Batu Lintang Government Quarters

On 9th January 2012 afternoon, I came to Batu Lintang Government Quarters Area to have a last look at this once my 'home land'.  From age 5 to 17 I lived here with my family members for 10 years on and off. My late father was a government clerk. We once occupied Quarter No: 66, Quarter No: 117 and Flat PEKAKA




All the wooden government quarters has been demolished including several concretes flat quarters. Only 2 vacant flats remain but will not be too long. 


I walked up to one of the remaining flat. To the top floor (3rd floor) where I could get the best whole area view.  What I saw is a flat piece of land with all the wooden quarters gone. 


I read about the Government allocated this piece of land for commercial development.




2005 was the last time I came  to this area where I once lived.



I had no idea at that time that this 32 acres of Quarters Area already taken over by a private company for commercial development.
 
Only after I left Kuching, I learned from the Web that all the houses would be soon demolished for a commercial mall.


I thought the Government will rebuild all the quarters with new concrete quarters maintaining the same tranquil spacey atmosphere.


If I knew earlier then in 2005, I would have taken a more detail series of  photographs for remembrance.


When I came back again in 2012. it’s too late.


http://violetyong.blogspot.com/2008/05/direct-alienation-of-state-lands-to.html

Batu Lintang Forum : http://forum.catscity.com.my/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2597


Demolishment of Batu Lintang Junior Staff Quarters http://mydifferentperspectives.blogspot.com/2009/11/batu-lintang-junior-staff-quarters.html




Traditional government housing and nice fields in Batu Lintang, due to be developed by Naim Cendera http://www.ehornbill.com/ehcms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4467:2011-11-14-02-43-16&catid=70:2010-01-19-16-20-13&Itemid=93




By 2011 the demolition of the old government quarters are done and  waiting for a mega project to be commence.


The once tranquil living area will replaced by a  Hypermall, Hotel, Condominium & Luxury Office Tower building.

VOON LEE SHAN : 

Bing the Member for Batu Lintang I wish to inform this august House that members of the public were very worried if that big piece of land which is probably about 50-60 acres along the Batu Lintang Road in Kuching between BOMBA and Batu Lintang Open Air Market be alienated to private companies. This piece of land is within the Batu Lintang Constituency. If this piece of land had been alienated to private companies, this will be a serious injustice to the people of Batu Lintang as the constituency in the near future needs land for government clinics, football fields and lands for other sports facilities and other public facilities. At this moment Batu Lintang Constituency has no government clinics, no public library and also lacked public parking spaces.

http://voonleeshan.blogspot.com/2007/12/dewan-undangan-negeri-speech-delivered.html

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After the houses demolished and the land left vacant from human for several years, this low laying area became a refuge sanctuary of birds from the surrounding area such as green road and rock road.

From Batu Lintang to 3rd miles, in the 1960s and 1970s was still swam forest area. There was a small river across rock road about a mile before 3rd miles. I went fishing there by bicycle several times. Many big fresh water fish there.  Any I saw several species wild birds in the bushes (many more I could not see).  Today that swam forest is a concrete jungle of high building (where Timber Land Medical Center located today).  Where is the river with tea color stream water now?  Where are the fishes now?  And where have the birds gone?

Opposite Batu Lintang where Green Road is once was swam forest till 1990.  Aunty Wong Nyuk Lan’s house was beside Green Road and 5 minutes walk from Batu Lintang.  I lived in her wooden house for a year in 1961 and study primary 1 in ST Paul Primary School just 5 minutes walk from her house.  Days were tranquil and quite with little cars or no industrial noise like we have today such as from air-conditioning and electrical appliance.  In those tranquil and peaceful days the atmosphere were filled with singing from wild birds.

“G…..Soci……G……Socii….” were the tunes I hear almost every clear sunny day. It is a species of high flying bird which I never have a change to see or spot in my whole life. What regret. But these birds sang loud and clear each day hiding in the bushy tall trees.

Where have the “G…..Soci……G……Socii….” and all other birds of those year’s Green Road gone?

They might have found refuge in Batu Lintang………. Where else these refugees could go?


In late 2011, Batu Lintang caught the attention of bird lovers from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). Interesting and uncommon birds included the Java Sparrow, Long-tailed Shrike and various Egret species they found.

January 19, 2014  Vincent Wong posted on BorneoPost online "Birds at Batu Lintang" was such an exciting and touching account of the birds went missing after human destroyed they heritage in Green Road and Rock Road where I knew where they came from.

