Who's Mesa?

MESA Chen

I feel obliged to answer the enquiry regarding the mysterious Mesa. I have known Mesa for a long long time although we seldom "talk" in school, somehow. Maybe I was just the poor shy rural schoolboy in an urban school. This write-up may also give some perspective into a part of Sarawak history: I think Ling Beng Siew's family is writing a book on this aspect of Sarwak history.

Mesa is Cantonese, from Sarikei, like me. One of my cousin's also married her distant auntie. Her late father (Mr Chen Ko Ming) was not only manager of Sarikei Chartered Bank but also Secretary General of the SCA, Sarawak Chinese Association. My late uncle (father's elder brother) was a supporter of Mr Chen. That was in 1960s. Many Sarawakian Chinese were still inclined towards China and wants to bring communism to Sarawak. A large number (including natives) were against joining Malaysia. The "communists" then went "underground". Unfortunately the so-called "CTs" or communist terrorists also launched a campaign to slaughter those of a different political belief, labelling them as "running dogs". Many people in Sarikei were killed: mostly beheaded or shot. They tried to murder Mr Chen and my uncle but with no luck. My uncle then migrated to HK; hence I have 10 first cousins in HK! Their children had since migrated to Taipei (a doctor) and Chicago (Chinese restaurants). Mr Chen also helped my family business in Sarikei when we had a family associated with the slum of pepper prices in 1965.

Mr Chen moved to 30 Wingli Garden (I think) in 19771. Mesa was in St Mary's School. She was my form mate in Sarikei St Anthony's School Form 1-2 and then classmate in Form 3. So when I was in St Thomas's Lower 6 in 1974, Mesa was again classmate. She went to study in Perth and then migrated to Vancover Canada, to join the rest of her family. She is a dietitian and works in a hospital, like me. So when she came back to Malaysia for a long break, I made a date to have dinner with her, her husband and her close friends on 26.8.06. I finally managed to talk to her! Mesa married Joe Leskosek in 1995 and chose to have no children.

It seems that it is common knowledge amongst the elderly Kuching folks that Mr Chen's first girlfirend in Kuching was Irene Tan. I hear Irene Tan mentioned in St Thomas's Church every Sunday as the pastor prays for "her speedy recovery in London". Then I discovered that Irene Tan is Rodney Tan's mother! Small world.
I thinkl Angelia Lin previously sent a photo with Mesa (AND Agatha). I reattach. Maybe Mesa can tell us more.

Dr Clarence Lei Chang Moh