An-Nur Mosque

An-Nur Mosque is located just next to the Sibu Warrior Memorial Site and been enlisted as one of the heritage site in the Sibu Heritage Trail.

Located at Jalan Awamg Ramli Amit, it is referred as Sibu Mosque by the local folks. Its golden dome can be seem from afar and is also within easy reach from Kampung Datu. Apparently there are at least 3 roads that lead into the the mosque compound.

 

The mosque is capable to accommodate between 1,000 to 3,000 people and is one of the biggest in Sarawak. It is quite obvious this mosque was built to replace the town's old mosque at Jalan Kampung Nyabor.

Sibu Warriors Memorial Site

I never knew Sibu had a Warriors Memorial Site until the latest announcement of the memorial as one of the nine heritage site for the Sibu Heritage Trail. The Warriors Memorial together with the adjacent An-Nur Mosque are the furthest site for the Sibu Heritage Trail from the town itself at Jalan Awang Ramli Amit.

The Warriors Memorial Site is actually the final resting place for the four famous freedom fighters from Sibu, namely Rosli bin Dhoby, Awamg Ramli bin Amit, Bujang bin Suntong and Morshidi bin Sidek. during the British colonial era. Today, all the major roads in Sibu were named after all these brave warriors.

 

The memorial is constructed with Islamic influence with 4 concrete pillars structure with a stainless steel dome on it. The structure is actually located within the compound of the An-Nur Mosque.

 

There was a huge discontent among the local when the White Rajah decided to cede Sarawak to the British Crown in 1946 after the Japanese Occupation. On 3rd December 1949, Rosli Dhoby who was born in Sibu led a group code named Rukun 13 (the Black Crow Group) carried out a plan to assassinate the 2nd Governor of Sarawak, Sir Duncan George Stewart in broad daylight.

Rosli Dhoby, Morshidi Sidek, Bujang Suntong and Awang Ramli Amit were arrested and hung in Kuching on 2nd March 1950. They were then buried in the prison cemetery in Kuching. On 2nd March 1996, their remains were exhumed and brought back to this permanent resting place.

Sibu Old Mosque

The Sibu Old Mosque located at Jalan Kampung Nyabor is probably the oldest structure still standing in Sibu town. This mosque has been selected as one of the heritage site for the newly launched Sibu Heritage Trail.

 

This mosque was built before the White Rajah's time, probably in the 1830s by Tuan Haji Salam Minangkabau from Indonesia.

The original building was constructed of timber and leaf attap but it constantly evolved as the Muslim community grew and prospered.

The form of this house of worship remain unchanged; the three level limas roof is in line with the traditional architecture of the 19th century. The mosque still remain relevant to the Muslim community here and it is usually packed for the Friday Prayer.

Sibu Oldest Muslim Cemtery

The Sibu Oldest Muslim Cemetery has been chosen as one of the 9 points in the recently launched Sibu Heritage Trail and I decided to give the place a visit since I never knew that a section within the Sibu Town Square Phase II is actually a cemetery.

 

The monument is not difficult to spot. It is located behind Paramount Hotel and adjacent to the Lau King Howe Memorial Museum. In fact I come across this place many times before without realizing its historical value.

The white structure erected here was built to commemorate the old Muslim cemetery and the early settlement of the Malay community in Sibu when Islam started to established in Sarawak during the rein of Brunei Sultanate in 1599.

The white structure has 4 corners with each corner erected with a plaque depicting the historical facts of the early Malay settlement in Sibu.

At its centre, there is a star shaped stone engraved with 21 known names of those buried at the site. It is estimated about 70 people could had been buried here before the Japanese Occupational in 1941. The burial ground was then no longer used after that due to serious erosion on the river bank.

Outside the monument, stand two giant sized Ficus SPP species tree. It is believed that the trees were planted from branches used as a temporary tombstone for a victim who died from the bite of a venomous snake. The trees were alredy there before the construction of the Brooke Fort in 1862.

 

With a few old tombstones below the trees, there is no doubt now that this area was once a Muslim burial ground.

 

 

 

The burial ground now has a beautiful permanent barricade around it which reflect its historical value which I reckon not known to most of the locals here.

My Newborn Son

Today is Father's day and it happened that I became a father myself a few days earlier (8th June 2012).

