He was known to have no ailment and he was quite fit for his age. He must be about 60 years old and had just returned from a long jungle trekking into an Indonesian long house just across the border of Sarawak to do some missionary works.
I met him at a mini reunion organised by Datu Adi Badiozaman, just for me, when I came to Kuching on 23 November 2011. In fact he made a very recent entry in his blog dated 26 December 2011.
In the picture on the left, Anthony Belon is sitting in the centre.
Left to Right: Datu Adi Badiozaman, me, Mrs Patrick Panai (Anne Tze), Thomas Iboh, Dr Dayang Mordeana, Peh Her Seng (of the burning film projector fame in Tanjong Lobang School in the 60s), Patrick Panai, a close friend since School days and Abdul Rahman Abdullah (a few years my junior). Anthony Belon is not in the picture as he was a little late. We were all from Tanjong Lobang School. Dayang and Rahman are the junior ones who went to Tanjong when it became Tanjong Lobang College in the 70s.
May I take this opportunity to offer my heart-felt condolence and sympathy to the family of the late Anthony Belon. I hope they can find strength in this trying and sad moment. May his soul rest in peace.
I was told he died of dengue fever and pneumonia at Ampang Puteri Hospital, KL on 2 January 2012. His body was flown back to Kuching on 3 January 2012.
ORBITUARY TO ANTHONY BELON
We received the sad news today
that a dear friend has passed away.
We are struck dumb
wishing it was a false alarm.
As more news trickled in,
uncertainty turned into reality.
We have to accept God's ways
to charter our lives and destinies.
It seems yesterday that we were talking,
sharing, laughing, arguing about nothing.
Wasn't it only yesterday we reminisced the tanjong days?
An era in our lives that we'll cherished always?
Why O why you leave us so sudden?
We'll miss you at the many mini reunions.
We'll miss your dear company.
Your jokes made us laugh in glee.
Good bye Jang Tony - good bye forever.
You have preceeded us to see our Maker.
May you find the elusive peace and harmony.
May you be rewarded in a life of eternity.
You'll live on in our hearts.
You will be forever remembered.
Though our eyes will see you no more - that's certain.
Our hearts can see you through the impenetrable curtain.
Posts
My dear uncle Anthony we miss you.....May his soul rest in peace :( amen...
ReplyDeleteDear Maniqueen,
ReplyDeleteHe's your uncle? We were students in Tanjong Lobang School / College but we never met. When I left TLS in 1966, he came after that.
We may be related in some way. My long house is Lachau Ili, Pantu.
I'm Yolanda Belon. Thank you for the beautiful poem for Papa.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful poem for Papa.
ReplyDeleteThank you Yolanda for dropping by. My sincere sympathy and condolence to you and family. Please be strong in this trying moment. May his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank his Tanjong Lobang mates but I do not know how to get in touch with them. I was told by one of my relative that he was much thought of by his TL mates while we were preparing for his funeral.
ReplyDeleteI'm deeply touched knowing that he has left many good years,shared light moments. Indeed Papa's lived his fullest.
Please thank his friends,relatives & closest mates (who many i do not know) for me. Thank you for returning his love & high spirits (that he's shared with many) to us.
Yolanda,
ReplyDeleteOk. I'll post this on our TLS/TLC Forum.
my deepest condolence to Anthony Belon's family. We used to play rugby together in Malaysian squad before.
ReplyDeleteHe is a fighter.
Prof,
ReplyDeleteHopefully, Yolanda the late Anthony's daughter get to read this.
Dear Rizal,
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog for some time and appreciate very much the great work you do. Note worthy is that you have not only not forgotten your roots but have been actively speaking up and doing all you can for your community. You are if I may say, is one Kachang that has not forgotten the Kulit. Well done bro, Anthony Belon had indeed left behind a good and loyal friend.
Thanks Arunzab, your comment made my day. Your phrase "kacang lupakan kulit" reminded me of what my elder brother used to say once to no one in particular but I used to take it seriously and I felt it was directed at me! He raised me up until I joined the Army at the age of 17 years old. I now compliment his meagre pension of RM350 with an additional of RM100. That is all I can afford to spare from my own pension.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I'm Gideon, the youngest of Mr. Anthony's children. Thank You for the kinds words for my late father. He has indeed left us many cherished memories and I'm very happy that he lived his life the way he wanted.
ReplyDeletePlease extend my thank yous to the Tanjong Lobang group. My father spoke very very highly of each and everyone of you. Sorry that I did not have the courage earlier to say my thank you, I have had many questions and thoughts in my mind.
Know that my father is indeed a figther and he'd left us in a sense that he wants his rest from a good fight that he has fought. I hope that he will always be remembered for what a great man he was. And someday I will pick up the flag he's put down and continue his fight, his beliefs for all that is true and just; and maybe someday my children will do the same.
Ever Kind Regards,
Gideon
This is a good write up ...we knew very much later about his passing. Thank you....I will share this in my FB.
ReplyDeleteCY. You are welcome to share it with friends.
ReplyDeleteI only came to know of our dear brother,Anthony Belon's passing today.My deepest condolences to his family.God has taken him for a reason though I know not why.But the gospel seeds that He planted will flourish forever and in His time and seasons they will bear fruits.In God's kingdom he is not dead but asleep.I salute you for keeping your faith till the very end.Well done brother.I will miss you dearly.
ReplyDeleteLisa Tie, Hamilton, NZ.
Hi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteWe are all saddened by his passing. May his soul rest in peace.