Chapter 9: Dungko Legacy

My great-grandmother Rombis, a descendent of the Gomorun, married Gumpai, had five children - three daughters and two sons. Dungko (the eldest son), Gomingo, Kundipoi, Rampas (the second son) and Lotimboi, the youngest daughter.

Rombis, wife of Gumpai,
my great-grandmother

Dungko Gumpai
9.9.1895  - 28.12.1999

Kundipoi Gumpai

Rampas Gumpai
1907 - 1966

Lotimboi Gumpai (My maternal grandmother)
13.8.1913 - 28.1.1981

The Rombis family originally resided in Lumpoho. Over time, as family members began trading their produce at the tamu in Menggatal, they increasingly came into contact with the outside world. The exposure gradually sparked a desire to leave their remote homeland in search of new opportunities.

In 1926, some members of the family moved to settle in Pulutan in Menggatal. As the family continued to grow, members of the next generation began to feel that Pulutan might no longer be able to support the expanding population. This prompted them to explore new areas.  

In 1936, Dungko and his brother Rampas ventured into Kiulu for the first time. Six years later in 1942, both brothers, along with their families, made the decision to permanently leave Pulutan and establish their homes in Kiulu. To ensure sustainability of the new settlement, they invited friends and relatives from Pulutan and Lumpoho to join them in this newly discovered land.

As pioneers, Dungko had the privilege of selecting some of the prime land in Kiulu - parcels located near the Tuaran River, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape!

Since then, Kiulu has continued to grow and develop into the vibrant community today. For their vision, courage, and effort in establishing the early foundations of this settlement, Dungko and Rampas are remembered and honoured  as pioneers and founding fathers of Kiulu.

With Wesley Dungko Pai

Beautiful Kiulu River passes by the edge
of Wesley's land.

The development of Kiulu is closely tied to the contributions of Gumpai's two sons, Dungko and Rampas. Their generosity played a pivotal role in facilitating the construction of numerous public institutions in the area. Among the enduring examples of their contributions are the Kiulu Clinic, SMK Tun Fuad Stephen (Tun Fuad Stephen Secondary School) and the row of shophouses in the township.

Dungko also served as a pastor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) for 11 years, from 1951 to 1962. The first SDA church building was, in fact, an extension of his own home. Demonstrating his deep commitment to the church and community, he later donated part of his own land for the construction of a permanent church building, which today stands as the Malangang Lama SDA Church.

In honour of the Gomorum's ancestral root in Nunuk Ragang and to mark the founding of the new settlement in Kiulu, Dungko initiated the installation of a Memorial Stone on the very land where he first set foot. He arranged for a megalith - a large stone - to be transported from Nunuk Ragang to his own compound in Kiulu. That was no small feat, given the significant distance and the immense weight of the stone! Sadly, Dungko passed away before he could witness the completion of this meaningful project.

Nunuk Ragang: 5⁰ 42’ 56.67”N, 116⁰51’ 18.76” E

Memorial Stone: 6⁰ 4’ 49.07”N, 115⁰17’ 6.99” E

Old photo of Dungko with
the memorial stone

Current view of the memorial stone

Dungko first married a Dusun woman named Laisa Balanda. Together, they had a son. Tragically, Laisa passed away when their son was just 7 years old. Heartbreakingly, their son also died as a teeneger at the age of 14.  

Later, Dungko married Laisa's younger sister, Lasana who was 19 years his junior. Their union was blessed with nine children who survive into adulthood - five sons and four daughters: Wesley, Jainih, Joiley, Jailin, Wessie (deceased), Helen, Weldie (deceased), Widdin and Wetron.

Lasana passed away on 18 March 1982 at the age of 68. Dungko lived to a long and remarkable life, reaching the age of 104 before passing away on 28 December 1999. Both Dungko and Lasana are buried in the northwest corner of the land where Dungko first arrived after leaving Pulutan. The final resting place lies just a stone's throw from Wesley Pai's current residence.

Dungko's legacy lies not only in his role as a pioneer and community leaders in the early development of Kiulu, but also in his spiritual contributions to his people. As one of the founding figures in the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in the region, Dungko played a key role in spreading the Christian faith among the indigenous community. Through his leadership and service, he helped lay the foundations for a faith-based way of life that continue to influence the community toady.

One of the most visible outcomes of his spiritual work is the positive transformation in the lifestyle and values of the local population. In contrast to some rural areas in Sabah, where social challenges such as alcohol abuse remain prevalent among indigenous communities, Kuilu has notably been spared from these problems to a significant extent. This distinction reflects the deep-rooted moral and cultural shift inspired in part by the teachings and examples set by Dungko and the churches he helped to establish. 

