On the other hand, I came to know of the Bario Highlands and the Kelabit, Idris Jala’s people, long before I heard of him, reading Tom Harrisson’s “World Within: A Borneo Story” decades ago.
Then, onto the national stage, like a whirlwind, came the man himself with his now-proven mantra of turnaround and transformation on a scale never before witnessed in this country. But for most Malaysians, the uppermost question on their minds was, “Who is this man from Sarawak?”
I must also applaud the second foreword (unusually, there are two in this book) by Garnette Jalla Ridu, Idris’ sister. She brilliantly captures the pain, progress, and passion of her community (I disagree with the use of the word “tribe”) and their spiritual awakening and transformation through Christianity.
Life in the dense jungles of Borneo, the enigmatic heart of the Nusantara, was extremely challenging given its isolation, but it was also richly rewarding and full of adventure. And it was always anchored in...