Disappearing Miri : Chinese Wooden Shophouse

In the1950's and 60's the Chinese were very enterprising business people who were ever willing to set up a sundry or supply shop in a village which may be even far away from the towns. When Lambir resettlement scheme was set up in Miri in the 1960's, several Chinese families were part of the scheme and one or two families decided to use their allotment to build wooden shop houses, with the first floor as their family homes. The photo shows one of the oldest shops in Lambir. The photo was taken in 2022.

It is a basic square building with an A shaped roof. A balcony would be upstairs for drying of clothes and also acting as a look out. Once the groundfloor is totally locked up the family would feel safe staying on the first floor. AS fence in those days would not be necessary according to an old grandfather. but today every one would like to have fences or walls around their houses.

the simplicity of former days is now all gone.