It is believed that Dungko would be deeply gratified to see his effort in guiding his people toward the Christian faith continue to bear fruits. However, sustaining and expanding this legacy remains a considerable challenge. - particularly in light of the evolving sociopolitical landscape and the policies of the current government. Nonetheless, his vision remains a guiding light for those committed to preserving both the spiritual and cultural well-being of the Kiulu community.

Chinese New Year 2013 Open House

This year, Chinese New Year held special significance for our family, as we had the joy of reconnecting with newly discovered relatives. The celebration took on a deeper meaning - not just as a time for festivity, but as a moment of rediscovery, reunion, and the strengthening of family ties that had long remained hidden.

My cousin Yee Sze Moi, her husband John Phang and son and daughter; Uncle Wesley Pai and Aunty Jainah and my sister.

Aunty Sulah Rampas and her husband John Henley and the family of Yee Sze Moi.

We had a great time talking about history and current issues including current political scenario and development.

Deep in conversation between my sister and Aunty Jainah

Two generations. Sam and Paul with their 14-year old Aunty Crystal Henley Rampas, sister of Jo-anna Henley Rampas.

Chapter 8: The China Man Who Married a Dusun - Part 2

On Friday, 08.02.2013, I met another uncle of mine, Wesley Dungko Pai, in Kampong Ponohuon, Kiulu. He is the eldest son of Dungko Gumpai - a brother of my grandmother. Uncle Wesley shared that he had decided to change the naming tradition of the Dungko's clan, beginning with his generation, by adopting the surname Pai - a shortened form for "Gumpai". Through him, we also learnt more about my grandfather.

6 4' 46.01"N, 116 17' 8.27"E

The house is situated next to the spectacular
upstream of Tuaran River

With Uncle Wesley Pai & his wife Jainah.

According to Uncle Wesley, my grandfather was a skilled carpenter - in fact, he was regarded as one of the best in the Menggatal area. His reputation extended as far as Jesselton (now renamed Kota Kinabalu), where his services were frequently sought. He was so well known that he was even recruited to help maintain the Atkinson Clock Tower. 

His carpentry skill was passed down to his son, my uncle Yee Tshan Fah also known as Ah Tai among his peers. Like my grandfather, my uncle Tshan Fah became a highly capable carpenter and was later recruited for the repair and restoration of the same historic Clock Tower.

In those days, the Gumpai family lived in Kampong Lumpoho, a remote area nestled within the Crocker Mountain Range. From time to time, they would gather tobacco, herbs and other local produce to trade in the coastal, more "urban" area. At the tamu grounds, they exchanged their goods for items such as salted fish, clothing, stoneware, salt and sugar. The trading journeys were no small feats - often requiring them to be away for weeks at a time, braving the difficult terrain and long distances.

"In those long-ago days, the only mode of transport was one's two good legs and everyone went barefoot. Walking up and down the Crocker Range while loaded with heavy rattan wakid (big rattan and bark basket used for carrying goods) was no small feat because sometimes only narrow footpaths existed. In many places, one wrong move could mean a quick tumble to the bottom of the valley....... Safety was also a grave concern as the travelers could be waylaid by headhunters from the enemy villages. Traders usually traveled in big groups to lesson the risk of parting with heads on the way to and from the tamu grounds" - Abstracted from "Footprints in the Paddy Fields" by Tina Kisil.

After making numerous trips to Menggatal, my grandmother eventually decided to relocate from Lumpoho. In 1926, she moved and settled in Pulutan.

As for the "romance" of my grandfather and my grandmother, Uncle Wesley spoke only briefly about it - perhaps he didn't know the full story.

It is said that my grandfather, while working as a carpenter in Menggatal, met a Dusun woman named Lotimboi. As for how the marriage proposal unfolded, the exact details remain unclear. Was an intermediary sent to convey the proposal? Did my grandfather approach her siblings? Or did he go directly to her and propose himself? These questions remain unanswered. 

What is certain, however, is that Lotimboi agreed  to marry this man from China.

Chapter 7: The China Man Who Married a Dusun - Part 1

I know very little about my maternal grandfather, Yee Chen Kong (余振光). He had already passed away by the time I was born. The only photograph I've ever seen him is the one engraved on his tombstone.

Yee Chen Kong
22.6.1882 - 25.5.1950

My maternal grandfather came to North Borneo - later renamed Sabah - from a village in China called Guangtong XingNing (广东兴宁碑下村).By the time he left China, he was already married and had three children. He was likely in his late thirties or early forties when he arrived in Sabah. 

I later discovered that he didn't come directly from China to Sabah. His journey first took him to Sungai Lembing in Peninsular Malaya. (Read here).

