Sibu Tales : Left Behind Wives

Many immigrants came to Nanyang to seek their fortunes from 1800 to 1950's. Most migrants who came to Sibu were single men. But the Foochow men brought their wives and children because of the  special agreement with the Rajah Brooke.

After China closed its doors in the1950's, the traditional (Going South)  migration stopped.

Throughout that period of time, many of the immigrants left behind wives in China.

There were reasons why they were left behind:
a) to look after their children
b) the immigrants would return home one day
c) the men were considered aliens by their receiving countries and they were not allowed to bring their wives.
d) their work place did not have accomodation for families
e) their children had to go to school
f) the wives had to look after their aging parents
g) the climate might not be suitable for their wives
h) dangers
i) they could not afford the passage
j) the husband and wife lost contact (very common reason)due to political and social reasons
l) the husband had started a new family and even changed his name.

I personally have met many men who confessed that they had wives in China but due to political or social reasons they were left behind. Hence they started a new family with either local Chinese or local indigenous women.

There was one man who lost contact with his wife in China during the Japanese War and he himself made his way to SArawak, at first Kuching and then Sibu. When he reached Miri, he married a new wife. But amazingly, his China born wife was able to trace him to Kuching and then Miri. So not long after the Japanese war they were reunited and the two wives lived together with him under one roof for a while. But later, the China born wife was very capable,  bought own property, moved out and set up her own family home. It was quite a good family story.

Another good story was of a trader who also lost contact with his wife in Fujian because of the war. After the Japanese war he sent word back to look for his wife and son. But unfortunately, his wife had gone away with the REvolutionaries and could not be traced. His old father however, sent his young son to Sarawak for him and his new wife to raise. Today the son is doing well in life.