The first feature iban filem in cinemas this May

News Information

Date	February 17, 2010
Region	Sarawak
Source	The Borneo Post

KUCHING: History will be made in the Dayak film industry when ‘Saloi the Movie’, the first Iban feature film, makes its nationwide debut in cinemas this May.The film, adapted on the Iban folklore of a clumsy and error-prone man named Apai Saloi is set in the rural modern era but instead of focusing on Apai Saloi, the film is based on Saloi (the son) instead.

Depicting Saloi’s journey as a young man from the rural longhouse trying to make it big in the city, the film deals with hardship, cultural shocks and various migrating issues usually encountered by rural folks moving in to the big city.

In the movie, Saloi is a bright lad who tries to disassociate himself with the ridicule and stupidity usually branded towards his father. Being an outcast in the village, Saloi decides to leave the longhouse life in order to prove to the villagers that he can succeed in the big city.

Starring newcomer Julius Ejau as Saloi, the film also features Blucewalker Breday who assumes the role of ‘Apai’. Supported by another 20 to 25 extras and supporting casts, Blucewalker is the only one with previous acting experiences as his work can be seen in dramas shown in RTM television series.

Speaking at the film’s soft launch at Kuching Park Hotel on Sunday, its executive producer Benny Zach said: “The film has a romantic comedy touch to it but most importantly with a little bit of love and hilarity, it is set both featuring the city and the longhouse background,”

“Most importantly, the moral of the film is to teach the Iban community to be positive and to destroy all negative thinking on all things especially of those not to their understanding,” Benny explained.

He also said the film was shot entirely in Sibu and at Sungai Durin (for the longhouse scenes). The filming only took 15 days to wrap up and the ballpark figure was estimated to be more than RM100,000.

“The first official screening (launch) of the film will be in Bintulu on March 23. Hopefully the film will hit the cinemas by May and it will be shown all over the state, Sabah and also in Johor Bahru,” Benny added.

The director of the movie is Monica Jeff of the ‘I Love Sarawak’ fame – a short feature film which won Best Cinematography in short film category at the Astro Kirana Film Festival in 2008.

Relatively new to the filming industry, Monica’s already strong credential included her being part of the scriptwriter team for the Manjalara TV series shown at TV3 and also Honeyz which was aired on TV2 (RTM).

Apart from that, Monica also wrote scripts for Astro productions and has also worked as a scriptwriter for Datuk Yusuf Haslam and Murali Abdullah, both heavyweights in the local film industry.

The film would also be presented in high definition and it was the brainchild of local film enthusiast Dato Sri Edmund Langgu.

In his speech during the ceremony, Langgu, a former deputy federal minister and who is the main advisor for the film said: “I am glad to know that we have young generations of avid film makers. It is not easy to make a Dayak film as we have to create a good storyline that will reflect the lifestyles and cultures of the Dayak community.

“At large, we are not yet ready for a heavy duty kind of movies based on modern trend such as (local Malay blockbusters) Rempit or Impak Maksima. Creativity, desire, motivation, focus, sensitivity, self discipline, patience and determination are a few necessary attributes one must have to become involved in the art of filmmaking.”

The film is a production of Allen Tinggie Trading Sdn Bhd spearheaded by Joseph Allen Tinggie and Hereward Gramong. The company is a registered member of the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as 4 February or as late as 10 March.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants. The minister administering ashes recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return", or "Repent, and believe the Gospel."

Sarawak Ranger-piece of land for the Heroes’ Monument and the cemetery near Kota Sentosa.

sarawak rangers that was sent to help in combating communist er, pre-independence in Malaya.

Proposed Layout of the Heroes' Monument

Kota Sentosa 15-acre site for heroes

With monument and cemetery plot identified, remains of rangers and trackers set to return home

KUCHING: The dream of bringing home the remains of Sarawak Rangers and trackers who were killed in the peninsula and Singapore during the Emergency is now a step closer to realisation with their final resting place identified.‘Ops Ngerapuh’ organising chairman Lt Col (Rtd) Robert Rizal Abdullah announced yesterday that Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip had helped to locate a piece of land for the Heroes’ Monument and the cemetery near Kota Sentosa.

“A 15.4-acre state land has been identified by the Land and Survey Department as the site for the Heroes’ Monument where the remains of the Iban trackers and Sarawak Rangers killed and buried in Semenanjung and Singapore during the First Malayan Emergency will be relocated to,” he said in a press statement yesterday. Robert said according to Talib, who played an important role in helping the committee realise the plan, “the next phase is to get it officially approved and alienated to SEDC for that purpose”.

“The proposed design and layout has also been made. It will have to go through the committee before it is approved,” said Robert.

He said a fund-raising campaign would be launched and he hoped the states where they had given their lives to would also contribute to the fund.

Any remaining balance from the fund would be used to improve the welfare of trackers and members of the Sarawak Rangers still alive today, said Robert.

He said part of the fund-raising effort was the sale of multi-coloured T-shirts now in progress. According to him, a percentage of the sale would go to ‘Ops Ngerapuh’ Fund. Those who wish to make orders can call Lian Hun at 016-8950203.

Robert was inspired to organise the return of the dead Sarawak Rangers and trackers by the late Lance Corporal Ungkok Jugam, a Sarawak Ranger whose grave was found on a patch of green on a road shoulder in Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar last year.

Ungkok, who is from Lubok Antu, had served at the height of the first emergency in Malaya from 1948 to 1960. He was reburied in a more dignified grave at St Michael’s Catholic Church at Jalan Sultanah on April 28, 2009.

Since learning of Ungkok’s case, Robert had tracked down 21 Sarawak Rangers and trackers, including one border scout. They are buried at Batu Gajah Christian Cemetery, Cheras Road Cemetery, Kamunting Road Christian Cemetery, Batu Gajah Christian Cemetery and Kranji Military Cemetery in Singapore.

Robert’s plan had received the support of the state’s leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

sources:http://pgbwarrior.blogspot.com/search/label/Iban%20Trackers%20and%20Sarawak%20Rangers%20%281948%20-%201960%29