Back then, countless young men left China, travelling thousand of miles across Southeast Asia in search of better opportunities, hoping to escape poverty and build a more secured future. My grandfather was one of them. His plan like many others, was to work hard in the new land, earn enough money, and eventually return back to China to reunite with his family. But for reasons unknown, that never happened.

Instead, he stayed on in North Borneo, married a Dusun girl, and started a new family. He was 45 years old when he married my grandmother, who was just 14 at that time.

During the 1930s and 1940s, the main economic activity for immigrants like my grandfather was clearing land for agricultural use - primarily coconut plantations in the north, rubber in the west, and coffee in the interior of Sabah. While I am not certain whether he worked in any of these sectors, my mother once told me that he had worked for one timber company, manually sawing logs into boards for sale. At the time, sawmill was non-existent - every plank of wood had to be cut by hand. It was grueling, backbreaking work.

He worked tirelessly and grew old in this adopted land, never having the chance to return to China or see the family he left behind. He passed away at the age of 68 and was laid to rest at the Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Mile 1.5, Jalan Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu.

Sawing a long timber log into boards required more than just physical strength - it demanded a solid understanding, precise coordination, and a strong sense of rhythm and chemistry between two sawyers working together.

 

My grandfather also had a younger brother who settled in North Borneo. He served as a pastor in Basel Church. I knew him well, as he and his family lived in the same village along Harrington Road. His story, however, deserves its own chapter - and will be told later.

Chapter 6: The Gomorun Connection

In an effort to trace our roots on my mother's side, I recalled an elderly KadazanDusun woman who attended my mother's funeral. She had also sung during the funeral service - a gesture that stood out to me. Her name was Stelli Majanggan Benggon, and she had been my mother's childhood playmate in Kampong Pulutan.

With the help of my cousin, Yee Sze Moi, I was able to visit Stelli at her home in Kg. Pulutan, not far from where my grandmother's old house once stood. She was warm and talkative, and as we spoke, it became clear that she was also a remarkably independent and hardworking woman. Despite the hardship of losing her husband in an accident three years ago, she had continued to live on her own, managing her life with quiet resilience and strength. 

Stelli Benggon's greatest gift is undoubtedly her singing, along with her remarkable ability to compose songs despite having no formal musical training. She has already released 4 CDs in collaboration with other singers. Even during our first meeting, she spontaneously sang several songs for us - without any prompting - which left a lasting impression.

Through Stelli, I discovered a fascinating connection: I am related to the Rampas family. The most prominent figure among them is this Datuk Louis Rampas, the current State Legislative Assemblyman for Kiulu and Chairman of the Sabah Rubber Fund Board. He is the son of Rampas Gumpai, who was my grandmother Lotimboi Gumpai's brother. In term of family hierarchy, that makes him my uncle.

Thank to Stelli, I also had the opportunity to meet Datuk Louis Rampas's sister, Aunty Sulah Rampas and her husband, John Henley.  Aunty Sulah has a colourful history of her own. She once worked as a radio announcer for RTM before entering politics. She was approached by the opposition party AKAR, then led by the late Datuk Mark Koding, to contest the Kiulu seat. Although she did not win, her bold move into politics was noteworthy. 

Her husband, an Englishman, formerly served as a pilot with the Sabah Flying Doctors. Now a Malaysia permanent resident, he works as a consultant specializing in aviation quality and safety.

Aunty Sulah Rampas & husband John Henley

During our conversation, I learnt that her daughter Jo-anna Sue, was crowned Unduk Ngadau Sabah in 2007.

From Sulah, I also learnt that I also have many Muslim relatives living in Kampong Darau. To my surprise, one of them - a respected Haji and Imam - turned out to be a longtime friend of my cell group member, Chio Cheng Leng. This Haji has spent over a decade compiling our family genealogy, tracing it back to our Gomorun ancestry.

With Chio's help, we had no trouble locating his house in Kg. Darau. His name is Haji Mantamin, and he is, in fact, my uncle. His grandmother, Lopis, was the sister of my great grandmother, Rombis. Our familial connection was further affirmed when he showed me a photograph of my grandmother, which he had kept alongside several other old family photos.

Maternal grandmother.

When he showed me the genealogy book he had compiled - an impressive volume about 20mm thick, created with collaboration with two others - I was amazed to find my mother's name listed in it. It was a truly remarkable moment. Now my task is to compile the names of my siblings and extended family members and pass them on to him so he can update the family record.

6⁰ 01’ 15.40”N, 116⁰ 08’ 35.23”E

With my uncle Hj Mantamin and cousin, 

son of Hj Mantamin's brother

My great grandfather Gumpai married Rombis, a descendant of Gomorun

My grandmother Lotimboi Gumpai had 2 children: my mother, Yee En Jin (nicknamed Amoi) and my uncle, Yee Tshan Fah (nicknamed Atai)

I was told that a family gathering of the Gomorun's descendants was organized at 1 Borneo, more than 5,000 people attended. That number still amazes me.

