The Old Police Station

The Maksak or Sarawak Government Services Welfare, Recreational Council is the owner of the prime porperty which was once called "The Tudor Building" of Sibu.





At the present moment it is a rather run down supermarket . It is Situated at Channel Road, but has  its facade facing the Market Road. It has seen many functions in its life.

At one time in the 1980's the downstairs was occupied by the National Registration of Births and Deaths where people from down river and upriver could easily come to make their Identity cards, get the children's birth certificates made and register their relatives' deaths. It was also the place where one could apply for a passport.

I witnessed a  rather unpleasant scene when an old barefoot Kayan man wearing a sun hat ,who wanted to make his Identity Card was made fun of.

A group of government officers, probably bored by their work decided to play a trick on the old guy.

They took his thumbprints and wanted some fun. They asked for his toe print!! And sure enough the old lovely guy got on a chair and stood on top of the old desk, and was ready to have his toe prints done!

I was aghast as I  witnessed the whole "joke"!!

"How can these people do such a thing to the old man?" I asked the lady at the counter, rather loudly.

I was a new teacher in town and had just had my second baby. I was sticking my head out for an ulu man. 

I will never forget that scenario. Some adults can be very cruel, playing tricks on an innocent, naive , illiterate jungle man.

From 1952 to 1957, it was occupied by the Sibu Rural and Sibu Urban Councils as their offices. The first batch of elected councillors sat in the "chambers" for their meetings.

Later it was occupied by the Library, Fire Station and Clinic.

I have often wondered when it was first built and for what purposes.