Sibu Tales : Blood Donation

In 1972 my mother, desperately in need of blood was told that she could have to BUY the blood. And my uncle arranged to buy 2 pints of blood. Paying 700 dollars for a pint of blood was an astronomical sum in those days.

For her next operation a few years later, she was able to obtain free blood because another uncle of mine was a blood donor.


It was difficult to obtain blood in Sibu and many trishaw drivers who took patients to the Lau King Howe Hospital also made a few bucks from selling their blood. The non Bumi patients were only too willing to pay. In fact one man was even willing to provide blood either from himself or from his group of friends for a fee.

Several years later, Dr. Judson Sakai ensured that all Sarawakians should have free blood from Red Crescent Blood Bank. That also stopped hospitals calling up Dayak students in Upper Forms to donate blood. Many students in Tanjong Lobang College also were encouraged by the hospital in Miri to give blood.

(In 1974 my husband was called to donate a pint of blood to save a Chinese woman in Limbang from her death. He of course did not charge for his blood.)

To encourage people to give blood, the hospital awarded the donor with a bottle of Guinness Stout or a bottle of Brand's Essence of Chicken and two eggs after the transfusion.

Our English Principal Mr. KV Wiltshire was very ahead of his time and he encouraged all of us his Sixth Form Students, above the age of 18 to give blood and to save lives. He also got his wife, Pauline to donate as often as possible. He was training us to be Socially Responsible.

This newspaper cutting from See Hua Daily News, reports Methodist School students donating blood. The donor is Datin Siti Zahrah b.Datuk Hussaini. Standing are from left, Tan Kui Chiang and Sheila Kang.1968.