Sibu Tales : Lanang Bridge

 In the 1960's Lanang Road to us Foochow school girls meant the end of the road from Sibu stretching southwards. Thus the  end of the road was the demarcation line where the town ended. After that point would be the rural, rustic farm land owned by the Cantonese settlement. And we never cycled beyond that point. "The other side" was like out of bounds for us.

Later the Army Camp was built there and it became even more frightening. We never thought of it as a security area, and these personnel were actually keeping the town safe. They had guns which frightened us.

In the 1980s, roads were stretched to Sarikei and a ferry or two at the Durin point served the area bringing more comfort and convenience to every one. We could even drive to Kuching using the ferry along the rough mud road. We often stopped for a night along the way in Sri Aman (or Simanggang).

those were the rough slow road transport days. However personally if I had a choice, I would take a Chinese coastal launch any time. And later, an express from Sibu, which would take 8 hours or less. Coastal ship travelling might not be fashionable for the rich and famous, but it was good enough for me and many of my uncles and aunties. It was uncomfortable to say the least to arrive in Kuching caked in dust and sand.

Actually in 1983 the local Chinese headmen appealed to the government for a good road to Sarikei which would cover the four Foochow areas of Sg. Assan, Paradom, Kerto and Assan Village. Any way, the appeal was heard and soon a road was built and it offered a lot of convenience to every one. More people owned motor bikes. In 1991 a bigger ferry was introduced which brought even more convenience as people could drive their cars to Sarikei.

In 2003 The Lanang Bridge started construction work, to the great expectations of the local residents. This also led to more progress for the Sg. Assan residents. Progress has come!!

Sg. Assan actually during the Japanese Occupation was a small Foochow settlement surrounded by edible wild vegetables. Many Foochow girls from Nang Chong and Ensurai would paddle their small boats (two girls in a boat) to the area, away from the view of the Japanese soldiers in Sibu as they could move up behind the island of Kerto. When the tide was high they would paddle up stream, and after a few hours of foraging, and filling up their pails with midin and paku, they would easily paddle home with the fast running low tide.

And at times they could also say hello to their relatives.

Toll had to be paid to the company (not the government?) but the fees were finally removed (abolished) by the Chief Minister Adenan Satem in 2015.

So all in all a road, a ferry and a bridge came to Sg. Assan within 30 years, one generation of youths have grown up and gotten married. The bridge also made Sibu people happier because they could commute to work in Sarikei, Bintangor, and even Kanowit by road. Today people can easily commute and serve the Sg. Assan area especially the Chinese primary school and Methodist Church there.

Some people can remember the  progress, some people just don't want to remember. Others move on without any feelings.

Personally when I look back to 1975  when I was working in Kanowit, a trip by express boat from Kanowit to Sibu would take almost 3 hours, while a speed boat at a high cost would take 1.5 hours (open speed boat during the rain would caused the two or three passengers to be drenched),  A road trip was not in the view at all. Many women gave birth in the motor launches while I know of patients who almost could not make it to the Lau King Howe Hospital.

There was one time when the Principal of SEDAYA had to send a very sick girl student by speed boat to Sibu at midnight. Luckily she lived, but was not very well for a long time. It was dangerous then at night, but it would be eve more dangerous now because of the hidden logs.

We often heard of tragic stories because motor launches/expresses did not stop to pick up very sick passengers when relatives used red cloth or white cloth asking them to stop. For some reasons the jaga luan did not want to  pick them up.

If motor launches, speed boats and ferries could speak, there would be so many heart wrenching stories to tell.

Those who suffered the trauma of deaths and accidents because the ferry refused to work, should write their tales as a kind of emotional therapy.

After the bridge was built, for some the toll was too expensive and other reasons, they too have to bear the emotional scars for life.

Build a bridge. You would never know you may save a life or many lives.