By Lian Cheng
SERIAN, May 16: The late Datuk Amar Dominic Andrew Dago who viewed education as the only means to break the vicious circle of poverty, was instrumental in setting up a primary school, SK St Dominic in Kpg Pichin, which is named after him.
The school which presently has a population of about 150 pupils, has stood tall in witnessing Dago’s commitment to ensure education was available to the villagers since young.
Dago’s second son, James Ambrose Dago, 61, said through the school, Dago has brought education to the village which now produces many university graduates.
“I believe the State is also focusing very much on education especially when we will welcome the free tertiary education in Sarawak-owned universities for all Sarawakians next year,” James told the media at late Dago’s residence at Kampung Pichin.
James who retired from the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation after 30 years of service, also disclosed that Dago was one of the youngest politician at his time when he was handpicked by former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
“One thing that I can remembered quite clearly was when (late) Tun Razak came here to actually pick him from the kampung, pick him and bring him over to—I think must’ve been KL,” said James.
He said during that time, a Chinook helicopter came and blew off the roof of a house in the village when picking up Dago. That was why the road where the house was located had since been named “Jalan Tun Abdul Razak”.
Other than that, the family remembers fondly that his father’s heart was always with the people. Memories are still fresh with villagers knocking the door requesting financial assistance for food, transport etc.
“They are strangers to us. But his hospitality is first class. I was still very young, maybe in lower primary school,” said James.
Meanwhile, Dago’s youngest son Laurence Henry Dago , 57, added that Serian MP Dato’ Sri Richard Riot, former Education, Science and Technology Research Minister Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong and former Sarawak Legislature Speaker Dato Sri Jacob Ridu were all Dago’s former students.
“He (Dago) was a teacher for five years, and was later handpicked for politics. Because he was quite outstanding,” said Laurence.
According to him, due to Dago’s outstanding performance, he was sent by the Sarawak government for political and public relations studies in United Kingdom. — DayakDaily
