Not many people really know the good of sago. Some would just see it as a source to feed the chicken, duck, or pig. Not many even know, sago could be feed to dairy cattle, and that would enable the cow to produce more and good quality milk. Sago could go beyond these, it is a source of really good starch, even better then the wheat, potatoes, casavva, and maize starch.
How many of us do really knows, how sago landed in Sarawak and the Country in general. Sago is an introduced crop from the south east, the Papua or the Moluccas Island. Both claimed they are the origin of sago. But, a book, on Papua New Guinea (PNG) oral history that I read, says that,there used to be Malay and Javanese sailors trading along the Sepik River of PNG, in the 1800s ie way ahead before the arrival of the German to the region. Here is another prove that our forefathers were great explorer.
(2) Among the goods that these sailors/traders used to take home are the feathers of the bird of paradise (Cenderawasih) and sago suckers. Probably, thereon, these are the people who had introduced sago to the nusantara.
(3) Since, seven years ago, I was deeply involved in the commercial sago plantation development, and since then, till today I, had came accros these dedicated five senior citizens whom began their work as sago suckers planting group. In the initial days, since the plantation was not adopting to mecahization, they had to carry the heavy (5-7 kg/each) and torny sago suckers on their back and walked at least 100-300 meters before they could plant the suckers. Their earning was estimated about RM20-30/day. Nowaday, due to drastic system change, they easily can earn RM50-75/day. Two of the original members had passed away, while another two more jpoin the team to keep it five.
(4) They aged between 60-70 years old. All coming from Dalat, a small town in Mukah division which is well known for the sago industry. Dalat is the location for the most advance sago milling in the world.
(5) One interesting thing about this Gang of Five (sound like the gang of five of the widow of the late Chairman Mao), they hate to stay back home. Whenever I met them on my usual round to the field, I would take a bit of time to chit chat with them. In their word, when I asked why they choose to work this hard job, they said, if we stay back home, our wives will grumble, we have no money, our ears panas, and our heart don't beat well. Here, we have money, we have friends, we are happy, we don't get panas,we are away from our wives (I'm wondering, their romancing life must have gone flowing into that Dalat river).
(6) They seem to be healthy ever since I met them seven years ago. I believe, working hard, keeping happy makes one healthy and fit all the time.
(7) To the Plantation, this Gang of Five is the best planters that we have. They have green hands and their planting survival rate is always above 90 percents. Thier dedication (and golden age plantation retreat) really contribute to the Sarawak vision to be the World Sago King. They are the fews among those that we one day will ow to. Let honor them while they are still around.
(8) Thanks to (left to right) Glih, Sim Sa Kiew, Sim Sa Su (Captain), Mua dan Sim Si Lai. You guys set Sarawak to be the Sago King
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6 comments:
On-the-ground, real life stories like these, reminds Us of the TRUE HEROES of Development in our rapidly growing beloved State! Well Done and Keep Up the Good Work in tickling our minds and hearts towards the Common Goal of a United and Prosperous Sarawak!!
salam
Interesting facts on sago and heart warming tale of the so called gang 5.our gratitude to them who makes the lives of others in this region better, who live to tell us that we must learn from history.Haven't encountered sago starch as a staple food.had it first served by some friends in the kampung air in Brunei.as a kid, saw my mom soaking school uniforms in starch, but that must be cassava starch...well
Papua New Guinae sounds foreign, and yet so close to us, to our forefathers who have set their foot there at Sepik River....am flying there next week...eager to find out more about PNG, sago,history and cenderawasih...a friend used to trade the feathers for RM3000 per piece...untuk pelaris, katanya....beats me
Never know about that pelaris, if not I would have bought alot at Port Moresby (POM) market. I would next time, but pelaris for what...if RM3000 per piece, I'm scared MyPocket will be laris....do visit Bougainville...I love those black power there!
(2) Our good live, are due to these lots of great small guys...the street sweepers, gabbage collectors, dirty and smelly plumbers...all sort, but we used not to appreciate their presence! Live, why is it always so?
We hope this story can be referrence and guidance to Sarawak New Generations to appreciate SAGO.
Harapan jadikan ianya kenyataan... "Raja Saguk"... semoga penyelidikan dan perladangan sagu menjadi satu ... membina sirna di setiap penemuan... membina keyakinan di setiap pengeluaran ... membina kekayaan buat membunuh kemiskinan...Menjadi sumber yang boleh diniagakan ..bukan setakat di Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang tetapi di seluruh Dunia... . Kerana kita mampu terbang....Mengapai awan... Jika benar-benar berusaha dan yakin... SAGUK...Doa'ku ianya "gemilang keemasan"...tebarkan sayapmu Bumi Kenyalang... Kerana ini satu harapan...satu impian...yang boleh dilestarikan melalui "ketidak putus asaan dan iltizam yang tinggi"...
Yo Bro... "All the Best"...
Pelaris, untuk berniaga, dan bagi andalusia juga buat pertemuan jodoh yang cepat...itu katanya. yang nyata, jualan bulu cenderawasihnya yang laris...strategi
2.i believe we live daily to pass a day of routine and forget to smell the flowers along the way....the street sweepers, gabbage collectors, dirty and smelly plumbers , etc...they are the sweet flowers.without them, i can imagine how our towns would look , let alone smell. we appreciate them no doubt, we just forget to say thanks....of course to some, they are invisible...the invisible hands....in economic terms they would fit into the Keynesian rule on the 'invisible hands' that will fix the worse of situation.
To all those that have given us the flowers along my path, i salute them with all my heart....
IDUP SAGUK SARAWAK!!!! Semoga namamu masyhur serata dunia, seharum wangianmu, seindah rasanyamu, segemilang jasamu (yg ramai Generasi Baru masih 'naive')...
Come to think of it, saguk and also the Gang of 5 both represent the 'flowers' on our path...we are taking them for granted as we pursue 'the light' at the end of our paths. Little that we realise, these are the elements that have made our path possible to walk on in the 1st place! So fellow Sarawakians, REACH FOR THE STARS BUT NEVER FORGET YOUR ROOTS.....and be thankful for little blessings everyday!
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