Sing Chuong Restaurant in Bekenu, a Foochow owned enterprise is famous for Bertutu fish or Marble Goby which costs RM 100 per kg.
The fish is kept in clean water for a few days so that they would reduce out their muddy body smell.
During the Japanese Occupation my grandfather kept his children safe in Mee Ann Rice and Sawmill away from the Japanese soldiers who headquartered in Sibu. The second son was in charge of the rice mill and was acting as chief manager. Due to the war, commercial work was minimal at the rice mill. Some farmers came to mill their rice and Grandfather took a commission out of the milling, thus providing the family with enough rice since the family did not grow their own. Throughout the war, indeed,the family was never short of rice.
When the fear of the bombing subsided towards the secod year of the Occupation, my grandfather also moved the family back to Sibu to live in Hua Hong Ice Factory while the second and third sons continued to look after the mill in Bintangor.
My aunts remember that while they were living in Binatang and Pulau Kerto, the staff often caught Ngong Tumbuoh or marble goby in the small streams behind the rice mill and ice factory. They were plentiful. Grandfather would pay a few cents for them,being so cheap, and allowing the children to have extra food and enjoy a good meal.
If the children themselves caught the fish, they would be so happy with the fresh fish on the table. It was extra free food from nature.
However, Grandfather would still think that ngong tumbuoh was an inferior fish as he would choose marine fish for himself.
May be he felt that the Ngong tumbuoh smelled of mud!!
(Note: today marble goby fetches RM100 per kg in the restaurants)
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