SEA Games javelin gold medallist Ballang Lasung dies at age 57
Pic borrowed from yancorner.blogspot.com
Four-time SEA Games javelin gold medallist Ballang Lasung died at the Sarawak General Hospital at 8.45am Tuesday after battling a rare neurological disorder for five years. The funeral will be on Friday. He suffered from Multiple System Atrophy in 2003. Ballang Lasung is dead at 57, after a five-year battle with the debilitating cancer of muscular dystrophy.
Ballang won SEA Games gold medals in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983. Mokhtar Dahari, the country’s Saint of Soccer and Asian answer to Bobby Moore of England, died of the same disease.
Ballang, is a respected elder of the Kelabit tribe which forms 1 per cent of Sarawak’s population.Ballang, of Lawas, is survived by his wife Susanna Liew, 51, and two children, Sarah and Brian aged 23 and 19 respectively.
I first met this wonderful man when I was almost still a teenager and just arrived in Kuching. To me he seemed a formidable man at first. It took some time before I realized this not-much-talk demeanor and macho exterior hid a very kind man.
Being a first-timer at the chapel for a small fellowship gathering he gave me a choice for a song to request. I was feeling lonely and a little scared being away from home and all that at that time and wanted to request for the hymn, “Just a closer walk with thee”, but I was so afraid of inconveniencing the gathering as the song was a long one. I apologetically suggested first verse and the last verse. He wouldn’t hear of it.
The whole gathering sang the song with gusto and warmth. Some how, somewhere along the way, I picked up a lot of Christian values and vocabulary from the group. Thanks Balang Lasung. I believe I might have walked down a different path if not for you. Thank you very very much from the bottom of my heart..
Condolences to Sussanna Liew, Sarah and Brian.
Bengbeng,
Yes, a closer walk with Thee in Ballang’s journey, and now in His arms he rests.
The pix was originally from The Borneo Post. I also borrowed from the paper earlier.
Yan
I heard the bad news yesterday morning. Many of us were in shock when we received the bad news.
i lost in contact with him with him and when I suddenly heard the news I felt the sense of loss. he was a very kind man.
Sorry to hear this, Bengbeng, may Ballang Lasung rest in peace. A lovely post, for how your life was touched by him.
(P.S. If it’s OK with you, I’ve linked you in my blogroll).
Thank you. I have done the same
Balang was a Lun Bawang from Lawas. He had always been a good teacher of sports science and a good Christian. He was my colleague in SMK Limbang. He was newly graduated from Batu Lintang, and i newly graduated from MU. He never lost that enthusiasm to help people until the very end.
Glad to know that you knew him and had been touched by him.
I saw him a few times when he took his final sick leave.
Do you know what? He loved Foochow Pork Leg!
His singing was superb. We have lost a wonderful Christian brother.
Hello there,
It’s Sarah here. Ballang’s daugther.. My mom and I thought of just searching my dad’s name online to see what has been published online.
To see quite a number of people just remembering my dad for who he is has touched us tremendously and I thank you for writing about how he touched your life. Same also to those who have commented in your blog and other blogs as well..
My dad really was a great man and he leaves behind a tough act to follow.
Thank you again and God Bless
-sarah-
Thank you Sarah. My condolences to you and your family. He was a great man and will forever be remembered by the many many lives he has touched with his personality. But his journey is far from over now that he has your brother and you to live on for him. Be proud of your dad for he was a giant among men