SIBU: Dock coolies were a common sight at the wharf here, especially in the early days of the riverine town between the 1950s and 1960s era.
They are the unsung heroes who load and unload goods to and from the express boats, either for traders or villagers who go back to their longhouses.
However, as the years go by and development upon development is brought into the town, Sibu’s busy riverfront now seems quieter than it used to be.
Nowadays, people have switched to land transportation as it proved to be a more convenient mode rather than using water transportation.
Thus, most of the express boats and ships stop operating at Sibu’s mighty Rajang River, resulting in the absence of the dock coolies from sight.
Nonetheless, to 48-year-old Hii Kee Soon, who has more than two decades of experience working as a dock coolie, it is an “unbreakable habit”.
“I am so used to it. So, I stay on despite others leaving. I used to work here with four others but they have gone to look for other jobs.
“There’s nothing else I can do at home; my wife has passed away due to sickness. My two daughters are working elsewhere (outside Sibu),” he told New Sarawak Tribune when spotted sitting alone at Sibu wharf recently.
Back then as a dock coolie, Hii needed to unload and load goods here and there but, now he mostly helps those from the longhouses to watch their boat at the jetty while they shop at the market.
“I just sit here and help them watch their boat in case anything happens while they shop for their needs. How much they pay is depending on them. Sometimes I get RM10, RM15 or RM 20 as tips,” he said.
Reminiscing the good old days, he shared that there used to be five or more express boats and cargo ships operating at the wharf.
“I used to get around RM50 to RM150 per day. Now, only one boat operating. I hardly get any (income), most of the time less than RM50 per day,” he said.
When asked how long he will continue to work as a dock coolie, Hii smiled and said: “This is a good form of exercise, sitting at home alone is not. So far, I have no plans to quit.”
The sight of dock coolies at the Sibu riverine is not a frequent feature as it used to but to those who lived in that era, the contributions of these unsung heroes will not be forgotten.
To make sure that the history of dock coolies is not forgotten, a mural of them was painted on the wall of Khoo Peng Loong Food Garden.
It was painted by Lau Sei Kwong and Lilian Tang Siu Hui as part of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) project in 2016 called the Sibu Street Art.
Sibu Street Art is a campaign which comprises 10 murals in different locations throughout the town to commemorate the story of the Sibu’s culture, heritage and lifestyle.
