DIRECTalk: Jason Siew: Serving the Indigenous People with No Regrets

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When he was in his youth, he once received unreserved simple kindness and warmth from the Iban people which led him to love them just as much in return. After his retirement, he has devoted his time to sharing the gospel with them.

“It was in1972, after graduating from the Teachers’ Training College; I was posted to Ulu Belaga to teach at a primary school there. The journey required an overnight stop at Kapit before proceeding to Ulu Belaga the next day. The water route was the only way to get to this remote place. Often the route was hindered by high or low tide. If the boat couldn’t move further at night, the boat had to dock at a longhouse to stay the night. I was in one of these incidents and the boatman took us to a longhouse for the night. Though it was late, the chief of the longhouse still welcomed us, the passengers, who were total strangers to their homes. He woke up from his sleep to prepare us food and lodging without any charge at all. Their unselfishness and warmth deeply touched my young heart.”

Meet our interviewee Mr Jason Siew who is from Nyelong Park Methodist Church, Sarikei. He is now a retired teacher.

At the age of 3, Jason moved with his family from Sibu to Bintangor. After finishing Form Five, he taught at the Bintangor Methodist Secondary School as a temporary teacher, not knowing then teaching would become his career. Recalling his journey, he believes that God had begun then to prepare him for what he is doing today.

In 1970, he entered Rejang Teachers’ Training College. Upon his graduation in 1972, he was posted to Batu Keling Primary School in Ulu Belaga. The school had only three classes with two teachers. There were around fifteen longhouses nearby which comprised mainly of Orang Ukit, the minority people. The pupils came from these longhouses and the teachers lived with them in the school hostels.

“After that boat trip incident where I experienced the warm hospitality of the Ibans, I continued to enjoy their generosity in days to come. Even though I was only passing by, these indigenous people would warmly welcome me into their homes to rest and have a cup of tea. These loving people often invited me to dinners at their longhouses as well. They had to walk for an hour to school to invite me and I couldn’t say no.”

In August 1973, he was transferred to teach at Ulu Tekalit at Nanga Janan Primary School, which was in the interior of Song District. This time he was also the school principal. The school had three classes as well but all the pupils were Ibans this time.

From 1974 to1980, he was posted to Kampung Jepak Primary School in Bintulu and here the pupils were mostly Melanaus. Thus, he had ample opportunities to learn the different languages of these indigenous groups.

In 1981, he returned to Sarikei to teach at Nanga Strass in Meradong area and finally to the Chinese community. In 1988, he was sent to Ulu Wak in Pakan district to teach at Nanga Kedup Primary School for around seventeen years (the longest of his teaching postings) till 2005. After that he was transferred to Nanga Pedanum Primary School in Pakan district where he thought he would remain until retirement. But God had a different plan for his retirement.

In April 2006, he was informed to return to Julau District to work as the Education Officer. It was an opportunity to know all the nearby schools in Julau district. He was able to have a better understanding of distribution of the longhouses, schools and students as well as their situations.

A few years back, the Board of Evangelism of Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC) had been seeking for someone who could speak the Iban language and knew the area in Julau well to come and help them in their mission work. Of course, he was one of the best candidates for the post. “This is all due to the grace of God that immediately prior to my retirement, I had the opportunity to work in Julau to know the area and schools well enough and to have built relationships with the people there. This is a benefit for the mission work indeed!”

A willing heart
is all that matters
Since his school years, he has had many encounters with the indigenous people. He did not feel estranged by these people. In fact a fervent desire to share the gospel with them was burning in his heart. In July 2007, he retired and worked in the private sector till 2010. In 2011, he joined a short term mission in Julau.

Staying among the indigenous people for so many years, especially with the students, visiting also the longhouses, it seemed like he had grown up there. He felt that he was assimilated. “Many asked if I was afraid that these indigenous people would harm me, I would say if I am righteous in deed, I have no fear of harm.”

To him all these indigenous people are kind-hearted people. Sadly however many outsiders from the logging business have ruined their habitations!

Jason added that he has often invited youth to join in serving these indigenous people but the response was poor. “One of their common reasons is that they can’t speak the Iban language but ironically enough they never consider learning the languages of cross-cultural mission in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, a problem.”

“All we need to serve our neighbours is a willing heart, not your ability; your willingness to do it for the Lord. If one can speak simple Bahasa Malaysia it is good enough to start a relationship with them.”

From his experience with these natives, he said if the church wants to reach out to them, the church should be among them more often. This is not only a way to produce local missionaries, we can also nurture them more effectively in strengthening them to be firm in the faith and be self-sufficient, instead of relying on others to help them all along.

“The main spirituality problem is that they lack pastors to minister to them comprehensively. Our church needs to help train more spiritual leaders at longhouses, teaching them to be praying leaders as well. This is because the longhouse folks have strong faith in prayers and love laying of hands while being prayed for.”
Never asking where the longhouse is but ever ready to work at the front line, Jason is very grateful to his supportive wife, a mother of four. At present, Jason is serving as a voluntary missionary. He visits the longhouses in and around Sarikei twice a month whilst visiting Lubok Antu longhouses once a month.

Interviewer: Wong Menglei
Interviewee: Jason Siew
Recorder: April Lu
Translator: Christina