The Lost Town of Penakub Bazaar

Penakub Bazaar is located about 10 km from Mukah Town. This quite town believed was one of the famous and potentially to be a develop town. However, it was before roads was constructed. The kampongs surroundings depend very much on this bazaar to buy and trade their needs. I just can imagine how busy it was, the panaromic view of its wharves and jetties, maybe it just almost similar to the Malacca Port. I am thinking too much.

With paved roads were constructed, connecting all the kampongs, the peoples choose to go to Mukah for shopping. So, this small town was slowly abandoned. The traders slowly moved their business to the town which gives them more returns and customers. The only busy time for this town is during Chinese New Year. As usual, I am not a best story-teller, the photos below will gives clearer descriptions.

Empty road, empty shop houses, and empty business. This former busy town on his heyday has lost his reign.

Almost the whole row of this shop house in Mukah town is belong to the traders who was originally from Penakub. It must be due to better business..And they are now among the most successful traders and become the respected leaders for their community in Mukah.

The almost abandoned wharves and jetties at Penakub Bazaar. It was once important for the surroundings kampongs, but now road transport become more popular.

As usual, the rural are the strong supporters for BN. Please notice the flood level on the asbestos roof.

Mulong or sago logs on the access road to Penakub Bazaar. As other places in Mukah, sago is an important industry.

More and more developments for Penakub Bazaar. But it cannot afford to stop the locals from moving to other places, mostly to fast developing of Mukah Town. The folks and business is greatly dwindling.

However, birdnest industry suddenly becomes more important in Mukah Division. This high rise buildings or "Bird's Hotel" is growing everywhere including of Penakub Bazaar area.

Some of the bazaar renovated to "Birds' Hotel". Business is no more. So, the bird's hotel gives more return.

The only building which is still well maintain. The symbol of chinese early settlement at Penakub Bazaar

This old man...maybe the second, third or fourth generation of Penakub Bazaar. Its remind me to the Baba Nyonya in Malacca. He even can fluently speaking in Melanau languages.

Another view of almost abandoned wharves.

Anyway to bring back the title? Most of the kampongs surroundings now prefer to go to bigger town for shopping...but I do believe there is still a small hope!

Oh ya... I miss some of the information, there are a lot of Penakub name in Mukah. So, don't get confused on this lost town....

FINALLY........

... IT WAS A HAPPY ENDING FOR DISASTER IN MUKAH

For last few weeks, everybody was busy on to safe their valuable belongings and life. A great flood, believed to be the worst since 50 years gave a big impact on the social-economy to the locals either in rural or urban areas. (A Newspaper Cutting on 31/1/2009)

A view along Jalan Balingian-Kuala Balingian after the flood disaster....
"Rezeki Datang Bergolek"

The estuary of Mukah... The fishermen busy loading their returns. After a few weeks live in fears, they are happy, they pocket a thick bundle of money, I guess...

A fish monger came to my house yesterday, brings his fresh water fish and prawns. "Ikan pahit" (Above), "Ikan Paloi" (Centre), "Udang Galah" (Below). Surprisingly, they catch it without any special tools. Its really happened in Malay parable, "Rezeki datang bergolek"...

For the last few weeks, we have no choice other than to buy the “Ice-Fish”, sell by the stingy fishmongers. I tell you that Mukah is not a good town to live. For those who thinking on saving, living in Mukah is not the right choice. Even though you can buy and enjoy the fresh fish and vegetables, it is not as cheap as what you heard five years ago. A bundle of vegetable, say “midin” that I can buy as cheap as RM 1.00 in Kuching, I have to pay double for a less quantities. The same thing happened to other needs.

It was even more terrible when water supply was cut off for at least one or two days due to flood on water intake. Everybody start quarreling and complaining for the hard time.

For a fishing-based town of Mukah and his smaller brothers’ town surroundings, the fishermen have nothing to do other than praying that God will stop the disaster. It is not surprise as the last three weekends was a busy weekends for my Church. In fact, I have to seat at the extra bench at back of the church to accommodate this extra-ordinary Christians. I guess that this should also happen to other religions and to the Mosques and Temples.

For the last few days, thanks God. The fishermen resume their routine activities, the farmers resume their planting and supply the foods for the locals, and I myself now have extra time to resume and updating my blog. Thanks God.

When I visit the wet market, there are plenty of choices for fish. Everybody seems busy on buying and selling. The estuary of Mukah River is busy on the fishermen’s tug boats, loading their return with smiles. Everybody seems happy, the fishermen pocketing thicker money, the fishmonger pocketing even thicker money, and the fish buyer (like me) can smile a little bit for a fresh and cheaper price of fish. Hey…sea foods are my favorites.

