Dating in the 60's in Sibu

 

There were lots of funny instances in playgrounds like this. How young couples dated, how they quarrelled and split up. This playground "merry go round" is no longer found in many places in Malaysia because it is deemed children unfriendly.

Playgrounds were meant for kids to play but on many occasions our school principal Mr. Lau would check this playground out at the ARcher Road junction throughout his headship in the 60's in Sibu. He was very keen to nip any young romance in the bud so to speak.

There were lots of school romances and they were thus well hidden from him.

Even cycling with a boy was frown upon. So when a boy and a girl were found cycling together a few times, suspicions were aroused.

A very precious moment for me was during the Curfew time when a classmate cycled with a friend and I down Kampong Nyabor road through the Police Check Point, right to my gate. This was after MYF or Methodist Youth Fellowship. He then cycled with my other friend to town. He was so patient following us quite closely. It was very gallant of him to offer. Somehow I would always remember that scene at the Police Check Point. The police looked at him and laughed. "Got escort kah...." The word escort was an innocent word in those days. I think I have never thanked him for escorting us because I was glad to be safe at our gate

Later most MYF meetings ended earlier and I was able to cycle home myself when the curfew was lifted.

May be Mr. Lau was right in so doing.  Young People must concentrate on their studies and not digress from their ambitions.

Years later when the Islamic teachers came to teach in Sarawak, they were very militant about dating. Benches, merry go rounds, were taken off school compounds so that young couples could not sit around They even set up vigilant groups to catch and punish the young couples who were dating.

Then Social Media came in. Facebook, whatsapp, etc. Girl Meets Boy in the virtual world. Militant cybertroopers come into play.

I suppose an ERA of girl meets boy and fall in love, get married and live happily ever after is gone. No more fairy tale romance?