June 16, 2011

Seri Sarawak

Seri Sarawak was once the pride of Sarawak State Government. Wherever it sailed Sarawakians (old and young) would flock to the wharves to see the TYT(the Sarawak Governor) arriving or departing. In the beginning of Malaysia the TYT and his family were indeed the few celebrities we had. There were no celebrity chefs or Malaysian Idols or YBs like today,etc.

I remember in particular that there were parties on board the boat was like a floating hotel on the Rajang River!! And many of us teenagers would have a nice evening dreaming about being on the stately boat as we sat by the banks of the Rajang in Sibu.

Such was the opulence of the day.

Nevertheless I was fortunate to be been on board at least once some forty years ago and it was an evening to remember. My friend and I wore identical batik made in Indonesia. Hers was a sarong kebaya. Mine was a kaftan. I wonder if she can still remember that. We had a "cocktail" party which is quite unheard of nowadays.

I was surprised when a friend put a photo on her facebook and I realised that Seri Sarawak was in town! So like an old lady I went to the Marina and had a look....It was rather empty and at night there were no lights.  However even its empty shell still spells glamour.


From this angle the boat resting in the Miri Marina seems to be still elegant and sturdy.....


The front part (bow) is still good looking.


this photo below is by my friend....shows how tired looking the boat is...sitting by the Marina perhaps waiting for some renovation....What will be its future? Who is its owner now?  The rust has set in...and it looks a bit lonesome in the twilight.

There has been talk that it should be reinstated to its former glory and kept as a heritage show piece for Sarawak!!

13 comments:

William said...

I think renovation will cost a lot! But good looking.

Lee said...

Hi Sarawakiana, wow! I love that boat! Its beautiful.
Hope it can, will be restored to its old glory days.
New Engine, fresh coat of paint, some touches here and there, as good as new.
Who owns it now? The State?
Best regards.
Lee.

Ensurai said...

William..you know where it is berthed..go and take more photos...may be I come with you too? Let me know....hahahah with your connections may be we can get on board?

Ensurai said...

Hi Uncle Lee...I am not sure who owns it..have to find out...and I am sure it CAN be restored to its former glory....if there are a pair of good marine architect and ship engineer in Miri.

I never would like to see something like that taken out to sea and given a sea burial!!
cheers.

Anonymous said...

Hi...Indeed we do hope that the local historians and politicians will help to move the State Government to make this one of the important historical "sites" of our State heritage history....

thanks for the article.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I didn't have the looks, so I was never invited. LOL

Anonymous said...

Hi YC, Hasmadi was here just to have a look at the grand old boat of Sarawak. It looks like it is still sea-worthy.

Anonymous said...

...WOW...WHAT A GREAT SURPRIZE...TO SEE THIS GRAND OLD LADY-SRI SARAWAK WHICH USED TO SERVED THE TYT SARAWAK AND BERTH INFRONT OF THE ASTANA AND IT WAS GREAT-GREAT VIEW OF THE SHIP...JUST LIKE BRITANIA USED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AS FLOATING PALACE IN THE GREAT OLD DAYS UNTIL IT WAS DISCOMISSED AND PRESERVE AS A MUSEUM TO REMEMBER THE PAST WHEN HER ROYAL YARTH-THE BRITANIA SERVED THE QUEEN OF BRITAIN...WHY CANT THE SRI SARAWAK BE THE SAME?...AND PLACED HER WHERE SHE BELONG AND USED TO BE HER FORMER GLORY DAYS AND KEPT AS A HERITAGE INFRONT OF THE ASTANA,KUCHING...WE HAD SEEN THR SHIP WHEN WE STILL YOUNG TILL WE GROWN UP AND WE DO HOPE THE SARAWAK GORVEMENT WILL LOOK INTO TIS MATTER TO SAVE THE HISTORY OF SARAWAK AND HOPE TO SEE THE SHIP (FORMER TYT YATH) BERTH AND PUT AT THE USUAL PLACE WHICH IS INFRONT OF THE ASTANA...I THINK OUR ASTANA AND THE SRI SARAWAK IS UNIT IN THEIR OWN HISTORY...IM PROUD TO BE SARAWAKAIN AND MALAYSIAN...

Anonymous said...

I AGREE WITH YOU WITH THE RESTORATION...AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WHO OWN THE SHIP NOW?...WHAT HAPPEN TO IT?...VERY-VERY SAYANG AND DISAPPOINTED THAT NO ONE CARE FOR THE SHIP JUST LEAVE IT LIKE THAT...

Anonymous said...

I AGREED WITH YOU...ABOUT TAKEN OUT TO SEA AND SEA BURIAL...A SHIP LIKE THAT WE SHOULD PRESERVE IT AND TRANSFROM TO A MUSUEM LIKE IN USA 'QUEEN VICTORIA' THEY TRANSFROM THE SHIP TO RESTAURANT AND HOTEL...WHY CNT WE...?? SO THAT THE SHIP SRI SARAWAK BACK TO ITS FORMER GLORY...

Anonymous said...

Any background information about this ship would be very welcome please. I am a keen ship enthusiast from Scotland and saw her in Kuching in 1993, but cannot find any data - not even when or where she was built. Thank you.

Unknown said...

Hi u all ship enthusiasts, the ship, Seri Sarawak was auctioned to one of the son of The Samling group for Rm80,000.
Built in Singapore by Conan Wu & associate Naval Architect in 1976.Having served His Excellency the Governor of Sarawak since 1977 till was sold in 2008, already long in the state of sea-unworthiness.Thanks for asking everyone.
- more info available.

Suladbegri construction said...

Any info who is the owner now of seri sarawak.
Do pls call me At 0182264611. Thomas K begri
TQ

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