Malaysia: a chinese boy's life in Sarawak in 1969

[@rickylee8022]

Hi, Michael. The boy in your video was my father. I am his second son. Thank you so much for your wonderful video of my father's family life during those time. Unfortunately he had just passed away last November due to an accident.

[@awangbakarademan5519]

Omg😂

[@betterman6772]

Wow, what a coinsident.. 😅😅

[@toherauto]

RIP to your father

[@umang-umang]

@@earthisnotflat8531 awak orang Islam kah?

[@shazalyzainal4073]

Handsome your father

[@seansylvialee7740]

Thank you very much for your video. I'm the eldest son of the boy in your video. I really wished that he was still around to watch it with us.

[@michaelijsbrand]

I'm sorry to hear of the passing away of your father. Did he ever have chance to see this video clip?

[@michaelijsbrand]

Always glad to hear of viewers who have actually seen the place and can tell more about it.

[@xuenart]

Thanks for sharing Michael. The video is informative and very nicely shot.

[@michaelijsbrand]

@am1966ath My father, who stayed for thirty years in Indonesia, called them the kindest people on earth! He always dreamt of going back but the war prevented it.

[@christomlinson3859]

Janet Tomlinson I was delighted to be given the link to this clip following a wonderful visit to Sibu in 2018 where my family and I had lived lived from August 1967 - December 1968. While there my husband, Rev Chris Tomlinson, was the pastor of Wesley Methodist Church who started a youth centre near the Methodist Childrens' Home and founded the 1st Sibu Boys' Brigade Company in 1968. During this time I taught music at the Methodist Secondary School and also some English and RE. I was most surprised to recognise Min Dan in the clip as a boy I had taught and even more surprised and delighted when seeing all his classmates just as I knew them in 1967-68! I was saddened to learn that Ming Dan had died. Although we spent most of our nine years in Kuching, Sibu has always had a very special place in our hearts and we cherish the ongoing friendships with Sibu folk. Returning to Sibu in 2008 and 2018 was like coming home.

[@raysisonfb]

I lived in Kapit from 1961-1966 and then in Sibu until 1971. I went to Methodist Secondary School, Sibu, and the featured teacher, Mrs. George, was my form teacher in Form 3, which is Min Dan's level in this clip. Based on the boats plying the Rejang, Mrs. George looking like she's in her 20's, and my classmate's comments on a Facebook post of this video, I would say this was taken in the mid 60's.

[@martinlo5597]

1969

[@rickylee8022]

I do not know if they had watch it before this because he never mention about this video clip to us. This was taken long time ago and I guess everyone just forgotten about it over the years. This is also the first time I see a video of my grandfather as he passed away before I was born. Thank you so much for the video clip.

[@nursyafiahsulaiman6837]

I am confused, the earlier comment you have said that the boy in the clip was your father, passed away in November, the above comment you said contrary fact, are you giving us genuine info or false information?

[@ZK-hh2or]

@@nursyafiahsulaiman6837 maam, I believe the man said the boy was his father and he had passed away several years ago. He said grandfather died before he was born; I think that was the topless man having his meal. Don't be confused. Read slowly.

[@victorchichi9509]

Thank you to Michael for sharing the fantastic film. I was born and breed in Kapit till 1973 when I left for overseas studies. The film bring back fond memories of my own childhood. I studied in Hock Lam primary till year 3 then Methodist Primary then secondary at Pantu. Kapit is a great, simple small town. I am always proud of Kapit. Now I live in Australia and went to Armsterdam in 2009.

[@NigelZhen]

how did you go overseas for studies

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks. Very interesting. I recall that the film was a renewed version. It may be that the part of the school was taken much earlier than 1987. It may have been in the seventies. I should have loved to hear of what happened to the boy.

[@martinlo5597]

Hi, Michael ~ I live in Sibu when I was born till now. The late Min Dan was my friends, unfortunately passed away many years ago. In the 70s, we always met each other at Sungei Merah bazaar near Sibu town after church service in the morning. This video clip is the only one depicting life in Sibu in those days. Do you have any other video clip about Sibu?

[@nickana93]

Thanks for the nice video clip.It really a very good video clip to let other young people from Sibu know how sibu look before we were born and the secondary school where Min Dan study also my father secondary school.My father is quite happy when he watch this video clip it make him recall a lot of memory when he was young.

