Hua Hung Ice Factory : Chief Mechanic

Just before the Japanese arrived in Sibu, my grandfather engaged a Cantonese man who had just arrived from Gunagzhou to work as chief mechanic of the Hua Hung Ice Factory, Pulau Kerto.

He was a nice mild tempered, Cantonese man who said that when he made enough money he would send for his relatives to come to live in Sibu. A bachelor, he was rather bald and plump but he was very independent and he got along well will all the employees and especially my father who was the manager. He and my father, who loved fishing, would go fishing together and at times put down traps on the mud banks of the Rajang at the Ice Mill. They were like best friends having a great time on a fishing trip.

He was just getting used to living a simple and serene life on the island with Melanau and Iban workers. He often had to entertain boat owners who came to buy ice and they talked about engines etc. He lived in one of the rooms just near the jetty, so he had quite a good view of the river and Sibu town.

One day the Japanese came and started to machine gun all the houses along the Rajang, on both sides of the river. They killed quite a number of people but tragically, the Chief Mechanic who was most alert about mechanic noises came out of his hostel room to find out what the commotion was all about, thinking that, most probably the Ice Factory was having some mechanic trouble, being the responsible man he was.

He was thus gunned down.

According to my aunt, he was the only fatal casualty of the Ice Factory during the Japanese Occupation.

A small funeral was arranged by the Cantonese Association and the management.

A river like Rajang gave life to the people who depended on it but it was brought enemy boats equipped with machine guns to take life.