 

My life definitely had changed with his arrival. Thank God my baby boy came to this world safely with all the complications during his delivery. A new chapter of my life began and we are happy to receive a new life into our family.

 

My sleeping pattern also changed after he was born as he is a bit cranky during the night but sleep like a pig during daytime. I believe almost all new parents have similar experience with their newborn. It can be a nuisance but somehow it is a rewarding experience seeing your loved one sleeps so well during daytime.

 

I will not be able to see him growing up since I been posted away from my hometown. I will definitely miss him always. God willing, I hope we can be reunited someday and spent some quality time together.

Sibu Pumping Station @ Sibu Central Market

The multi million ringgit flood mitigation project in Sibu has certainly changed the physical appearance of the town with the construction of a few pumping stations.

 

The pumping station beside the Sibu Central Market is definitely a pleasant looking station with a decent looking garden behind it. The small leisure square seems to obscure rather unpleasant look of the overhead traveling crane and other functional structures within the pumping station.

There are a total of 5 pumps here. When the water level reached 1.6m, the first pump would automatically start. The second water pump will be activated at 1.8m and the process goes on.

Each of the five pumps is capable of pumping out three cubic metres of water per second and with five pumps running simultsneously, a maximum of 15 cubic metres would be flushed out per second. 

The mighty Rejang River forms the backdrop of the pump house here. With its unique landscape and the beauty of the river, it has become a tourist attraction of sorts.

Melaka Art Gallery

The Melaka Art Gallery is located just next to the Christ Church at the Dutch Square in Malacca.

 

 

 

 

 

The gallery displays various artworks of local and foreign artists. Entrance fee is RM 1 for adult.

I would definitely would like this painting on my wall. The gallery offers some really interesting drawings as well as sculptures. Its probably worth a visit if you got some time to kill while in the vicinity after finish visiting all the museum Malacca has to offer.

Visitors will also have a fine view of the Dutch Square from one of the window here.

Malacca Museum of History and Ethnography

The Museum of History and Ethnography is located at the Stadhuys. Entrance fee is RM 5 for adult which also entitle the ticket holder entry to other museums within the St. Paul's Hill area.

 

 The historical section of the museum is devoted to the history of Malacca from its establishment until it gained independence. The Ethnography section showcase the lifestyle and culture of the various communities and sub communities that make up the multi racial society of Malacca.

 

The space in this room is a real location of the Dutch Governor administration office in Malacca.

This dining table was made in Malacca according to Dutch designs. It can be extended whenever required.

The ceiling manual fan was adopted in Asia including in the Dutch Governor's office. A cord attached to the pulley of the rectangular fan enabled it to move sideways creating air movements. A man would be stationed in the next room to pull the cord.

The early Dutch ceramics were not really high quality and were produced only for domestic consumption. The arrival of the Dutch in Southeast Asia and their relations with China enabled them to improve their ceramic industry and eventually produce porcelain of high quality. Dutch porcelain carried the letters VOC, which was the insignia of the Dutch East India Company. These porcelains were brought to Malacca via Batavia (now Jakarta). The colourful Dutch porcelain wares found in Holland had mostly been meant for the Southeast Asian market.

 

 

Other ceramics and porcelains on display at the museum.

The Dutch Pipe which was donated by His Excellency Ambassador during their visit here in 2004.

 

Emblem of Dutch Company V.O.C, made of coral stone.

Since the beginning of Malay civilization, a stall like this has already existed around Malay villages around Malacca. Normally, the farmers and fishermen were among the regular customers who always stopped by to take a rest while enjoying eating and drinking after a tiring day at work.

Kopitiam was once a medium for the early Chinese immigrant workers to meet for a good cup of coffee, to relax after a tiring day at work.

It is said that Indian immigrant from Ramnadis in Tamilnadu, South India started the Indian used book store during the depression years of the late 20s and early 30s. They had a good supply of used school textbooks as in those days school textbooks do not change as often. Their target customers were the students who could not afford to buy new school books.

There is a Dutch bakery within the Stadhuys building itself. In the bakery, workers toast the bread to serve the Governor, officer and other staffs who worked in the building.

 

 

 

 

This miniature depicts the change in landscape of the St. Paul's Hill during the Portuguese, Dutch and British administration. Almost all the Portuguese/Dutch fortress that surrounded the hill was blasted by the British.