Kuching 170 years old cemetery

I grew up in this squatter’s area for more than 15 years. My grandmother and grandfather sold off their land at 17th miles and move here for more than 40 years. I was 11 years old when my father bought a shabby house for RM500 (USD143) from the previous tenant. This small areas houses Iban (majority) Bidayuh & Chinese.

On December 12, 2007 The Borneo Post publish an article “170-year-old Iban cemetery in pitiful state” urging the Dayak community to clean up the cemetery. I was surprise the picture shown is the place where I grew up. In fact my parents and my sibling still live there.

Before the news I never know SDNU exist. SDNU was known as SDA (Sarawak Dayak Association) which was form in 1946. It’s a good thing that the association starting to cares for the cemetery as this place does seem to be a historic ground.

When I was young, I use to walk into that cemetery (week before Chinese New Year) with my cousin to get a long, straight and beautiful green bamboo preparing for Chinese New Year fire crackers show down. As we walk into the cemetery we ask for forgiveness for disturbing the peace for cutting down the bamboo.

Here’s the list of facts about the cemetery from the new papers article

• According to “the Anglican Church in Borneo” the cemetery was first use by Sebuyau Tribe from Lingga.
• Those that buried their remains in this cemetery would be those that converted to Christianity in 1848. For those that convert later, their remains would be buried at St. Thomas Church Cemetery.
• 1952, the burial ground was gazzated as native Area land
• 1975, the land was leased for 99 years to SDNU

Seem the cemetery has already been clean up.

Growing up in this little community is tough – we uses electric generator for light and TV. In the late 80s right through mid 90s we would only afford for a kerosene lamp. Studying under a kerosene lamp is as hard as doing reading while watching favorite TV shows on flat screen TV.

Looking back – no one ever say life is easy.

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