SIBU: Descendants of those buried at the historic Sibu Joy Charitable Trust (Lok Sien Association) Cemetery in Ensurai have been urged to come forward and provide information to help identify the graves and preserve the history of the burial ground.
Sibu Joy Charitable Trust (Lok Sien Association) chairman Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew said the organisation planned to improve and beautify the cemetery along Chew Kung Road on the West Bank of Sibu, while systematically numbering and identifying the graves.
He said the task would not be easy as many of the original gravestones had deteriorated over the years, with some having collapsed, decayed or been buried beneath the soil.
“Some graves near the riverbank have also been lost to erosion. Although a concrete embankment was subsequently constructed along the riverbank, the graves that had already disappeared could not be recovered.”
Lau called on descendants of those interred at the cemetery to provide as much information as possible, particularly the names and other details of the deceased, to assist in the identification and documentation process.
He said the information collected would be used to compile a record of those buried at the cemetery, with their names to be inscribed on a memorial planned for erection at the site.
“The erection of such a memorial will be highly meaningful as it will enable future generations to pay their respects, cherish the memories of their ancestors and gain a better understanding of the history of this region.”
Located along the middle section of Chew Kung Road at Ensurai, the burial ground is believed to be the first cemetery established by the Kutian community following the arrival of Foochow immigrants in Sibu.
Locally known as “Down River” the cemetery was initially used mainly by members of the Kutian community before people from other Foochow dialect groups, including the Minqing community, were also buried there.
Lau said the cemetery had fallen into neglect and disrepair over the years, prompting the trust to propose improvement and reorganisation works to preserve the site as a place of remembrance and historical significance.
Apart from restoring and documenting the cemetery, the trust also proposed expanding the area in front of the burial ground and constructing a parking area.
He said the improvement would provide greater convenience for visitors, particularly during the Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping) Festival, as well as members of the public interested in learning about the history of the site.
Lau stressed that the success of the proposed works would require the support and cooperation of the wider community, especially local residents and descendants of those buried at the cemetery.
He said preserving the burial ground was not only about maintaining a cemetery but also about safeguarding an important part of Sibu’s early history for future generations.