For the longest time, I believe my family tree was relatively simple and that my extended family wasn't particularly large. But what I've uncovered so far has been mind-boggling - and I am still processing it. As it turns out, I have an uncle who is a politician, a cousin who is a former beauty queen, and another uncle who is an imam. Who knows what other surprises await as I delve deeper into my roots?

P.S. I also discovered through the Gomorun's genealogy that Stelli Benggon is related to me as well. My grandmother descended from Gorodong, one of Gomorun's four children, while Stelli Benggon comes from another of Gomorun's sons, Guminggon.

Southwest of Johor

Our tour along the southwest coast of Johor with my in-laws began in Batu Pahat and concluded at the southernmost tip of west Johor, Tanjung Piai.

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Our first stop was Pantai Minyak Beku, where we visited the historic Batu Pahat Well. According to local accounts, this well was dug in the 15th century by invading Siamese soldiers under the command of Admiral Awi Di Chu, who were desperately searching for fresh water during their assault on the Malacca Sultanate. Their campaign, however, was thwarted by the brilliant defence led by Tun Perak, the famed Bendahara (chief minister) of Malacca.

It is believed that the name Batu Pahat, which literally means “chiselled stone”, originated from this very episode, when the Siamese troops are said to have chiselled into the rocky shoreline in their effort to obtain water. Today, the well stands not only as a relic of history but also as the symbolic root of Batu Pahat’s name and identity.

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Pontian Kecil

We stopped to try the much-publicized Pontian Wanton Mee at Kedai Heng Heng, a local favorite. The stall offers two distinct versions of the noodles - spicy and sweetish. The latter, to our surprise, achieves its “unique” flavor simply through the addition of tomato sauce, giving it a tangy-sweet twist that sets it apart from the usual Cantonese-style wanton mee.

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Kukup

The kereta boy in this town turned out to be quite a nuisance. We had barely stopped at a parking lot - less than 30 seconds - when he suddenly appeared and demanded RM7 for “parking fees.” Sensing the scam, we simply ignored him and drove away. From his appearance and mannerisms, it seemed likely he was just a drug addict using such tactics to fund his habit.

As for Kukup itself, there is honestly not much to do. Once a traditional fishing village, most of the locals have since abandoned their livelihood at sea and shifted into tourism-related businesses. Over the years, numerous so-called “resorts” and rumah tumpangan have mushroomed in what used to be mangrove swamp. A typical “room,” priced at an eye-watering RM1,200 per night, is hardly luxurious - it usually consists of a cramped space fitted with three bunk beds to squeeze in about 10 people. Clearly, the rates only make sense if one comes in a large group of eight to ten.

The standard day tour package is also rather underwhelming. It revolves mainly around endless rounds of makan (eating), with the occasional boat trip included for visitors to view a kelong (offshore fish farm) and gawk at a few caged fishes. Beyond that, Kukup offers little to excite the average traveller.

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Tangjung Piai

Tanjung Piai, part of the Johor National Park network, is located at the southernmost tip of mainland Asia. It is recognised as one of the largest coastal mangrove swamps in the world and is home to a fascinating diversity of flora and fauna. Visitors are often told to keep an eye out for the unique wildlife that thrives here - mudskippers, cockles, crabs, horseshoe crabs, macaques, and monitor lizards are among the most commonly spotted.

At first, we were hesitant about venturing all the way to the tip. The park warden had mentioned that it required a walk of over one kilometre, and we wondered if it was worth the effort. But since we had come this far, we decided we might as well give it a go and “sweat it out.” In the end, the distance was just a 1.2 km stroll along a shaded boardwalk, which turned out to be easy, pleasant, and - if I may borrow a Cantonese phrase - sup sup sui (a breeze).

Reaching the southernmost point of mainland Asia felt surprisingly rewarding. From the lookout, we could see Singapore across the horizon, while long lines of ships lay anchored offshore, patiently waiting their turn to berth at the busy port. It was a quiet yet striking reminder of how this corner of mangrove wilderness sits right beside one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.

Southern-Most Tip of Mainland Asia: Tangjung Piai

We have stood at Cape Leeuwin in Augusta, Australia, where the mighty Southern Ocean converges with the Indian Ocean. We have also journeyed to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the Tip of Borneo, where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea in a breathtaking display of nature’s vastness. More recently, our travels brought us to Tanjung Piai in western Johor - the southernmost tip of mainland Asia - where we gazed across the Strait of Malacca, a historic maritime crossroads that has connected civilizations for centuries.