Recollections that ought to be read

Tan Sri Leo Moggie has written a book that not only tells his fascinating personal story, but also sheds light on Sarawak and Malaysian history.

HE is the first Iban to graduate with a university degree, the first to have an MA and then an MBA. It is always fascinating to read the story of a boy, born literally in the “wilderness”, becoming “somebody” one day. This is a book about an Iban boy who made his mark as an exemplary government officer and subsequently as politician, minister and corporate leader.

I find From Longhouse to Capital: Recollections by Tan Sri Leo Moggie fascinating. This is no ordinary book, for what the author went through is not an ordinary journey.

This book is so laden with facts and events and structured and documented so well that it is more than just about the author. It is also part history of his community, political party, state and country.

The personal story of the author intertwined with that of the nation.

Moggie’s retelling of events, especially the ones that mattered to the nation in which he was involved directly or otherwise, is superb. He was in the thick of things at two crucial ministries during their formative years – the Energy, Telecommunications and Posts Ministry and the Works Ministry.

Those were the days when the Multimedia Super Corridor was mooted, the Bakun Dam (with all its controversies) was built, the North-South and East-West Highways were constructed and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was designed and built.

But more importantly, one must look at his early years as pegawai daerah (district officer). His first posting at Kapit in February 1966 was a real eye-opener.

Back then, Sarawak had been in the Malaysian federation for hardly three years. Backwardness in all aspects of development was the feature. Although he was not serving in the district in which he was born, it was balik kampung (a homecoming) for Moggie and more so about “giving back to society”.

He was uprooted from his village early in life. But those years serving the people in other similar areas brought awareness and a sense of pride.

The juiciest part of the book though is about politics. Thirty years is a long time in politics.

I am not judging Moggie’s political adventures or his trials and tribulations in that vocation. He headed a party (Sarawak National Party or SNAP) that became part of an important political construct of his state and certainly had a bearing on the nation. I believe he is a man of integrity and places good governance above all else in politics.

In Sarawak’s rural areas, as pointed out by the author, good educational facilities and basic infrastructure such as roads, potable water supply and electricity, are still important.

In most cases, pembangunan (development) as we understand it, is taken for granted. There are those who want to move beyond politik pembangunan (development politics) but in Sarawak it still matters.

Moggie gives credit where credit is due. He is thankful even to the longboat drivers who took him places in Kapit – the likes of Balang, Hassan and Said.

These unsung heroes were merely names in the registry of government servants. But to Moggie, “people like them were indispensable to the functioning administration of

Moggie provides names in this book. He criticises. He is frank and never minces words. He doesn’t shy away from criticising policies that he feels are not beneficial to the people.

rural Sarawak in the 1960s”.

He provides names in this book. He criticises. He is frank and never minces words. He doesn’t shy away from criticising policies that he feels are not beneficial to the people.

He is critical about the state of racial relations in the country. He is concerned about the ugly head of religious extremism that is surfacing. He has reasons to worry about the current divisiveness in Malaysian society. Thus, he is fond of his schooldays back at Batu Lintang. There was no “us” and “them” back then; they were all students of different races.

Moggie has woven a narrative worthy of attention. He understands that in an era of divisive politics and political correctness, telling the truth isn’t easy because even the most harmless of statements can easily be misconstrued. He is not seeking controversy here. But telling things as it is, the Leo Moggie way, in such erudite recollections is a sure-fire way to win hearts and minds.

This book of frank, jubilant and kaleidoscopic recollections by a towering personality needs to be read by all Malaysians.

Johan Jaaffar was a journalist, editor and for some years chairman of a media company, and is passionate about all things literature and the arts. The views expressed here are entirely his own.