[@pokya-anakrantau8845]

The footage definitely reflects an era before the mid 80s. But this video definitely brought back a lot of nostalgic memories - the great Rejang River was a major transportation pulse for the people of the Rejang basin. I am impressed by the accuracy. My late father worked in Kapit as a young man in the timber industry. Sarawak was a great place and I believe it continues as one!

[@anonymous-qb2jc]

i feel u...but it was the sarawak people who agreed to join the malaysian fedaration. Malaysian fedaration is based on malays ruling and islamic religion. Eventhough so, the sarawak people still have posperty among races and for me the sarawak is not belong to malay only..its belong to all races within sarawak because every races have their own important roles and their own hero who fought for sarawak independence.😊

[@winstonz]

I'm from Sibu. Went to that school, class of 96. Best school in Sibu! This documentary sounds incredibly simple yet incredibly accurate. Thanks for posting. You will find Sibu has another big export. People!

[@michaelijsbrand]

If you haven't seen Bintulu in my various clips of Sarawak (search witth 'michael rogge sarawak) I do not have a picturol record of the place.

[@robrosy]

Very impressed with the quality of the documentary, in fact it could even be better than some of those low quality ones nowadays! The fact that it looks like an instagram throughout the video is another plus. xD

[@nickana93]

he go to England when he is 15 years old but he is still very happy to have lots of memory in his secondary school

[@ireneng4891]

Hi Michael, thank you for sharing this clip. It's good to see faces of relatives some who has since pass on. Do you happen to have any other clip of the family. Greatly appreciate.

[@tiongsiingtang4069]

Watching this video my tears welling up.Sibu is my home town

[@thetonedeaftenors]

It looks older than 1987, but hard to put a definite date on it - probably between 1967 and 1983 though...they mention his classmates being Malay, but what about the natives of Borneo?

[@cathysherwood]

Tales of Sibu Sarawak when my father was there in late 1940's to 1950's. Thanks for the clip

[@Wakinoito]

The wharf where you see many boats in the video was popular among Sibu anglers including myself. It's situated near a Chinese temple. It's still there! Thanks for the upload Sir.

[@mtrey6037]

Yes, my father, former Sacred Heart School used to be seen fishing there after work. He's dubbed as the 'king-fisher.' The boy scouts who had to pass their fishing test always came to get my father's signature to certify he has passed the test! :)

[@annkschin]

Hi Michael, I am the writer of From China to Borneo to Beyond. I was also in the class where Lee Min Dan was film. It was filmed in 1969. Many readers have asked me to contact to change the year it was made, I am also contact with Min Dad's sister. Thanks Ann p/s I was in the class, but was seated at the from corner where the camera didn't show me.

[@michaelijsbrand]

Ann Chin Thanks for letting me know. I now realize that the film was outdated actually in 1987. I have changed the date according to your suggestion.

[@MrJaybon]

+MichaelRogge this kind of documentary was never publish in today Malaysia mainstream media, actually every mention about peninsular malaysia very less talk about Sarawak as a Sarawakian i feel so Isolated , the people from peninsular also too rasicm. i'm melanau muslim

[@anonymous-qb2jc]

@@MrJaybon its already nature for us since merdeka because we are consider as stepson or outsider eventhough we are actually like major shareholders in reforming malaysia. Without sarawak malaysia is nothing like now but we must never keep quiet on aur rights that's why our late cm tried to fight for us but unfortunately he gone to soon...allah loves him more. So we are still live here must continue what he already fighting for us. Long live sarawak.

[@sadiqin]

in this video you can see the river still clear and trees are everywhere, just a matter of time everything change.. it is sad to see what happen to Sarawak now.

[@tiongsiingtang4069]

This ‘film’ should be shoot in or before 1970.I was a student in the same school.(1970~1975) The school uniform was changed in 1971.The students were wearing old Methodist secondary school uniforms.

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks for your info. Could it be that the students kept wearing their uniforms until they were worn out? The film had a much later date but it may have been a re-issue of an old movie.

[@mtrey6037]

@@michaelijsbrand Yes, I believe so. We didn't throw out the uniforms in those days until there were really torn. Your video brings back memories. I was Sarawak-born and lived on the Rejang River delta.

[@Sibucom]

The house (and boats) shown was a common theme in Sibu and Sarawak but it has been replaced by modern ones. It's great to keep a historical record for future generations to see.

[@RUHappyATM]

+Sibu365.com Wonder what happened to the wooden coastal cargo ships/boats that transport goods to/from Kuching? Have they all been replaced by trucks?