I was surprise when a fishmonger came to my house yesterday, promoting his fresh fish and prawns. Woww, the sell it on very cheap price compare to normal days. He is actually a part-time fishmonger, mongering the fish in weekends and my supplier for prawns. Furthermore, he is an Ustaz in a Government agency, among my best neighbor. I take that opportunity to interview him a bit. He informed me that it was a happy ending day after the disaster for the kampong folks. Prawns and fish are floating due to climate change. The no needs special tools to catch; some of them just used their hands and simple tools to catch it. Some even on the road side drain. It was really as what describe in a Malay parable, “Rezeki datang bergolek”!

In fact, most of the rural kampongs like Balingian and Kampung Sau are the heaven for prawn. Everybody in Mukah knows that these two places are the pool of prawns where people as far as Kuching and Miri came here for prawn fishing. It is not a surprised, due to climate change; the locals get free income from the flood disaster.

And finally the sad flood disaster, where everybody was terribly affected are now smiling. A happy ending day.

The fishermens are busy on their returns. An amazing income after the disaster. Now, the should thanks God for the disaster.

Yahoo.... It might be the word said by the "Umai" processor in Mukah Wet Market. Umai is a special dish, fresh raw fish served with special ingredients. Mukah local Sushi..

So on this happy ending story, on my today 30th birthday, I' am thinking of following my friend to joint the locals for the Prawn Fiesta in Balingian..... At least, I will really enjoy my birthday seafood dinner tonight... Woww.

Matu – The Floating Town

Matu Town - The natural floating town (2009)

Business during flood...Good return to this kid...

This is just a story of one of small town in Sarawak, an isolated swamp town in the central region with unique culture and where flood is a yearly event.

Matu is situated about 200 km from his Divisional mother, Mukah which means that it is as far as about 400 km from Sibu Airport. Ironically, a travel from Sibu to Matu is much cheaper by rivers compare to by land and of course the cost of transport is much cheaper.

There are almost no building built on the ground, most of them are built on stilt which reflects that the locals know well known that they will face flood for every year. And it was. Except for Government building, which are properly constructed through proper investigation on the flood level, other buildings includes the shop houses are built on stilt. Another interesting part about this town is that most of the buildings are constructed using wood materials. However, the locals are born to be architect on naturally. Most of them are creative and can even construct and decorates their houses uniquely.
You will find no other design in any part of Sarawak maybe!









Once, Matu was the administrative centre of Matu and Daro District. That is the information that I get from the locals. In fact, the local council headquarter are located in Matu. Their District Office is a unique landmark, and constructed much advance than other District Office in Mukah Division. It is not a surprise if the colonize declared Matu as the administrative centre. However, due to natural disaster, flood has slow down the development of Matu. Daro has better opportunities, no flood and the choice for most travelers where they could easily get river transports to other bigger towns for shopping. What left now are the wooden shop houses which built maybe for last 50 years, at least!

The road webs, I means the paved road is connected the whole kampongs in Matu. Of course these are one of the efforts by their long-term service parlimentary, YB Datuk Haji Wahab Dollah and the one term hardworking assemblyman, YB Abu Seman, who works very hard to develop Matu. Of course I am agreed. If Sibu as the example another floating town in Sarawak was once the second largest town in Sarawak, so Matu should also no problems on this. The only thing is, it is an isolated area with very basic products to serve for business.

When great flood attacked major towns in Sarawak early this year, Matu of course has nowhere to escape. Surprisingly, the floods attacked are not giving any big impact to the towns. Where other towns are busy counting on their lost, Matu is one of the relax town during the floods. Their advantage is because they get used of it. The business runs as usual, the only thing is the change their mode of transport. In dry season, cars are the main vehicles, however during landas season; boats and small sampan are becoming more important. In fact, they used sampan on the road! Their vehicles? They parked it on the roads and bridges! Nobody disturbed or try to steal it because everybody on that area are facing the same problems.

It was a great view. I was there during the floods to buy a packed of cigarettes. They people are happy as there is nothing happened. They still can move here and there to do their routine activities mainly on land fishing. The parents not worried by the flood as their houses are much higher than the flood level and their children are mostly know how to swim. They are well trained. The children are happy; they can get extra income by running the “perahu tambang”. I can guarantee you that the fares are not cheap. My RM 9.00 cigarettes becoming RM 11.00 per packed plus the boat fare. That is fare for one passenger. Anyway, we need their service, and we have to pay for it. But I think, the children are happier because they get holiday, play in the water as I was when I was a kid. So they deserved for it.

The adults take the opportunity to catch crabs and prawn. This one I really cannot understand! However, I conclude that the crabs and prawns might be drawn due to the floods. That is one type of prawn, which the Mukah Melanau called it “Mang” which they catch it only by hand. It is amazing indeed! The price for the “Mang” informed not to be less than RM 30.00 per kilo. I myself not yet try how delicious it is but I believe it must be a special dish. So, actually brings them more luck.

