The rivers of Sibu, which are the Igan and the Rajang, are still served by small boat ferries like the one in the photo. (By Pro Steve)
I would like to share two tales assoicated with boat ferries. I will share the happy tale first.
My cousin James was a very hardworking son and one Sunday he went back to Nang Chong to help his parents cut the grass in the back yard. Unfortunately he had a heart attack. Every one tried to help him get to the jetty and hail a motor launch to send him to the hospital. There was no long boat in sight and as it was quite laste in the afternoon any boat going to Sibu (20 minutes away) would be very rare. However a friend was able to resuscitate him and as he recovered from his fainting fit, a small ferry came up the river and the family flagged it down and sent him to the Lau King Howe hospital. A short stay and some medication revived him and he was saved. Many years later he got a stent.
In 1967 my third uncle visited our relatives in Sg. Bidut, akong the river Igan. After a short visit, the family waited for the ferry to corss the Igan to go back to Sibu. But in the heat of the morning my third uncle collapse and passed away. It was a cardiac arrest.
The whole family was over wrought even though the ferry was there at the right moment my uncle could not be saved.
Thus jetties and river ferries would always bring a sadness over me whenever I see them, either in photos or in real life.
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