The third and final story for my illustrated journalism project ‘In The Land That Never Was Dry’ is now published on Medium. It is complex story about how people interact with land and water in a Sarawak village – from politicians and corporations to volunteers and visitors.
The name is a strange, heavy gift. Like the unfinished school, it sits in me as a promise unfulfilled. Even after the elections come and go, all the trees are cut down, the rivers run brown, and the animals disappear, it will remain, reminding me that a name is both honor and duty — to mean anything at all, it must be both given, and earned.
Read the story here, or click the image above.
A Bahasa Malaysia version Air dan Angan-angan: Politik, Penduduk & Pembangunan di Kampung Long Sukang, Sarawak is available here, or by clicking the image below.
Nama itu pemberian yang pelik dan berat. Bagaikan bangunan sekolah yang terbengkalai, ia menghuni dalam diri saya seperti janji yang belum ditepati. Walaupun pilihraya datang dan pergi, hutan ditebang, sungai menjadi cetek, dan binatang pupus, ia akan kekal, menjadi peringatan bahawa nama itu adalah penghormatan bahkan kewajipan — kalau ingin betul-betul bererti, ia bukan sahaja perlu dibagi, tapi juga ditunaikan.
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