ABOUT 200 devoted admirers, who wouldn’t have missed the event for the world, prevented the death anniversary of Sarawak’s late chief minister Adenan Satem in Kuching from being a complete washout this evening.

“We expected 1,000 to show up,” said Chong Shin Hua, a member of the Kuching Traditional Handicraft Study Society (KTHSS), which organised the event held at the Kuching waterfront.

Only a fifth of that braved the wet weather to come light candles before a large portrait of Adenan, who died this day a year ago of a heart ailment.

“Definitely rain has an effect on the turnout,” said Chong, who was in the familiar “Sarawak For Sarawakians” black T-shirt that said “Free Sarawak” at the back.

About two kilometres way in Padungan, the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) – a component member of the state’s ruling Barisan Nasional coalition – was holding a similar event to mark the death of Sarawak’s beloved son.

The rain eventually drove them to the waterfront to join Chong and company.

SUPP had organised similar gatherings in major towns like Serian, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Bintulu, Mukah, Sibu, Miir in Sarawak and even in Skudai, Johor on the peninsula.

Tahlil was held at the house where Adenan lived in Damai, Santubong, and in mosques throughout the state.

“I showed up to pay tribute to an extraordinary man,” Chong said.

He said KTHSS members revered Adenan because he had taken a stand on Sarawak’s rights and autonomy.

His memory is “something we can’t let go of just yet”, said Chong.

Chong said although Adenan’s successor, Abang Johari Openg, had “done quite well” in the one year since he took over, he had “not stepped out of Adenan’s shadow”.

“Adenan was one of a kind. Abang Jo can never be Tok Nan,” Chong said referring to the deceased by the name he was affectionately known.

Adenan’s daughter-in-law Dayangku Noorisham Aziz Adenan and his two young grandsons, Umar Shah Adenan, 7, and Uthman Mahmud Adenan, 3, joined the crowd at the waterfront.

“I’m glad I came,” Noorisham said.

She had earlier shed tears while lighting a candle for Adenan.

“I came because I wanted to show my sons what a great grandfather they had.

“Look at these people. I’m touched by what I see.

“They came without any (political) agenda. They came (driven) by their heart to remember the man he is.”

Noorisham said non-Muslims had gone to the cemetary to lay flowers at Adenan’s grave this afternoon.

“They looked apprehensive. When I told them they could go ahead and lay their flowers, they said: we’ll wait until 1.25pm.”

That was the time of Adenan’s death at the Sarawak heart hospital in Kota Samarahan.

Adenan’s speeches were played over and over again at the event, including the well-remembered one in which he declared “I am Adenan”

“I am Adenan. I am not White Hair (in reference to his predecessor Abdul Taib).

“I am my own man. He doesn’t tell me what to do.”

On Facebook, SUPP’s Piasau assemblyman Sebastian Ting recalled the people’s disbelief upon hearing that their revered chief minister was dead.

“A year ago in the afternoon of the 11th day of January 2017, all Sarawakians were shocked with, and initially would not or could not believe the sad news of the passing of our then 5th Chief Minister of Sarawak YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, as he was fondly known as Tok Nan.

“People were hoping and praying that this news was not true and that it was just a plain rumour,” Ting wrote.

“But by the later part of that afternoon, with the official announcements through radio and TV and counter checked with those close to the top, Sarawak political leaders confirmed the great loss of our beloved chief minister Tok Nan.

“Tok Nan was well loved by all Sarawakians for what he had done for Sarawak and the people of Sarawak during his tenure of the Chief Minister from the 28th February 2014 to 11th January 2017.

“We miss him and will always miss him.

“May he rest in eternal peace.” – January 11, 2018.