Best of the Burmese in Sunny Sarawak

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

Burmese in Kuching get original Burmese food

Dried roselle leaves, goat meat and bamboo shoots

Pone-Ye-Gyi, Pe-Byote, Pe-Gyi and pickled tea-leaves

They share these foods for cooking and eating to please.

(L to R: Drs MMN, NOM, Marci/Mrs MMOhn, Dr Maung Maung Ohn)

Some Burmese doctors visit Kuching

They come for sight seeing or examination

The hosting Burmese are glad in entertaining

They enjoy the meeting with celebration.

(L to R: Drs Tin Moe Nwe, Kyi Kyi Myint, Marci, Aye Aye Aung,

Phyu Phyu Aung, Nan Ommar)

Burmese doctors are polite to each other

They grin and greet on meeting anywhere

They exchange pleasantries as second nature

Sarawakians wonder at our manners and admire.

(Sarawakian Medical Students Celebrating Chinese New Year)

Sarawakians do not greet by wishing you

They never say, “Good Morning or Good Night”

At whatever time of the day it might be due

They look at you or say your name outright!

(NOM at the UNIMAS Entry Gate at Kota Samarahan)

They are like Burmese folks in Burma

They smile at you and change behavior

As a gesture of greeting or what so ever

Action speaks louder than voice for ever.

(L to R: A/P Dr Michael, Dean Prof. Syed. Prof. MMN, A/P NOM)

We always exchange greetings with students

Whoever person at whatever time before we spent

It has become a custom during our stay

The foreign-trained Sarawakians also say.

(UNIMAS Medical Graduates Playing Game)

Sarwakians are simple solid souls

Warmly welcoming every one young and old

Regardless of rank royalty remuneration or role

They just covet friendliness, fun and facts as gold.

(UNIMAS Medical Graduates Dancing at the Graduation Dinner)

We Burmese speak politely to our superiors

As well as to our equals and inferiors

Sarawakians become sweet and sincere with us

We have made good marks at the UNIMAS.

(L to R" A/P Dr Tin Win, A/P Dr Hla Hla Myint, A/P Dr NOM, Prof. Dr MMN)

One thing good is they are not inquisitive

They don’t ask your personal specifics

Of the past, present and all your mishaps

They don’t talk ill of you at the back.

(Dean Tan Sri Professor Taha Addressing the Medical Students)

Burmese doctors have grown in Kuching

Their number has been increasing

They find their lives here satisfying

Their kids can have satisfactory education.

( Burmese Teachers L to R: 2nd from Left Dr NOM, Phyu Phyu Aung,

Yin Yin Nwe aka Mrs Dr Tin Win)

There is free advice on children’s education

Here are many institutes of higher learning

They are private and they need funding

You must pay heavily out of your earning.

( Yupar and Ei Sabai Nyo in front of INTI College at Kuching, Sarawak)

The INTI College is the most established

It’s reputable and renowned in the region

Followed by Swinburne’s and Taylor’s College

There are many other private institutions.

(Yupar No and Ei Sabai Nyo Awarded with Excellent Certificates)

Burmese children can go further

To universities in UK, USA and Australia

Private colleges easily arrange for the transfer

What you need is money and endeavors.

(Yupar and Ei Awarded with Matsers in Computer Science from

the University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia)

Burmese can easily go to other countries

But we need respective visas for entry

Burma is the only country that need be

We have to take and pay visa fees.

(Dr MMN's Family in front of the Opera House, Sydney)

Burmese here can enjoy life like others

It’s much better than in Burma

Good income, good housing, 24 hour electricity

Water and communications are provided already.

( Drs MMN and NOM at the Faculty of Medicine and

Health Sciences, UNIMAS)

So, Burmese character stands out automatically

Marked by hospitality, friendliness and generosity

Helpfulness, politeness, sincerity and honesty

Sharing others in good manners and etiquette

It’s the second nature Burmese have to part

We’re really fortunate to be here in Sarawak

It’s for mutual benefits of the Burmese and UNIMAS.

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

18.5.2009 (original)

Note: Pe-Byote = Boiled Peas

Pe-Gyi = Lablab bean

Pone-Ye-Gyi = Fermented horse gram liquid or paste