Udieng Tajang, the youngest daughter of Dato Sri Bo’ Tajang Laing, recalls fond memories of her father in a conversation with The Borneo Post.
KUCHING (April 25): The late Dato Sri Bo’ Tajang Laing is remembered by his family as a loving father, visionary leader and strong advocate for education and community development.
His youngest daughter, Udieng Tajang, 56, described him as a father who exemplified unconditional love and dedication to both family and community.
“He was an amazing father, always loving, considerate and forgiving. When you talk about unconditional love, he was a great example,” she told The Borneo Post during the wake service at their home in Batu Lintang here on Saturday.
She shared that her father was deeply committed to education, often travelling to longhouses to encourage villagers to send their children to school.
On weekends, he would teach English and Mathematics to villagers, believing education was the key to improving lives.
“He realised that the best way to advance change in people’s lives was through education. Education opens so many doors and he believed strongly in that,” she said.
Despite his busy schedule as a businessman and politician, she said he made time to mentor and support students, including ensuring they had enough food while studying.
“He likes hunting and fishing on the weekends. He also made sure his students were fed,” she said.
Even in his later years, she said he remained curious and continued to educate himself, showing interest in architecture and design.
“He loved watching YouTube videos about fascinating architecture and how Western architects came up with their ideas,” she added.
At home, he spent time playing traditional musical instruments such as the sape and doing wood carving, particularly after his retirement.
“He enjoyed reading newspapers, carving, playing the sape, dancing ngajat (Iban traditional dance) and performing parap (traditional Orang Ulu sung poetry); he was a really good singer,” she said.
Beyond education, she noted that her father was known for his forward-thinking vision, including his involvement in the early proposal of the Bakun Dam.
According to her, the idea was inspired during a road trip in the United States while sending his older children there to study, where he saw large-scale dams and realised similar development could be implemented in Sarawak.
She said he later approached the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud with the proposal, believing it would benefit the state by generating electricity and improving infrastructure.
“When he proposed the dam, many disagreed. But he believed we cannot say no to progress because it could improve lives for future generations,” she said.
She added that one of the key benefits he envisioned was improved accessibility for rural communities, as many had previously relied on risky river travel.
“In the past, travelling back to the longhouse required dangerous boat journeys. With roads and development, it became safer and easier for families to return home,” she said.
In addition to infrastructure, she said her father also focused on economic opportunities for rural communities, including establishing a coffee plantation initiative at Uma Nyaving longhouse in Sungai Asap, Belaga.
She explained that the plantation was intended to benefit the wider longhouse community, providing villagers with a sustainable source of income.
“It was not only for himself but for the people. Coffee was not widely pursued before, but he saw the potential for villagers to earn a living,” she said.
The project was temporarily halted in 2023 after his wife, Datin Sri Devong Anyie fell ill, but efforts are now being revived by family members, including her sister Livan Tajang.
While known for his discipline and strong work ethic, she said her father also had a playful side at home.
“He was a joker. He would pretend to stop breathing while asleep to alarm my mother, only to laugh when she rushed to check on him. He loved to joke and make people laugh,” she recalled fondly.
Among the lessons he instilled in his children was the importance of caring for others, particularly those in rural communities.
“He always reminded us to look out for each other and care for the people, especially those in the longhouse,” she said.
Reflecting on his final moments, she shared that his last words were his wife’s name.
“He used to tell me that sometimes he saw my mother in his dreams. If he didn’t see her, he would feel upset, but when he did, he felt happy.
“So his last words were my mother’s name, as he was calling out to her. It felt like something from a romance novel I read,” she said.
Describing their relationship, she added that although he was not always expressive with words, he showed love through his actions.
“Every time I said ‘I love you,’ he would reply, ‘thank you for loving me,’” she said.
She added that what she would miss most was his humour and warmth, describing him as a father who led by example and dedicated his life to uplifting others.
Dato Sri Bo’ Tajang Laing passed away on Thursday night at the age of 100.
The former Belaga assemblyman was the first member of the Orang Ulu community to be appointed a full minister when Sarawak’s first Cabinet was formed in 1963.