Birds at Batu Lintang by Vincent Wong. Posted on January 19, 2014, Sunday Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/01/19/birds-at-batu-lintang/#ixzz37EJFCUrF ****Summarized***** AT the junction of Jalan Batu Lintang and Rock Road in Kuching, many government quarters once stood on a patch of low-lying land. The houses and two flats have been demolished. In late 2011, this area caught the attention of bird lovers from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). The interesting and uncommon birds that we found included the Java Sparrow, Long-tailed Shrike and various Egret species. Then, some loyal birders kept an eye on that piece of vacant land and soon discovered more. By early 2013, Buff-banded Rail, White-browed Crake and Ruddy-breasted Crake were added to the list of sightings. In May, 2013 the list also included the Slaty-breasted Rail and Bluebreasted Quail; this was on top of the more common birds that we get such as Cinnamon Bittern, Little Heron, three Egret species , a few raptors, Common Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Doves, Zebra Doves, Plaintive Cuckoo, Asian Koel, two species of Malkoha, a few swift species, two species of Kingfisher, Banded Woodpecker, three species of Munia, two species of Myna, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Bulbuls, Tailorbirds, Babbler, Prinia and the list goes on. Then in July, 2013, bird lovers were startled by the arrival of office containers on the patch where the most Blue-breasted Quails were found. The landowner had decided to develop the land and our focus immediately turn to the quail. Quail are very cute yet because of their short eyesight and small wings, they normally only travel short distances. This would make them the most vulnerable because houses, shopping lots or parking lots occupy all the surrounding areas. We had to do something to save them. Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), being the guardian and protector of all wildlife in Sarawak, was contacted. After some consultation with the contractors, the office containers were moved out. Together with SFC, plans were drawn up to relocate the quail primarily and other birds where possible. On Sept 6, 2013 more than 20 SFC staff members together with 12 bird lovers, including volunteers from MNS, set out at 7.30am to catch and relocate the quail. ................ All birds caught were identified, measured, ringed and put into special pouches. By 4pm, we had caught one Buff-banded Rail, one Slaty-breasted Rail, three White-breasted Waterhens, six White-browed Crakes and 16 (12 males and four females) Blue-breasted Quails. All the birds were taken to Samajaya Nature Reserve and released immediately. The habitat at Samajaya Nature Reserve is very similar to the one at Batu Lintang and this time they will be free to roam in peace under the protection of the park rangers. We left Samajaya Nature Reserve with a sense of accomplishment.......... Read full report : http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/01/19/birds-at-batu-lintang/#ixzz37ENipI3T

The Rock and A Hero

7 January 2012


I came to The Rock. Yes, I drop in to visit The Rock while on the way to Kenyalang Park. It was 2005 when I last came here.


In these 6 years The Rock remain save and secure while the near by areas gone through changes in the name of development.


While on The Rock I notice opposite the road was a row of flowers neatly placed along the cement block on drainage way. Flower for the dead. Some sort of accident must have happened here recently.


And true enough, that afternoon in friend's house in BDC, they talked about a recent flash flood that sweep away 2 young life. The body were still unfound.


The incident was a heroic story..........................








5th  January 2012 Thursday 7:00 AM, SMK Batu Lintang student Kho, 19, and petrol station employee Herman, 28, were swept away by swift-flowing water in a monsoon drain.


That morning, sections of Kuching City were inundated by flash floods.


The Upper Form 6 girl was walking to a bus stop at Jalan Rock after her car stalled in the flood when she slipped and fell into the swollen drain.


Herman jumped into the drain together with an off duty fireman to rescue Kho. Herman is a non-swimmer, and was swept away with the girl.


An extensive search involving the Fire and Rescue Services Department, police and Civil Defense Department with rescuers utilizing boats and jet skis to scour the length of Sungai Maong and its tributaries in the hope of locating the missing pair.

Herman Sihas: Remembering a Sarawakian hero : http://parochialsarawakian.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/herman-sihas-remembering-a-sarawakian-hero/




Below 2 photos from : http://miritodaynews.blogspot.com/

On 05 Jan 2012 early morning,  Kho Yong Qi uses the short cut from SMK Batu Lintang to Rock Road where the car stuck in a flash flood from a massive down pour of rain.  

She abandoned the car that was stuck in flood  (see photo above ) and walked  in flooded water over to a bus station  100 meters from Shell station to wait for her mother to pick he up. 

At this time the road surface at Shell Station was also flooded.  The high level of water makes it hard to differentiate between solid road and water drain. (see photo below). 

Herman Sinas who work at this shell station saw Kho was struggling in the water. He jumped in to rescue.  Both disappeared in fast flowing flash flood.  Following the strong flood current, the two persons were fast flash down from the drainage drains toward Sarawak River several kilometers away.  

2 days later, Herman’s body was found 3 km away in Sungei Maong Ulu.

Kho, the school girl, remain missing.

HERMAN’S BODY FOUND 

7th January 2012 Saturday 8:35AM. Herman’s body was found 3km from where he went missing.

A search-and-rescue team from the Fire and Rescue department found Herman Sihas ( Mohd Sulaiman Abdullah) floating in Sungei Maong Ulu at 8.45am on 7th January 2012.

