Before and after the Second World war, there were many paupers in Sibu and many of them actually died without any one to bury them.
Dr. Chee Suk Chew as a doctor had been most concerned for years and he had been thinking about the issues as he was a very benevolent person. There were only three doctors in Sibu at that time. Dr. Chee who was called San Bok Su (Three Doctorates), Dr. Chiu Nai Ding and the British doctor serving in the Lau King Howe hospital.
The British Military Administration was the interim administrator of British Borneo between the end of the Second World War and the establishment of the Crown Colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo in 1946 i.e. from 12th Sept 1945 to 1 July 1946. Thus it was just for a few months with Labuan Island as the Headquarters. It was mainly managed by the Austrlian Imperial Force or AIF.
Was there a political movement in Sibu in those days? Probably at the end of the war most people were still in a state of confusion and they were not aware of the critical political development except some Malays who were already organised . The Malays as a group were generally much ahead in terms of political awareness at that time.
In all respect, after the death of Rev James Hoover in 1936, the Foochows depended on some church leaders to lead them, like Rev Ling Kai Cheng and Lau Kah Tii, where the other dialect groups were also guided by their community leaders. The Malays and the Ibans had their own leaders.
The reins of the government then were in the hands of the Resident. Before the Japanese Occupation, the Resident of Sibu was McPherson. Just before he and his officers retreated as the Japanese advanced, he handed over the "civil matters" to Datuk Mohammad and Abang Seraie the Assistant DO. As Ling Kai Cheng was there to send the British officers off at the Sibu wharf he was reminded by the Resident to take care of his Foochow/Methodist people (even though he was a Hin Hua man). Resident McPherson told the Datuk to govern Sibu on his behalf, and Ling Kai Cheng to consult the Datuk. (Re: Ling Kai Cheng's Memoirs)
The socio - political and economic scenario in Sibu was thus loosely military under the BMA for a few months while the people reassessed their own situation. The Resident of Sibu after the war was Resident Adam.
It was quite unclear if some of the educated people at that time were aware that Sarawak had become a Crown Colony, or was Sarawak just handed over to Great Britain by the Tuan Muda as there was no newspapers to update any one.
But definitely there were paupers in the streets, and destitute people without homes. It was beyond the capabilities of the various commuities to handle. Thus, it was under the British Military Administration that the Sibu Benevolent Society began its services soon after the liberation in 1945.
A group of people met at the house of Dr. Chee Suk Chew at Island Road in 9 October 1945 to discuss the plight of the poor and destitute people of Sibu.
Dr. Chee even called a public meeting at Rex Cinema, rallying for public support a few days later and they formed a committee.
 |
| McCathy and Dr. Chee Suk Chew and other committee members. |
They also discussed the allocation of post war food rations etc for the people. The REsident Adam was more in favour of using the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
The Sarawak Gazette reported that the Rex Cinema held shows to raise funds for the SBS. A lottery was even initiated to raise the first funds for the Society.
Later Lt. Colonel McCarthy authorized the Sibu Benevolent Society to use two buildings in Salim area to take care of the paupers and sick. From then onwards "beggars were not seen in Sibu market, and they had a place to stay."
The Catholic Mission, under Fr. Buis and some Catholic nuns volunteered to serve with the SBS. In this way the RC mission has a long association with the development of the SBS.
One of the buildings was named McCarthy Lodge which was the official address of the Sibu Benevolent Society then. But not many people can remember that nowadays.
After 1951, the Sibu Benevolent Society managed the nursing home in Bukit Lima where the RC nuns helped with the care of the sick and elderly.
Funds would come from the living and the dead. When rich people died, their families would remember to donate generously to the Society.
Sibu should remember the men who envisioned a benevolent society to help the destitute, the sick and the unwanted in Sibu.
Extra Notes : Past chairmen of Sibu Benevolent Society Chan Sze Thiam, Nizam, Chew Geok Lin, Ting Lik Hung, Chew Peng Ann, RC Fathers, and committee members were men like Lee Sui Ling, Bhattarachya, and others.
Sources :
a) SArawak Gazette (1947)
b) Sarawak Chinese Cultural Association : Sibu Chinese Historical Compilation (Chinese language with some translation)
No comments:
Post a Comment