Grandson of famous Iban chief not banking on family legacy

Youtube screengrab

KAPIT: Kapit is the birthplace of Sarawak’s most famous Iban chief, Temenggong Jugah anak Barieng, better known as Tun Jugah (1903–1981).

He was the paramount chief of the Iban people for more than 55 years.

Tun Jugah played a fundamental role in bringing the state of Sarawak into the Federation of Malaysia which materialised on Sept 16, 1963.

Temenggong Jugah anak Barieng

He was the first Sarawakian and Iban federal minister in charge of Sarawak affairs in prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman’s cabinet.

Tun Jugah was appointed as the first president of PBB and served until his death in 1981.

The party was formed from the combination of three parties in Sarawak — Parti Negara Sarawak (Panas), Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak (Barjasa) and Parti Pesaka Anak Sarawak (Pesaka).

Tun Jugah was a founder member of Pesaka.

Kapit is a federal constituency that has been represented in Parliament since 1969. Its first MP was SNAP’s Abit Angkin.

In 1978, Tun Jugah’s son, Leonard Linggi Jugah, won the seat for BN/PBB and since then, the Kapit seat has been the Jugah family’s bastion.

Linggi served as Kapit MP till 1986. He also has a stint as state minister in Abdul Rahman Yakub’s cabinet.

Alexander Nanta Linggi

Following in his father’s footsteps, Linggi was a pillar of the PBB, serving as its secretary-general for 26 years and as state Barisan Nasional secretary-general for 15 years, before retiring from active politics in 2002.

He now concentrates on the family business, which includes interests in timber, plantations and shipping.

The political torch has now passed on to his son, Alexander Nanta Linggi, who is into his third term as Kapit MP.

He is also the federal deputy rural and regional development minister.

A graduate in business administration from London, Alexander slipped easily into the political role begun by his grandfather.

In an interview with The Star in 2007, Alexander said that neither he nor his father felt that society treated them differently for being the descendants of Temenggong Jugah.

“Our family is very much an extended family, so getting along with people was never a problem.

“Neither was there any pressure or expectation, although I didn’t think then that I would end up an MP one day,” said Alexander.

“If there was any advantage, I suppose it was because many elderly people remember the family, remember my grandfather.

“It made it easier when I stood for elections. But the Dayak people are very egalitarian, so once you are in, you have to prove yourself.

“I don’t think I can rely too much on the legacy left by my grandfather,” he added.

Well, it’s good that the son of the third generation of an illustrious political family is aware what he must do and how to behave in today’s political arena.

So far, Alexander has done the Jugah family proud and he is expected to do so for another five more years at least as the MP of its beloved home district.

The last time Alexander fought for the Kapit seat, he only had to face a token resistance from a DAP candidate.

No one expects GE14 to be any different. -FMT