It was an unusual drought period. Our tank which stored rain water was completely empty and I remember having to wash our clothes in the Lembangan River with my mother and other aunts. We had to walk home with our pails of washed clothes. so many other women in Sibu were doing the same. We were grateful that the Rajang River was still providing us with water. for my mother, water was always plentiful when we lived in Pulau Kerto and we never depended on rain water.
That year, the people were happy that the government decided to install standpipes in many places. When the standpipe was installed at the junction of our Kong Ping Road and Kampong Nyabor Road, we were delighted. I pushed my bike to help carry pails of water home. Jerry cans were not available yet. No one used plastic containers in those days.
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| I took this photo of a night soil man when I visited Putien not long ago. He inspired me to write my article on night soil men of Sibu. |
So how was waste matter managed in Sibu before?
We had a night soil man who came at about 5 a.m. We could hear him but before we heard him, we could smell that he was near.
Our outhouse was at the corner of our garden, with pineapple plants surrounding the toilet.
The night soil was taken to the Pulau Babi wharf and loaded onto a boat bound for Pulau Keladi where the farmers would use it for their farms.
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