SIBU: As the clock strikes 8:00 am every Sunday, the crisp, resonant chime of a copper bell echoes through the bustling lanes of Sibu Central Market, signalling the start of a remarkable tradition that has endured for more than seven decades.
With every rhythmic “ding, ding, ding”, Sibu Benevolent Society Care Centre’s Vice-Chairman, Robert Chew, announces the arrival of the home’s volunteers, who begin their weekly rounds collecting food donations from generous traders and hawkers.
Without hesitation, veteran volunteer, Teo Ching Ho, 80, and his fellow volunteers each lift a rattan basket from a waiting truck before splitting into two teams. One heads to the dry section of the market while the other makes its way through the lively wet market, where traders eagerly await their arrival.
The donations – ranging from fresh vegetables, eggs, biscuits, raw noodles, fish, pork and rice – are often sufficient to feed the home’s 29 elderly residents for an entire week.
For Teo, this weekly routine has become far more than volunteer work; it is a lifelong commitment rooted in compassion.
“I became a volunteer at this old folks’ home more than 30 years ago. A colleague of mine at the Sibu Municipal Council, where I once worked as an administrator, asked me one day if I could lend a helping hand. Since then, it has become a habit for me to come to the Central Market every Sunday morning to help collect donated goods from the traders,” he said with a smile.
Besides serving the community, Teo also sees the weekly rounds as a healthy form of exercise.
“When I first joined, the volunteers were led by the late Penghulu Chew Peng Ann. Later, his son Robert took over. Back then, the wet market was located at Jalan Market before it was demolished and relocated to its present site at Jalan Channel. Many volunteers have come and gone over the years, with some having to stop because of old age,” he recalled.
Age may have slowed him down, but it has never diminished his determination.
In his younger days, Teo could easily shoulder baskets overflowing with donated goods. Today, because of persistent knee pain, he performs lighter duties, using a trolley to transport the heavy baskets to the waiting truck.
“I used to carry as many as three full baskets at one time. I can’t do that anymore because of my knees. But I have no intention of giving up this volunteer work. I will continue for as long as my health permits,” he said.
The Sibu Benevolent Society was established in 1945 by the British colonial government and initially operated from an army barracks at Jalan Bukit Lima.
In 1992, the home moved to its present premises at Jalan Teng Chin Hua, formerly known as Old Airport Road.
Operating without financial grants from either the state or federal governments, the society depends entirely on public generosity to sustain its daily operations. It only received MRP fund from local assemblymen.
One of its most enduring initiatives is the weekly collection of food donations from market traders – a noble tradition faithfully carried on by three generations of Robert’s family.
The initiative began in the 1950s when Robert’s grandfather, the late Chew Giok Lin, led a team of volunteers through the old wet market to collect perishable food generously donated by traders.
Robert’s late father, Peng Ann, continued the meaningful mission from 1984 until 2004 before passing the responsibility to Robert, who proudly carries the tradition today.
Remarkably, only three people – Giok Lin, Peng Ann and Robert – have ever carried the symbolic responsibility of ringing the 70-year old bell.
Every Sunday morning, Robert, 73, leads between 10 and 15 volunteers through the Central Market, faithfully ringing the copper bell for about half an hour as he makes his rounds.
“With rising costs, we are constantly stretched. Without these generous food donations, we would have to spend between RM30,000 and RM40,000 every month just to feed our residents. That is a huge amount that we simply cannot afford,” Robert said.
Once the truck, heavily laden with donated food, returns to the care centre, another dedicated team of women volunteers from the Methodist Church carefully sorts, cleans and stores the perishables in refrigerators.
Over the decades, countless volunteers have come forward to lend a helping hand. While some participated only occasionally, seven or eight veteran volunteers aged 65 and above continue to serve faithfully week after week.
“It has become part of their routine. They come whenever they have the time. We have also had entire families volunteering together, as well as visitors spending their holidays in Sibu who chose to join our weekly collection,” Robert said.
With the majority of the volunteers aged over 65, Robert hopes the younger generation will step forward to continue the tradition of volunteering.
The generosity extends well beyond the volunteers.
Market traders remain more than willing to contribute, believing that every small donation helps nurture a more caring and compassionate society.
“Every trader contributes a little. We are happy to do our part. Sometimes members of the public buy food from us and ask us to pass it to the volunteers. They prefer to remain anonymous, so we simply act as the middlemen to deliver their contributions to the society,” said Sibu Central Market Hawkers Association’s Executive Adviser, Yiing Chung Ming.
For Robert, the unwavering support from traders over the years is something he treasures deeply.
“We are truly grateful for their continuous support. Some families have been donating for two generations. They do it willingly, generously and wholeheartedly, and we can never thank them enough.”
