It’s great to reminisce about good memories of my past. It was enjoyable when it was today. So learning to enjoy today has two benefits: it gives me happiness right now, and it becomes a good memory later.
– George Foreman, American boxer, entrepreneur and author
When I looked at the photo of the aftermath of Tong Sang Road fire recently, it immediately reminded me of No. 16A, Tong Sang Road building which is further inside and opposite the burnt block.
That No. 16A was the block occupied by my brother Edward’s family for umpteen years. Since 1968 every time I was in Sibu, I would be staying at the address, except once when I was forced to inhabit at next door No. 16B that was occupied by an Iban family from Bawang Assan – then Edward and family were back home to Bawang Assan for an occasion, thus my poor self who came alone from Saratok stayed temporarily with Hilary Sering and family next door. Therefore the block No. 16 holds lots of memories for me since 1968.
At the junction of Tong Sang Road I remember there was a big building housing a shop lot. I liked to be around the shop as there was a girl there – can’t recall her name – who was very friendly and gave me the shop telephone number. However, we only talked via the phone but never went out together. That was circa 1972 when I stayed for about a month at Tong Sang Road with my brother’s family – including two weeks working as a daily paid (at RM4.50 per day) labourer constructing the Sarawak House that now houses the Premier Hotel, just a short distance on foot from our Tong Sang Road abode.
In fact I was joining two Indonesians (family relatives) who were paid higher than me due to their jobs that required higher skills. After receiving my two weeks’ pay, I called it quits as our School Certificate (Form 5) results were on its way out soon.
After the results were out, I was one of six SMK Saratok students selected for Form Six at Methodist Secondary School Sibu for 1973 and 1974. One of my classmates Rohani Abdul Karim – she wrote in my autograph ‘I aim to be PM’ – made it big in Malaysian politics and became full federal minister with Datuk Seri honorific.
In 1974, in conjunction with 25th anniversary of the school I held a one-man batik show and sold over 20 pieces of my batik paintings with purchases made by teachers from India, England, Canada, USA and locals. Then I was staying in the school boarding house.
In February 1975, I started working as assistant editor of Iban newspaper Berita Rayat, a monthly publication of Info/Psywar Section of RASCOM under the Information Department. That lasted until end of June as I went for further studies.
Since 1979 I was always in Sibu on weekends as I was lecturing at Rajang Teachers College in Bintangor till May 1983 and thereafter in SMK Sedaya, Kanowit till December 1984 but later (1985-87) still going back to Sibu as my wife’s family was occupying No. 21, Lemon Road. And from 1988 to 1993 we were always in Sibu on weekends while serving in SMK Julau.
My last trip to Sibu was about two weeks after Gawai Dayak of 2019 when I stayed for three days at my favourite Premier Hotel. In fact this is where I used to stay since 1987 till 1993 (during my SMK Julau days) and later from 1997 to 2002 when passing it on the way to and from Miri/Brunei trips – it was so convenient as my record there showed that I was paying RM55 per night and later changed to RM80.
And its music joint Bamboo House was where I used to perform as guest artiste since 1981 with different bands, both local and from the Philippines. In 1984, my wedding was also held at Ambassador Restaurant and I was given a complimentary stay at Premier since it belonged to the same management.
In 2002 when returning from Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, I nearly got lost but found my way when I drove via Tong Sang Road, passing No. 16A/16B and coming out to the nearby Premier Hotel where I spent two days, and enjoyed some beer at the Bamboo House.
I noticed then there were changes on the town’s landscape but the typical scene remained intact – where one would see two cars from opposite directions with their windows down and meeting (stopping) at the middle of the road and exchanging pleasantries.
It reminds me of similar scenes in Penang’s George Town some forty years ago. So what Confucius once said that a mountain can become a plain after hundreds of years but man’s nature can never change is true.
Sibu I really miss you.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
