An aerial view showing a section of Sibu town with the mighty confluence of Rajang and Igan Rivers in the foreground

Sibu is strategically located amidst a vast and rich hinterland covering the mighty Rajang and Igan Basin as far away as Bintulu. From a humble beginning as a small agrarian settlement, Sibu has emerged as the administrative, commercial and political centre of the region.

The over 230,000 population comprises of a colourful mix of bumiputeras or ethnic tribes such as the Ibans, Melanaus, Malays and Orang Ulus (highlanders) living in prefect harmony with the various Chinese dialect groups, majority of whom are the Foochows, Hokkiens, Cantonese, Hakkas, Hing Huas and Teochews.

Such racial harmony contributes greatly to a conducive and stable environment, which facilitates fast pace growth and development and it eventually lead to what Sibu is today - a vibrant city in the making.

Just like the many tributaries that criss-cross the State of Sarawak, the people of Sibu, along with the rest of the State’s move harmoniously in one direction.

In what has been described as a “Confluence of River” by the Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, widely acknowledged as the unifying force of all the different races, the people blends into one another as they flow towards the sea. The people here speak Mandarin as the main language, with English and Bahasa Malaysia at joint second. The main Chinese dialects spoken here are Foochow and Hokkien. Though the majority may not be very conversant in Cantonese, Hakka, Heng Hua and Teochew, they can nevertheless understand these dialects in a conversation.

With the World Health Organisation declaring the State capital of Kuching as one of the healthiest cities in the world, Sibu has what it takes to become recognised as another healthy city of the near future.

This town has indeed seen much growth and development since its humble beginnings.

Borneo Cultural Festival

If you are looking for a week packed with great Borneo bands, dancers, plays, food, games, handicrafts and the warmth of the local community, just come to Sibu, and indulge yourself at the Borneo Cultural Festival.

The Borneo Cultural Festival is an annual festival organised by Sibu Municipal Council in the month of July.

The event is a showcase of the rich racial and ethnic culture in this region. It also aims to promote Sibu as the gateway to Central Sarawak and a City of Culture and Festivals.

Following on from previous years’ success, this year’s event is the fourth since 2002 and proved to be even bigger and bolder. Those who came enjoyed the best of Beauty in Ethnic Diversity from 2nd till 9th July 2005.

The Town Square Phase One accommodated the Dayak, Mandarin and Malay/Melanau community corners and cultural presentation stages.

The second phase hosted a 50-member trade exhibition and a stage to show the Malaysian lifestyles. The Trade & Exhibition was well participated by those who want to showcase their products and services. It gives them the opportunity to place their products and services in front of thousands of prospective customers across a span of eight days.

A Nyonya and Baba cultural troupe from Malacca and one each from Fuzhou, China and South Korea added foreign flavour to the annual event.

Sibu Municipal Council initiate eLA

	An artist impression of the majestic Swan as the future symbol of Sibu. The community-based project will cost around RM20 million
Sibu Town Squre Phase Two a. This RM10 million project when completed will be the largest town square in the country and can accommodate about 100,000 people

Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) became the first local authority in the State to implement the e-Local Authority ( eLA) program in Sibu on 18 March 2004.

The program was coordinated by SMC and Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Unit of the Chief Minister’s Department, using technologies that was developed by Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd. (SAINS) and SiliconNet Technologies Sdn. Bhd. (SNT).

Basically, eLA is an electronic administration delivering integrated services of all local authorities of Sarawak connected into one single virtual entity. Sarawak has 26 local authorities and each are currently providing various services to the citizens and business communities, for instance, issuing of assessment rate, licensing and facilities management.

However, not all these local authorities are equipped with electronic-enhanced services. The State Government is optimistic that this situation can be remedied through the development and implementation of eLA statewide.

To date, more services are added under the eLA, namely e-Billing and e-Payment, e-Complaint, e-Booking, e-Submission, e-Procurement, e-Community, e-Recruitment, and e-Licensing.

Pursuing its City status aim

Sibu, Sarawak’s third largest town, will continue to pursue its aim to be the state’s next city after Miri in the northern region was declared Sarawak’s second city in May 2005. The Minister for Infrastructure Development and Communications, Datuk Wong Soon Koh however said that this would call for the joint efforts of all of its communities, irrespective of race or status.

“We are very determined and we just have to move ahead. Maybe five or ten years down the road, Sibu will be ahead of Miri, which was proclaimed Sarawak’s second city in May 2005.”

To become a city, Sibu folks should especially emulate the “community consensus” of their Miri counterparts. They must not allow their different racial origins to be a stumbling block in their city making efforts.

	e LA launched on 18 March 2004 by State Secretary, Datuk Amar Hj. Abdul Aziz Dato Haji Husain at Kingwood Inn Sibu
The Multi Storey Car Park is the pride of SMC. Adjacent to it is the recently-completed Sibu Walkway, a joint-venture project with Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID). The walkway covers the former Loba Lembangan River

RM20m Swan City Symbol

A Swan figurine estimated to cost RM20 million will be Sibu’s city symbol in the near future. Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew
said that it will be a community project sited on a reasonably big sandbank right where the confluence of the Rajang and its tributary, the Igan Rivers meet just directly facing the town.

He said it would be as high as a 15-storey building and among others, at its basement, would be an exhibition hall. Lau said that the swan was adopted as the town symbol due to its historical links with the town.

He said that for example, about 150 years ago, the 770-km long Rajang River, the nation’s longest river, was called the Swan River by early Chinese settlers and the town then was called Swan town.

It perfectly symbolized its development and transformation from a small town into a beautiful city as in the case of the ugly duckling which grew to become a beautiful swan.

As Sibu marches with the rest of the nation towards industrialisation, the aspiration to turn Sibu into a unique Garden City is a noble one. The potentials of Sibu must be explored, its attributes realized. The growth of Sibu must be charted, its direction guided. The strength of Sibu must be harnessed, its people united.

From being a Melanau village of the pre-1850’s, Sibu grew into the bazaar of the early 1900’s. From there, the town metamorphosed into the modern town of more than 200,000 people. As the 21st Century dawns on Sibu, there is renewed hope and vigour in the people of Sibu.