[@ngianseeheng4342]

The Malays occupied Sarawak through the power of the British Empire. Malays are not the original native people of Sarawak just like the Chinese. But the Malays took advantage of the ignorance of native Iban and called this land their Malay territories. History is cruel

[@Chellanyie]

@J KAYLA The first Sultan from Brunei is actually Raja (King) Awang Alak Betatar (1368-1402), he is a Bisaya not a Malay but converted after marrying King of Temasik (Singapore) daughter and since then he is known as Sultan. The only Sultan of Sarawak is Sultan Tengah (1598-1641), he is the descendent of Awang Alak Betatar and was killed by his own follower. So the only reason why there is Malays in Sarawak is by intermarriage, converted to Muslim and forgetting their on ancestors.

[@Chellanyie]

@J KAYLA Bisaya settled in Borneo for thousands of years (according to wikipedia) so yes they are considered as native. However, most are actually resides in Sabah and Brunei. Their total of populations in Sarawak is less than 10 000.

[@queenarcher5905]

@J KAYLA yes I'm native, about the separation is pretty much true as well. It's just like a broken family, there is no point of clinging to a narcissist and keeping them only to sucking us dry.

[@seceber]

Same like Australian claimed the land of Australiasia

[@sohaibmohdyacop]

malays were indeed the natives.go check your history.and yes youre right the chinese are not !but we now live in peace in sarawak why are trying ti provoke that?

[@mtrey6037]

@MichaelRogge: I saw your video footage in a Chinese song that my Sibu family members posted. I came to KZbin to search for that video clip and found you. Do you know that video clip that's circulating around?

[@alicebong1325]

I missed my late grandparents that stayed in Bintagor. Their house just like the house in this video, especially the kitchen.

[@fid.firdhaus]

3:17 R.I.P Ship

[@michaelijsbrand]

A pity that he is not seen in this film.

[@aliekhan6791]

Hello Sir,Did you have any old Documentary about Bintulu,Sarawak? Regard.

[@alexicca]

Wow!! IM PROUD TO BE SARAWAKIAN!

[@NgTou-s2x]

Omg how emotional in those days 😢

[@MrBen101199]

Even now, Kapit is not connected to Sibu by road.

[@am1966ath]

@MichaelRogge Thank you for upploading so many lovely videos from Asia. People in Asia are usually very friendly and always smiling. However the mainland chinese are not so friendly, neither are the vietnamese..maby this has to do with communism?

[@bisaboleh]

Thank God for the British.

[@suving9376]

Sir may I know were u get this video's

[@annkschin]

Hi Micheal, I am also curious why the story of Aminah, the Malay girl was not mentioned. You can see Aminah's photo as a main character. Yet, as the story goes, Aminah was not mentioned. I am quite sure filming was done in her house/kampong.

[@michaelijsbrand]

Ann Chin Blame the documentary film. Aminah may well have been a fictionary character her narration meant to bring sort of a story in the film.

[@nazmieminggat367]

A very nice video.Thanks for uploaded. Tears came out while watching for this video although it was not me involved at this story, seemingly like my childhood,,Im a Saratokian but now lived at Sepang,working at KLIA.

[@bowlampar]

At least in east Malaysia, racial discrimination is not that bad compare to W. Malaysia by Putrajaya and state government.

[@johanramli61]

Sekarang racist DAP dah ada...ok kan.

[@zalala]

i wonder if this has anything to do with the video?

[@timngim583]

It should be in 1969, racial discrimination is not that bad in all parts of Malaysia compared to 2019

[@michaelijsbrand]

@alexicca In Amsterdam, Netherlands, far from Sarawak!

[@alexicca]

@MichaelRogge TQ FOR uploading.! where are u now?

[@dajai-6394]

Real live camera..natural beauty

[@Bobbie_Lee84]

6:29 its so cool that your allowed to wear sunglasses in class back at the end of 60's!

[@terencelee880]

I was born in 1976 in Sibu, now working in Kuching. I missed my hometown since then.

[@foodforlife8566]

Sarawak pepper number 1... :)

[@dct3588]

i believe this is take in the 60's not in the 80's. i am from sibu.

[@КостяПак-я5я]

Such a beautiful country

[@unionhunter96]

this where i'm came from...,so proud to be sarawakian..

[@bryansim9191]

as a guy born in the mid 90s in kuching this is really an eye opener for me haha such humble living damn i cant imagine how boring it must’ve been back then

[@gatheringleaves]

Why do you think it was boring? Because no smart phones or TV?

