KUCHING, Dec 18: Lina Soo, the author of ‘Sarawak The Real Deal’ and “Sarawak Chronicle”, will be giving a public talk on Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO) and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) this Dec 22 at Dynasty Hotel in Miri.
The talk is organised in conjunction with the 108th anniversary of the Grand Old Lady of Miri on that date.
Soo, who is also State Reform Party (STAR) president, said the Grand Old Lady is the first oil well in Sarawak Borneo, which started spouting the black gold on Dec 22, 1910, on Canada Hill, also known as Bukit Telaga Minyak.
“This famous landmark has a height of 30 metres and elevated a small fishing village in northern Sarawak to Miri Oil Town, standing proud and tall until its retirement in 1972.
“Today, the Grand Old Lady is revered as a historical monument to Sarawak’s oil industry and a major draw for tourists to Miri,” she said in a statement today.
Soo said her books on Sarawak history are based on declassified British documents. She is also releasing reprints of The National Geographic Magazine article titled ‘Sarawak: The Land of the White Rajahs’ that was published in 1919.
“Written by Harrison W Smith, the 100-year old historic article recounts the social life and culture of the Sarawak Dayak, with remarkable 60 black-and-white illustrations,” she said.
The reprint booklet will be available for purchase at RM20 per copy at the talk.
The OMO MA63 Talk will start at 2pm, and admission is free. For further details, Soo can be contacted at 014-5950511. — DayakDaily
