RESIDENTS of the “sinking” central Sarawak town of Sibu are bracing for a major urban renewal work after Premier Abang Johari Openg pledged billions of ringgit to modernise the town.

The “restructuring of the town”, as described by the premier, is expected to start next year and end in 2035.

However, many Sibu folk were unclear what the restructuring would entail.

State Deputy Public Health and Housing Minister, Michael Tiang, provided clarity.

Sibu’s history dates back to its founding in 1862 by Rajah James Brooke, who built a fort on the confluence of the Rajang and Igan rivers to protect settlers there against attacks by the ethnic Dayak.

Tiang said for years, attempts at urban renewal had been hampered by the inability of town planners and engineers to tackle the swampy soil the town was built on.

Addressing the problem is now key in the new drive, Tiang told The Malaysian Insight.

“Sibu, in the past decades, had been facing peat soil conditions and flooding in low-lying parts of the town because we are located in a swampy area. 

“So, restructuring Sibu means the town must not only upgrade itself to become a modern metropolitan. More importantly, we must tackle the swampy soil.”

He said town planners and engineers, therefore, need to draw up a “holistic, modern, effective and efficient water management system” from what they had learnt during a study trip to the Netherlands, Denmark and Singapore. 

Tiang also said the state would bring in experts from these countries to provide consultancy and technology. 

“The irrigation, water management system structure must be in place before we even talk about a new metropolitan Sibu. 

“That must be dealt with. This is what we mean by restructuring Sibu.”  

Tiang said the town’s restructuring is also part of the greater Sibu redevelopment plan, which the local folk call the Bukit Assek redevelopment plan. 

He said it is called such because Bukit Assek is at the heart of Sibu.

Covering an area of 129.5 sq km, Sibu is about 60km from the South China Sea.

Tiang said due to its central position in Sarawak and along Sungai Rajang, Malaysia’s longest river, Sibu became an ideal trading hub for transporting goods between the interior of Sarawak and the coast.

In the early days of Sibu, the commodities traded along Sungai Rajang were rubber, timber and pepper. 

The town’s growth was further boosted by the establishment of rubber plantations in the region.

But Sibu’s economy prospered in the early 20th century due to the timber industry. 

Timber extraction and export were major economic activities, and Sibu served as a central point for timber processing and transport.

Tiang said due to its importance as a trading hub, Sibu was well connected, and to at least 13 towns within the Sungai Rajang basin. 

“Sibu is right at the centre and could also be a hub for higher learning, trading and medical care,” he said.

He said as Sibu is connected to the smaller towns in the Rajang basin, it plays a vital role in supporting these towns in its rural development.

“All these smaller towns are also very important for the economy of Sibu.”

‘Sinking fast’

Eddy Puah, who described himself as “Sibu born and bred” and spent most of his 54 years in the town. He is thankful the premier is leading the town’s restructuring.

“The inner city – the Bukit Assek area – is sinking faster than Jakarta. If you expect the developers to come in on their own, it’s going be a long, long wait,” he said.

He said without the desired return on investment, “it simply doesn’t make sense for any developer to want to jump in and redevelop the area”.

Puah said 20 years ago, then Sibu Municipal Council chairman Robert Lau was already championing for Sibu’s urban regeneration.

“His plan was premised upon the private sector’s massive leap of faith in redeveloping areas that were sunken and also the creation of a massive lake to retain the water table.”

Alas, Puah said, the plan did not materialise because the private sector did not take it up. 

Abang Johari’s restructuring, he added, would be a renaissance of sorts for Sibu.

“One that is badly needed if we are to move ahead with the times. The spark that will lead to other sparks that will light up Sibu so that we will prosper too.

“I look forward to it with excitement. I also really, really wish Sibu folk would not be individualistic and come together for the betterment of our own hometown.”

Puah said he is prepared to put up with the inconvenience that will arise when the redevelopment work starts.

“I know it would not be done quickly. It could take decades.

“At least there is a starting point. This is what matters to me now.”

He said in the years to come, he expects work on the town’s drainage and flood mitigation projects to take off.

“Given the waterlogged nature of the town, addressing drainage and flood management is crucial. The Sibu flood mitigation master plan, which is ongoing, has proven to be highly effective. 

“It needs to be continued to cover more areas. Constructing proper drainage systems, flood barriers and levees can mitigate flooding risks and improve overall infrastructure resilience.”

He said he also expects the town’s transport network and infrastructure to improve. – September 17, 2023.