For Matu folk, I really appreciate their patient. When I ask an old man on why they are not keen to moved, he said, “Matu is the only land we have, where we born and where we will be buried. Our community has got used of it, and our children have being train to face it. After all, it only happened once a year and actually not affects much on our daily needs.” I believed he is honest on his answer.


So, why I am travelling to the flood area where flood was happened? It was simple; I do my community contribution for the peoples. I smiles and proud, when they thanks me and waving their hands when it was done. Anyway, it gives me an idea of building my own floating house at my kampongs one day. But not to stay at this floating town, never!

Matu Town in normal days...

Is Oya Really a Sleeping Town?

Oya Town in 2009...The photo for the future

Oya strong lady.... Datin Hajah Fatimah Abdullah (Standing 11th from the left) on her visit to a primary school at Kampung Senau, Oya. Building for the future...

A traveler who familiar to drive through Sibu-Bintulu trunk road will familiar with a unique and antique steel bridge at a small town of Stapang. The bridge is named Batang Oya, which I believed built during the earlier day of Sarawak independence. The appearance of “Batang Oya” at Stapang means that you can use the river to go to Oya Town which is actually situated far from its own “nametag”. In fact, there was a signboard “Sempadan Daerah Kecil Oya” built somewhere around the Stapang Town before Mukah declared as a new Division. This means that the administration of some of the settlements along the Sibu-Bintulu Road is under Oya Sub-District.

However, it was in early millennium when I was first time drive through the only “highway” in the State of Sarawak. That is almost 10 years ago, and i am not very sure either the situation and administration boundary being shifted. I can imagine that most of the travelers will think that there are reach Oya once they drive through the area, just like my first impression on Oya. And I start to think that Oya must be a popular town, with all the facilities and entertainments! In fact I know Oya earlier than Dalat, the “big brother” of Oya Sub-District. And I got wrong!


Oya is actually situated about 25 km from Mukah Town, and about 15 km from Dalat by land transport. By clicking my calculator, it is about 200 km from Sibu by land! Than imagine, how far it is actually from Stapang Town! Through the topography, it is actually correct that the area is under the administration of Oya Sub-District. Don’t get me wrong, I am not querying the administration boundary indeed! Actually it is just an introduction to the Oya Town, an old cowboy town which located at the central of Mukah Division.

By judging on the location, I cannot believe that Oya is a cowboy Town; it is surrounded with crowded and well planned settlements which could contribute the good business for the traders. In extra, Oya as a central of Mukah Division is along the main road which connecting all the four district in Mukah. In my point of view, Oya is a one stop for the travelers, the copy of Serian Town in Samarahan Division.

Anyway, the locals’ business on foods and drinks was excellence when the government ferries operate at Batang Oya, the only road leading to Matu and Daro District. However, with the construction of Oya Bridge, the businesses are gone! This should be a sad time for the traders. This is actually not an excused.

The Government in fact has contributed lots of infrastructures development to help the Oya folk. They built Pasar Tamu Oya on the old ferry point, chances for the farmers and fishermen to trade their products. They built a beautiful, modern secondary school to upgrade the children’s’ education. They built new Food Hawking Centre at Puncak Saujana, where I myself have tried the delicious fresh seafood! They even built paved roads, which link the main road up to their front door. They built few GDW (Gerak Desa Wawasan), to stimulate the economy and easier for Government to provide the basic infrastructures. They promote Kampung Senau as a homestay to promote tourism. So, the Government has provided multi-million of RM for the development and locals’ welfare. But still, the Cowboy Town is still in place.

Oya was once connected to Sibu through rivers, and the historic wharves and jetties are still in place to tell the story of how important the rivers to Oya developments. Once the roads constructed, the travelers preferred to go to Mukah or Dalat where they can buy everything! But not at Oya Town. I am wondering if there is any fuel station in Oya, emmm… I just cannot remember.

In primitive thinking, seems that Oya is hopeless town with nothing to serve!

Inreality, Oya has everything to serve, a potential town to develop and it is just another matter of hope and realizations. For me, Government has done their part, paving the basic infrastructure for future developments. The only missing part is the effort by the locals. Don’t get me wrong again; I am not blaming the locals directly. Bumiputeras (just like me) has the same habit, always waiting for others to lead them. I keep asking myself, they do themselves, hang on the visions, and kick off extra effort to grab the opportunities. The unanswerable question and shall be a perplexity to the leaders!

I drove at night time through Oya recently; I can guarantee that Oya is not a sleeping Town. By 9 to 10 at night, the youngsters are still busy on their burger stall. The roads are lightening up with streets lighting as other town streets. Through my open wind-cond car, I enjoyed my cigarettes and could here the screaming of joy of the children who enjoyed their modern life.

If somebody ask me both Oya is really a sleeping town, and this is my answer; yes, for the time being! But it will be awaken sooner, it is on its way for becoming an awaken town!