The location is 3km from where he was swept of together with the drowning student, Kho Ying Qi, 19, whom he tried to rescue.

The body  was spotted floating beneath a bridge at Lorong Sungai Maong Ulu. Sungei Maong is a tributary of Sarawak River

Civil Defense Department personnel sent for a post mortem at the mortuary where his family members were waiting after hearing the news.

Herman, originally from Kampung Jangkar, near Biawak in Lundu,  100km from Kuching City. He was converted into a Muslim as Mohd Sulaiman Abdullah  when he was 15 as a Form Three student in Kuala Lumpur.






Herman was buried in the afternoon  at a private  Semariang Muslim Cemetery at 2 PM with the help of neighbours of Taman Semariang Aman, where he had been staying with his sister and her family.


The State Islamic Council paid for the funeral.

Herman’s body found 3km from where he went missing : http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/08/hermans-body-found-3km-from-where-he-went-missing/

8th January 2012 I came with my brother to the spot of the  tragic incident  at Jalan Batu Lintang. We had just earlier visited Leong family, a relative living just 5 minutes walk near by.




We saw concerned members of the public has placed bouquets of flowers




Families, relatives, friends and well-wishers continue to place flowers at the spot alone the footpath in Jalan Batu Lintang.




It is now four days after the incident of flash flood that struck the city. While the body of  petrol station worker Herman Sihas (Mohd Sulaiman Abdullah) was found 4km away at Sungai Maong early Saturday, the body of Kho Ying Qi has not been found.




The well-wishers who placed flowers also offered prayers. Religious groups offering prayers for both victims. Buddhist monks prayed there as well as some Christian groups.
The public was touch by Herman’s selfless act of jumping into the drain to help even though he could not swim.




Further down is Shell Station where Herman worked. Monetary donations continue to be passed on to his family by people who were touched by his action.  Donations in envelopes were dropped off at the petrol station in Rock Road where Herman worked.  His family would later collect them.

The body of Kho Ying Qi was found on 20 Jan 2012 at river near Sejingkat Kuching after 16 days some 30km from The Rock.




Padai age 30, a snail collector,  by  chance notice a body floating near Sejingkat power station (SPC) at Kampung Goeblit close to the mouth of Sarawak River.


While Padai went out to the river around 8am with five friends to look for Tekoyong, a type of edible river snails, he saw something floating near the river that looked like a human body with texture of the skin turned yellow.


When he got near he saw a body had decomposed with school uniform of black skirt, and black stocking but no shoes.


Padai alerted a police team which soon arrived at the scene.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/1/22/sarawak/10311408&sec=sarawak

Ruhi Online Institute

31-12-2011 Saturday 

After a hard day work, when preparing to go home for a long holiday, I began to feel like missing some one a good friend.  

Tomorrow is 1-1-2012 New Year. Company shut down from 1st till 10th January for a long holiday.  

In such a light holiday mood I suddenly remember and miss www.Geocities.com

I came back to Malaysia in 1998 and became a computer technician job. This IT job gave me the opportunity to venture into the Internet world.   www.Geocities.com at this time of 1998 has become a well known site like today’s FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, and Google.  Yahoo! bought this GeoCities.com in 1999. 

In October 2009, GeoCities websites officially shut down by Yahoo!

There were 38 million user-built pages on GeoCities before it was shut down. Within these 38 millions pages were about 40 pages built by me. It’s the Ruhi Online Institute. 

RUHI ONLINE INSTITUTE

Yes! Ruhi Online Institute  was started by me.  I told no one about this except 2 people Mr. and Mrs. Leong who were invited by me to help up in developing. 

Ruhi Online Institute is a  never completed web project. Never complete because of poor “Poor Spiritual Economy” in those years.

Though never reach complete construction, these 40 pages of my Exercises on HTML writing nevertheless prepared my competency in Web site developing in later years .  

The good remarks from the readers sent to me via the pages were a solid encourage to me to pursue Web developing skills.

I missed GeoCities. This American company provided me an international platform to connect to the outside world from this little hidden town of Tawau in Borneo Island.

When Geocities shut down in 2009, so disappeared from the Internet also Ruhi Online Institute along with the rest of 38 millions web pages build by millions of users like me.

Old friends never die, they just fed out of memories. Until this afternoon I suddenly recover from fading memories that I once had a good old friend and that I kept no record to remember GeoCities.com. I want to keep some record of Ruhi Online Institute  before it fed out completely from memories.

Without having to say, the rest of the night after dinner  I spend in recovering Ruhi Online Institute.  

A good heart American with foresight has archived these 38 milliones pages before they vanish and kept in http://www.oocities.org/

There in OoCities.org I found my Ruhi again! http://www.oocities.org/ruhionline/