Along Jalan Awang Ramli Amit

I like to cycle along Jalan Awang Ramli Amit. Jalan Awang Ramli Amit is about 1km stretch of road, connecting the edge of Sibu town with some residential areas and villages. The reason why I like to cycle around this stretch is because the road is wide and there is not many vehicles using it. Therefore reducing the risk of been rammed over from behind. Safety First

There are a few building structures around the road that might be interesting and probably have some historical value in it.

This is a scout headquarters for the Sibu region. The building was built somewhere in the 1980s. It also has a badminton court in it. The building is usually deserted unless there are functions or meeting by the scouts.

The Red Crescent building is next to the scout headquarters. The building also been built somewhere in the 1980s. The building is also usually deserted unless on Saturday where there is a meeting among the members.

Sri Rajang is situated next to the Red Crecent building. It is a state government building. Usually empty unless the state leaders came to Sibu. This is the venue where they have functions such as banquet when the state leaders arrive. Sometimes the open house is also held here.

This is the St. Mary Catholic church. Usually very crowded when there is a mass on Sunday. I think there is a primary school behind the church.

This is Sibu prison, our very own version of penjara pudu. There is a football field next to it. However, I never see the convicts played there. The public had access to the field though.

This is medan selera. Basically a food court where all the malay traders been relocated some years ago from Jalan Kampung Dato. I haven’t been there for ages. The foods there give me a bad impression as some are not serve fresh. All are halal food such as satay, western food, local food, BBQ chicken and soup. Anyway, the food stalls open until wee hour and is a good place to hang out when other places had closed. I and my friends used to hang here after visited the pub(s).

OK, I leave the best for last. This might look like an ordinary mosque but this is where the remains of Rosli Dhobi are resting.

Rosli Dhoby is a famous Malay Sarawakian nationalist from Sibu during British Crown Colony era in the state. He was a member leader of the Rukun 13 organization, a secret cell organization which carried out assassination of British Colonial officers in Sarawak. He was well known for his assassination attempt of Sir Duncan George Stewart, the second governor of Colonial Sarawak in 1949.

Rosli was arrested on the spot and sent to Kuching for imprisonment. The governor bled so badly that he had to be flown back to Kuching for treatment and later to Singapore, where he died a week after the incident.

After a few months languishing in prison, Rosli Dhobi, together with Awang Ramli Mohd Deli and Bujang Suntong (main roads around here are named after this brave warriors) were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death on 4^th December 1948. This was criticized by many, as Rosli Dhobi was a juvenile at the time of assassination. The death sentence was nonetheless a political statement.

Rosli Dhobi was sent to the gallows on the morning of 2^nd March 1950. Fearing the resentment of local population, the British government did not allow Rosli Dhobi’s body to leave Kuching Central Prison. Instead, his body was interred in an unmarked tomb within the prison compound.

After 46 years resting in an unmarked tomb, the remains of Rosli Dhobi were moved out of the Kuching Central Prison to be buried in his home town, which is Sibu on 2^nd March 1996. It would be nice if there is a statue or some sort to commemorate Rosli Dhobi and the fallen warriors.