Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau, Bujang Berani Bansa Iban

                         

I remember the first time that I used the Iban phrase “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” or translated means "As long as I live, I shall fight!"…I used it as part of my so called speech during the orientation week to my non-muslims batch mates in UiTM. Not in the sense that we literally go to war using weapons but we study as though we are in a war throughout our university life and eventually gain what we suppose to gain for our families…the scroll…

"Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban" means a lot to an Iban particularly the late Temenggong Datuk  Kanang Anak Langkau. That was the phrase he cried to heighten the spirit of his troop during the insurgency  in Perak on 8 February 1980 where he lead the Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of 8th Battalion Royal Rangers  to seek and destroy a this insurgent group.  At the attack with the communists, Kanang took three rounds of bullets and managed to kill 5 communists. No three bullets could stop him from serving his beloved Malaysia as he returned to active duty even after the incident that almost took our hero’s life…no, not Kanang Anak Langkau…a truly anak Iban Bujang Berani.  

Let us see a little bit of his biography:

Kanang anak Langkau was born on 2^nd March 1945 in Nanga Meluan, Julau, Sarawak. He entered military service with the with the British Army, as an Iban Tracker, attending Jungle Warfare School in Ulu Tiram in early 1962. Kanang was attached to the 42 Commando serving during the Brunei Revolt and during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.

Kanang later then served with the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and was absorbed into the Sarawak Rangers which eventually became part of the Malaysian Rangers when Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963. He retired after 21 years of service as a First Warrant Officer and was the Temenggong (paramount chief) of the Iban in Sri Aman, where he resided. In 1987, he was awarded the Officer of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PBS) - Pegawai Bintang Sarawak.

On 15 April 2009, he made headlines after rescuing a baby orangutan from captivity with his friend, Tay Choon Yong and the baby orangutan was being handed to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. On 24 September 2011, he was conferred the Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (PGBK) (Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang), with the title of Datuk by the Abang Muhammad Salahuddin, the Head of State's 90th Birthday.

In 2011, Kanang supervised Operation Mai Pulai. This operation involved the locating and exhumation of the remains of 21 Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers who were killed during the Second Malayan Emergency. Their remains were exhumed from multiple locations on the Malay Peninsula and returned to Sarawak where they were ceremonially reburied in July 2011.

On 3 January 2013, he collapsed while watching television at home in Sungai Apong after complaining of chest pains. Immediately rushed to the Sarawak General Hospital, he was pronounced dead at the age of 68. His passing was a great lost to Malaysia especially to our Iban community. Now I realised “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” means more than just a phrase to heighten our spirits, it is a chant for us to remember to move on and get on with our lives regardless how bad our days can be.

Service : British Army (1962-1963)
                Malaysian Armed Forces (1962-1983)

Rank     : First Warrant Officer

Unit       : Sarawak Rangers (British Army)
                           Royal Ranger Regiment

Awards   : Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP)
                 Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB)
                 Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK)
                 Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS)

Before I part, I bid farewell to our Hero, Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau (SP, PGB, PGBK), Bujang Berani, you will always be remembered by Sarawakians from all walks of life. I stumbled upon one Iban chant or “Sabak Bebuah” written by Allen Charlie on his “IBAN” page on Facebook and it was so moving it made me cry. Basically, it tells about the late Kanang's life, bravery, struggles, achievements and praise written beautifully in the classic Iban language. So I wish to share this with all of my readers out there:  

Raja Berani ninggalka dunya:

 

Kira enda lebu ga nuan, ke bulih gelar Raja Berani laban ulih nyapai bintang besai ke ngasuh nama nuan pegari tinggi dedinggai nadai mandung.

Endang enda lebu ga karung mengada nuan suba, ke bisi tebunsa nangung pemerinsa mai nuan dalam pengelama keleman 9 bulan, laban penatai nuan ke dunya endang di anti sida Keling enggau Bunga Nuing, di kemata lalu basa sida Laja seduai Bunga Jawa, endang di intai ka Sida Sempurai, lalu timang sida Kumang seduai Indai Abang, di indung sida Lulong indai Mendung ari Gelung ke nyingit nyinggong daun sabang ke endang berimbai enggau orang Panggau di menoa jela Isang.

Tang dalam maya nya, dia Tutong, Tuai orang di Gelung pen sama bisi ga nutong ka Setawak nebah dumbak maya nuan ke mencelak mula iya meda dunya, ambi semua Petara sama bela nemu nuan bisi datai ngagai dunya landai kitai ke diatu.

Dia deh nuan lalu udah tejapai ka tangkai nyiur undang ke merundai labuh tejuntai lebuh nuan ke enggau orang nyarau ranyai di menoa Nunok ulu Serpan di madang paya maram ke di wan bunsu Antu Kamba, Endu Dara Sia ke berumah di Paya Maram Semadang, ke ngembuan jelu Pusa Itung ke bekungkung baruh dagu, lalu iya tu meh ke bepemai ka Tajau Rusa bebingka Sengang.

Tang enda mukai-mukai dih nuan ayak maya ka beperang ngenanka menua anak bansa, bisi jai mimpi alai peluru bisi ngacir nuan bisi kena timbak anak seterum leka senapang, tak disangka orang mabun laya ningal ka dunya mih nuan suba. Tang Petara endang amat bisi ngemata ka nuan ungal wai, ke alai Sebayan enda nyadi ngambi nuan pulai laban Indai Abang bisi ba tisi napi litan nuan suman. Lalu laban nuan ke endang semampai dikemataka Petara Perang aki kitai Lang Sengalang Burung, ke diau di tuchung langit landung, ke baka tudung seraung tangi payung langit. Kedua agi laban iya tu meh menyadi Ini Manang Bali ke betelaga baruh rekung, menyadi biak Aki Lang Sengalang Burung, laki endu Yak Talun Kupak, Silai anak Runggang Jejabung ngintu nuan ka lalu ngejungka nuan beberita dikumbai orang mati angkat idup baru.

Lalu udah bekau ari nya, nuan lalu jelai nama tampak rita, diberi perintah SP lalu digelar Raja Berani dikelala serata menua enggau negeri ba sekayu menua Sarawak, ba sepemanjai rintai menua kitai Malaysia lalu ngacir serata dunya.

 Tang laban ke udah nama anak mensia ari tanah kitai endang pulai baru ke tanah. Laban Petara endang iya udah bejaku, tiap utai ti idup endang iya mati kepenudi. Nyangka nya Petara balat rinduka nuan, alaika ngambi nuan dulu pulai dinihari pagi tadi, alai nuan ke lalu nadai ninggalka dunya mandang pulaika mandai. Tang nama nuan aki, endang iya sigi meruan taja nuan pulaik Sebayan. Pemerani enggi nuan aki, endang iya sigi semampai nyadika buah tusui dilah, semampai ditusi tiap pagi, semampai dikenang tiap petang. R.I.P Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau, anak Iban Raja Berani, lenyau nuan nadai orang nganti.

 By: Allen Charlie (Allen Charlie's blog)

I am deeply sadden by his passing even though I do not know him personally. This post is dedicated to this true Sarawakian Hero. Thank you Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau for your unending dedication to keep Malaysia safe you will always be remembered and May God Bless your soul Bujang Berani... Amen.

Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau

(2 March 1945 - 3 January 2013)