Pakcik Om sows spirit of love for M’sia through antique collections, old photographs

TAWAU - A nondescript house in Kampung Batu Payung here belonging to Sabturani Angsa has become an attraction for many, including foreign tourists, for housing various antique collections from 1924 to 1990 as well as photographs of the history of the district.

The 75-year-old Sabturani, who is more fondly called Pakcik Om, said the collection, some of which are from family members, friends and the villagers, had its own story besides being educational material about heritage and history that can instil the spirit of love for the country among youngsters.

He said there are more than 50 items in the collection, including a lighthouse signal from 1924, a Raleigh racing bicycle (1950), a British Bullfinch spotlight (1950), a copper iron, a coffee grinder, a fan from 1941, a telephone device before the Second World War as well as photographs, including Japanese soldiers surrendering to the allied forces (1945) and boarding a ship to return to their country.

"This has been my hobby since I was young. Older people can reminisce about the old days when they see the antiques and photos. The current generation, meanwhile, can also see, touch and listen to stories and history about the antique collection or pictures found in this house.

"If we just talk about it, people may not believe it, but if there is a collection like in this house, then there is proof. This is my contribution to Malaysia, storing the history of the country for the next generation to see and understand,” he told Bernama.

According to him, the house, known as Rumah Khazanah USBA, which stands for Usaha Sabturani Bin Angsa (Efforts of Sabturani Bin Angsa), has been visited by more than 2,000 domestic and foreign tourists, including from Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Canada and the United States, since it was opened to the public in 2013.

He said the collection of historic photos in the house also proved the existence of Japan in Tawau, which explains why there are roads named Kabota, Kuhara, Yamamoto and Takada in the district.

"Hopefully, this treasure trove will be able to gather all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, here to instil love and to get to know Tawau... there should be no racism,” he said.

Apart from Rumah Khazanah USBA, Pakcik Om said Kampung Batu Payung also has tourism potential because it has its uniqueness, such as large blocks of stones resembling frogs, turtles, sharks, elephants and lions.

Speaking about Malaysia Day, Pakcik Om described Sept 16, 1963 as a proud day that marks how the previous generations overcame various challenges to make Malaysia what it is today.

"On that night (declaration of the formation of Malaysia), I was very excited. My brother and I boarded a bus, driven by my uncle, from Batu Payung to Padang Bandaran Tawau... it was very lively, (with) thousands of people,” he said.

He also likened the excitement of the crowd back then to the atmosphere when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, arrived in Tawau under the Kembara Kenali Borneo tour.

"Their Majesties were greeted like the first celebration of the formation of Malaysia in Tawau, the people were very excited,” he said.

Asked to convey a message to today’s young generation, Pakcik Om took a deep breath before saying that all parties have an important role to play in maintaining peace and well-being in Sabah and to avoid raising sensitive issues that could lead to conflict and social instability.

"Enough of living in fear during the Indonesian Confrontation and the curfew when you were considered an enemy if you left the house and you could be shot by Gurkha mercenaries... peace then was a very precious commodity. The young generation must understand that all that was so that we can inherit our country Malaysia,” he said. - BERNAMA