I bought this from the Kinokuniya bookstore at Ngee Ann City mall on Orchard Road today.
It's the autobiography of Bro Michael Jacques, which has just been published.
Born in Kuching on 6th June 1916 to an English father and a Chinese hakka mother, Louis John Michael Jacques grew up to become Brother Michael Jacques, one of Malaysia's outstanding educators for many decades. Part of the Lasallian brotherhood, he served on two occasions as Brother Visitor in the Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong district. He was also elected to the Asian Assistancy in Rome. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by De La Salle University Manila and conferred with the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri by the Governor of Penang. He lives in Petaling Jaya. Bro Jacques speaks fluent Malay, English, French, Italian, Cantonese, Hokkien and Hakka!
I have only read a few chapters so far, but I liked what he wrote towards the end of the Preface, "I have had no hesitation after some thought to adopt the title The Man from Borneo. Granted, I have lived no more than 14 of my many yearsas a permanent Sarawak resident. But I have never lost the spirit of being always a Sarawakian and proud of it. No matter how long I've been away, my roots are in Kuching where I came from and to which I have returned whenever work or circumstances have allowed ..."
After moving from Sibu where his father worked, Michael Jacques entered St Joseph's School, Kuching in 1927, joining Standard 4. He writes about being taught by Mr Eddie Van Houten, Father Haideggar and Father Delaney, among other teachers. He also described some of the intense St Joseph-St Thomas rivalry in those days. Eventually he left for St Xavier's Institution , Penang for further studies.
I would think this book would available in most good bookstores in Malaysia, but if any of you are interested in buying a copy online, click on this.
.
