my philosophy,” said Awang Jamalludin, 73, when met by thesundaypost in Miri.

As a key person manning the counter under the old-established system, Awang Jamalludin was able to provide direction and first-hand information on matters pertaining to the local authority.

He would help any visitor fill out an official form; bring someone to see an administrator, the Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO), the assistant district officer (DO) or the DO himself; or in any matter under the purview of divisional head administrator, he would help arrange a meeting with the Miri Resident.

Over the years, Awang Jamalludin had gained much knowledge and understanding in public administration – having been around with the key administrators, taking charge over the movement and organisation of important files, and taking his own initiative to learn and understand the ‘General Order’ as well as other guidance manual pertaining to the civil service.

“Practically, I learned all the process and procedures in public administration, and I had helped many newly-recruited SAOs who were still ‘too fresh’ upon their entry into the system,” he said.

“Although now I am a retired civil servant, many of my old friends are still looking for me for consultation.

“They still remember what I had done for them before, especially those from the rural Sibuti, Bakong and Baram areas.”

‘Upbringing’

Awang Jamalludin is very fluent in the Iban language, but very few know that he also speaks Kedayan, as his wife Mariam Jukin, 64, is a Kedayan from Bekenu.

Moreover, he can converse in Melanau and Bintulu Vaie, and a bit of the Chinese dialects of Hakka and Hokkien.

“I make friends easily, and being multilingual makes it even easier,” he smiled.

He added: “I had been to the longhouses in Sebauh, Sabungan and Gelam in Bintulu, and Rumah Mamat in Suai before schooling age. My father, at the time, was a very sought-after boatbuilder in Bintulu, and he was always called for carpentry jobs at these longhouses.

“Whenever he went there, I would follow him.

“I witnessed many rituals and festivals, joined the communal fishing or hunting trips, and had helped out with the work at the paddy fields.

“I played with my peers, and what a naughty bunch we were!

“Over time, I adapted to longhouse life, despite me being a Muslim.”

‘Life, career journey’

Born on New Year’s Day of 1951, Awang Jamalludin first went to Orang Kaya Mohamad School in his birth-town Bintulu. He then proceeded to primary education at SK Anchi in Miri, and after that, to the now-defunct Miri Secondary School.

In 1969, after leaving school, he joined the Bintulu soil survey team under the Agriculture Department, where he spent six months with a Forest Department research team in Ulu Tatau.

In 1970, he entered the state civil service, assigned as an office boy at Miri District Office.

He was later appointed as a peon for the District Native Court in 1978.

At times, he would be tasked with managing the government resthouse at Tanjong Lobang.

He recalled that former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, back when he was the federal natural resources and environment minister (2004-2006), would always stay at the resthouse whenever he visited Miri.

Awang Jamalludin officially retired on Dec 31, 2005, but he was requested to extend his service for another year.

“I actually enjoyed my extension year, when I was mostly attached to Iban Penghulu Court or the Native Court,” he said.

He said during that one year, he often travelled with then-Native Court Magistrate Datuk William Nyallau Badak (former Lubok Antu MP) and the late Pemanca Wilson Siang whenever they conducted outstation programmes all over the state.

There is an anecdote that Awang Jamalludin always remembers this experience by.

“During meal times, I only ate rice with boiled eggs because I could not join others who were taking non-halal food.”

‘Involvement in PAWE’

In 2009, Awang Jamalludin was recruited by the late Dato Peter Siburat, a former DO who at that time was the general manager of Miri Port Authority, to become the supervisor of then-newly-completed PAWE Miri.

“At that time, Dato Peter was the president of Persatuan Harapan Miri (Hope Association of Miri), tasked with taking care of a number of individuals who were victims of industrial accidents, and the majority of them were wheelchair-bound.

“Dato was also chairman of the PAWE Miri committee. The caretaker then was one of Persatuan Harapan Miri’s own residents, the late Andrew Jenis.

“As the supervisor at the PAWE, my position was sanctioned by the Welfare Department.

“I was responsible for its administration, the upkeep of the property, organising and carrying out the daily and monthly activities, and reporting everything to a Welfare Department officer.”

Works on a new centre in Krokop were commissioned by the government on July 3, 2005, on land owned by Persatuan Harapan Miri.

“Some unmarried residents of the Persatuan Harapan Miri moved to this new building, before it turned fully into a PAWE centre after the demolition of the association’s Shell-owned property in Lutong.

“Now the Persatuan Harapan Miri folks have their own building provided by the government, sited on the former Shell Piasau Camp, within the nature reserves.”

According to Awang Jamalludin, the PAWE serves as a centre for the elderly individuals to engage in many social events and recreational activities.

“In the past, the ‘seniors’ would congregate for fellowships, meals, as well as exercise and karaoke sessions. The membership is open to those aged 55 years old and above, majority of whom are pensioners or retirees.

“I am not so sure what activities will be conducted at the centre in the future,” he said.

‘Outreach into rural areas’

During his years in the district office, Awang Jamalludin used to accompany the DO and his team to the rural areas where they carried out many programmes: inspecting projects; holding public assemblies; distributing welfare aid and, at times, disaster funds to the victims; settling land disputes; or manning the polling stations during elections.

Again, his friendliness made him popular among the rural folks – to a point that they even encouraged him to stand as a candidate in the elections.

“Many people whom I had helped many years ago are still in contact with me. Some would come to me to review some old cases, such as those on land matters, properties and even divorces.

“My memories of serving under many DOs are still vivid.

“I knew them way before some of them had received honorific titles,” he said.

‘Recognition’

On Sept 14, 1996, Awang Jamalludin received a state award, ‘Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji’ (PPT) and a year after that, he was accorded the ‘Pingat Perhidmatan Setia’ (PPS) – the first regarded as a ‘bronze medal’ honouring one’s contributions to the civil service in Sarawak, and the latter as a mark of appreciation for long service and commitment spanning at least 20 years.

“I never expected to be given such honour. Like I said before, I was just happy being able to serve the people.”

In reminiscence of his work as an office boy, Awang Jamalludin admitted that it could never be regarded as a position that came with good promotional prospects, unless that office boy could further his studies.

“I never had the opportunity to study for the MCE (Malaysian Certificate of Education, or Senior Cambridge), and neither did I get the chance to sit for the SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, which succeeded the MCE).

“But as I said before, I never regretted working as an office boy almost all throughout my adult life.

“I was happy to perform my duties and to help the people.

“Plus now, I get to volunteer and help many NGOS in Miri, which I am always willing to do whenever they approach me,” said this father of three sons, and grandfather to six children.

Awang Jamalludin is regarded by many as ‘that very precious gem, always happy to serve – a rarity among the workforce in today’s civil service’.