One Religion, Many Cultures - Borneo Talk
One Religion, Many Cultures - Borneo Talk
One Religion, Many Cultures - Borneo Talk
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People<strong>Talk</strong><br />
of Laila<br />
moments of her encounters with the late<br />
Datuk Amar Dr. Hajah Laila Taib, wife of the Chief Minister of Sarawak<br />
the number and locations of trees to be planted.<br />
She was also committed towards the aesthetic<br />
values of buildings in the city; to ensure that the heritage<br />
buildings were well maintained. On women NGOs<br />
(non government organisations) she had not only<br />
been the pillar of strength for the Chief Minister but<br />
also the women NGO leaders. She gave us guidance<br />
on how NGOs could help the rest of the community.<br />
Having had casual times with Datuk Amar, I could feel<br />
her warmness and learnt a lot about how much she<br />
had to sacrifice as an expatriate joining her husband<br />
in a backward state like Sarawak in those days. Her<br />
patience paid her with a happy family. The Almighty<br />
blessed her with vast knowledge for her to generously<br />
share with us in Sarawak. The Chief Minister, Pehin Sri<br />
Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud and his beloved children are<br />
not the only ones who mourned the loss of a wonderful<br />
woman, the whole state of Sarawak and the whole<br />
nation too, had felt the great loss of a great asset.<br />
However, the Almighty loved her more than anyone<br />
else and laid her to rest in peace.<br />
The late Datuk Amar was a great inspiration to me<br />
through her undivided support towards women’s<br />
activities. Her determination to help develop women<br />
from all walks of life are visible by the uncountable<br />
things that we could see today. <strong>One</strong> of them is the<br />
setting up of the Sabati Women’s Museum. She never<br />
failed to share with us what she learned and saw<br />
from other parts of the world. It made us feel that we<br />
have been to the places that she mentioned to us.<br />
How I wished I could write more new paragraph<br />
about her in this column, but it sufficed to say that<br />
Datuk Amar had always share with us about family<br />
values; our role as mothers, as wives and as women. I<br />
can never forget her “free” motivational talks. Sitting<br />
with her was an enriching experience for me. Indeed<br />
she was a woman with a charitable heart and she will<br />
always be remembered for as long as I live, because<br />
she made me learn a lot about life, noble contributions<br />
were cherished by all, especially the women of Sarawak.<br />
May her soul be blessed by Allah the Almighty. Amin.<br />
Photos by courtesy of SABATI (Sarawak Badan Amal Tenaga Isteri-Isteri)<br />
Jul-Sept2009<strong>Borneo</strong><strong>Talk</strong> | 57
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