Son of well-known DO Bruen tracing his father’s footsteps
KUCHING: The son of former state district officer Desmond Bruen recently flew in from England on his dream trip to the state to visit his place of birth, Kuching.
According to a press statement, the son, Shane Bruen, who was born at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) in 1947, was accompanied by his wife and he armed himself with his tablet filled with old Kuching photos.
He took the opportunity to visit various attractions in the city including the hospital where he was born and Jalan Bukit Hantu where he and his parents stayed in the quarters known as ‘Sheepstor’.
His father served during the colonial administration from 1946 to 1965 as district officer in various districts including Kanowit, Kuching, Lundu and Simanggang (now Sri Aman).
During the Azahari rebellion in Brunei and Limbang, Bruen was actively implementing security measures in Kanowit and that led him to be chief executive officer in the security set-up of ‘Operation Hammer’ through the establishment of the Controlled Area (new villages) at Siburan, Beratok and Tapah. Those areas were set up to resettle or regroup the majority of Chinese farmers for their security and to defray any support to the communist insurgents operating in the surrounding jungle.
It was also in Kanowit that Bruen helped in drawing up the constitution for the birth of the third division’s first political party - the Party Pesaka Anak Sarawak (Pesaka) led by the late Penghulu Francis Umpau, Thomas Kana and Councillor Bujang and his group when Bruen was the district officer in 1962/1963.
He was well known as a district officer riding the only Vespa scooter in Kanowit with no plate because he said there was no tarred road there.
He was an approachable administrator mixing around and drinking with all races and who spoke Iban too.
In view of his lifestyle, he was well liked by many of his local officers who still hold fond memories of him.
During Shane’s trip here, he and his wife met up with retired state administrative officers namely John Jee, Michael Sim Kian Hui and Lim Kian Hock who served under his father.
The experiences of the good old days came alive through their cups of tea as Shane happily sees how the city and the state have changed.
He also visited the former Controlled Areas of Siburan, Beratok, Tapah, Serian and Sri Aman/Batang Ai tracing the footsteps of his father.
He expressed his happiness over the state’s continued reputation for friendliness and warm hospitality.
He plans to visit the state again, this time with his brother, soon.