Idris Jala’s father passes away at 84

KUCHING: Henry Jala Tamalai (pic), the father of Pemandu CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala, died on Tuesday night.

He was 84.

He passed away peacefully at the residence of his son in-law, Datuk Seri Jacob Ridu at Poh Kwong Park here.

Tamalai's eldest son, Rubin, 62, who resides in Australia but returned here last month said that all family members, including his mother, and brother Idris, were with his father when he passed away at 9.05pm.

Rubin said his father died after a long sickness.

Tamalai is survived by his widow, Lapu Sakai @ Midang Aran, four children, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The cortege will leave Ridu's residence at 8.45am Thursday, for the BEM Kuching Evangelical Church in Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho.

There, the wake will be held from 9am to 10am, followed by funeral service at 10am and thereafter, burial.

Born in 1932 at Batu Patong in Kelapang, Kelabit Highlands, Miri, Tamalai served as a school teacher from 1946 till 1987.

He was one of the first batches of students at Pioneer Kelabit School established after the war, at Pa Main and one of three Kelabit young men to be selected to continue further education in Batu Lintang Teachers Training College, Kuching.

He graduated as one of the first two Kelabit teachers from the Batu Lintang Teachers Training College in 1951.

Having served a total of 34 years in education, Tamalai was awarded the Tokoh Guru Award Peringkat Negri Sarawak on May 22, 2004.

He received two state awards Ahli Bintang Sarawak and Johan Bintan Sarawak. - Bernama