[@ammarikhwan4275]

Betul. Boring. Tu sebab bila isi certain form dulu2, ada item tulis, hobi. Dan biografi diri, penulis akan cakap, hobi saya di masa lapang adalah bermain bola. Atau nak baik sket, tulis membaca buku. But if you look closely, is far better than now where if you made a promise between friends that you all want to meet up next week at exact date, time and location for hanging out, we all will appear. At that time not all house have phone and it really expensive. Nowdays, if you made promise, its hard to make it. Both of you might have some excuse, ask to postpone. Because of the whatapps application, both of you think it is ok to break the promise as long you notify you friend earlier. This trend lead to decrease value of friendship and increase in selfishness

[@mtrey6037]

Not at all boring! We had interesting things to do too. Life was never boring.

[@shiningice89]

every single thing in the video reminds me of home! and I see my secondary school !!

[@am1966ath]

Asian people have lovely smiles.People in Singapore and Malaysia are very friendly.

[@william97able2]

Look!! Look!! The malays are eating Chinese food!! how nice of it!! I wonder why malays nowaday are so sensitive against chinese food?

[@venigos]

ikr,im malay & kadazan dusun,and i just cant understand why my malay friends are so phobia of it..one of the reasons why racial harmony and unity is so hard to achieve

[@QAKMAS]

That is why Halal food industry are widely spread so that we can share food among others without any hesitation. The non muslims have to be sensitive about this, same applied to the vegetarians and the kosher food consumers. :p

[@sohaibmohdyacop]

if not halal then cannot eat.if halal just eat.simple as that

[@Athrunwong]

Yeah... Those days... I remembered the life back then is simple and happy. Now we got too much to worried.... Ain't got much, but really happy.

[@yiseng4602]

If that boy was Lee Ming Dan then he must have set for the Cambridge School Certificate as a form five student in the 1970s.

[@username123456789099]

is that boy still alive?

[@redstar4666]

Beautiful

[@calvinee214]

really such a long long time ago's story!since i was starting primary school,it was really rare to see these things/buildings/conditions......T3T

[@borismath9529]

Where's that 'boy' now...

[@shawn1320]

I was schooling at the same school, in 2018

[@garryjua466]

That was the boat that they used back then to go to Kapit from Sibu😀

[@pokoktom2]

让人激动的作品。

[@paulajah1]

2023 just found this video

[@ผุสดีเทศลําลึก]

โบสถ์คาร์ดินัล พระอาทิตย์อุทัย

[@brudeish]

M.V Rajah Mas at 7:19..

[@vincentfoo3188]

Not an entirely accurate narrative eg that "children all over Sarawak came to Sibu" for their education.

[@Redinys513]

how come gt student wear sunglass in the class

[@raynursuai1036]

But she got a nice smile haha

[@ycl9234]

🤣

[@einstein9901]

The Indian teachers English sounds like the combination of the native English and transatlantic accent

[@alexicca]

Netherlands, not far ! Netherlands, a lot beautiful people from there :D

[@dyiek]

1969 based on info from someone in this video.

[@johnbgood3488]

Sabah and Sarawak should become independent countries.

[@angelinarocchio6315]

Came in hopes of learning about may 13,1969 but stayed because it was still interesting.

[@kienwenchang7108]

I Understand， Many Ethnic-Chinese Feel that They Have Not Benefitted From China Rise。 Ethnic Chinese Absolutely Don't Mind Foreign Powers Helping Development， non-exclusivity。 Afterall， Development is not a Religion， No Need So Rigid。

[@แฮมเบอร์เกอร์เนื้อปลาอินทรีใส่]

favoring=condiment

[@favemediabureau]

Bygone generation from the bygone era. Memory.

[@nickryan6787]

8:04 "Malaysia's frontier state" hmm hmm yes yes

[@michaelijsbrand]

@username123456789099 Should be !

[@unionhunter96]

@am1966ath that true

[@samiao90]

hahaha those sunglasses now bcame a trend

[@happysbh5746]

Di sabah pun ada cina tinggal dikampung

[@fidelcatsro6948]

time travel!

[@alexicca]

6:34 LOL.. the girl were black spec!

[@Azmi-vl7ui]

Dato awang masuk penjara

[@pirraeva431]

Bukan malaysia.. sarawak tetap sarawak.. bukan malaysia.. malaysia itu malaya..

[@LOVESTREO]

Fei Ji Qi !

[@Mensiayes]

1963,oh hell no Communism