Pulau Babi and Sungei Lembangan

Sibu Town is actually built on two islands, Pulau Sibu and Pulau Babi. Pulau Sibu was probably named before James Brooke came to Sarawak by the local people because there were many Sibau fruits growing on the island. Another theory is that Pulau Sibu was inhabited by Orang Sibu.
Pulau Babi (now Khoo Peng Loong Road) was given the name because the first abbatoir (pigs slaughtgerhouse) was situated there.
Today these two islands are not obviously seen because the Limbangan River is almost completely covered by urban development and the small stream which set Pulau Babi apart from the mainland has also been covered up.

Photo shows Pulau Babi which is now known a Khoo Peng Loong Area. In the future the next generation will not remember the name any more. During my childhood the jetties at Pulau Babi was a famous place.

Old photo of Pulau Babi wharf

I used to wait here to get my boat ride to Kanowit where I taught for a year. 1975.

The Lembangan river begins here and ends up at the other end of Sibu Island.

At the end of the Sibu Island, the Sg. Lembangan joins Sg. Igan. The Kampong Datu can be seen on the left. Almost all of the Sg. Lembangan has been filled up by the development of Sibu town in the last 30 years.

In 1958, when cholera spread through Sibu, the Lembangan was still the most important source of water for transport, washing, drikking and cleaning. River boat homes were berthed at the other end. Pineapple boats entered from here and berthed at the bridge near the Sibu Mosque.