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TourismTalk Hoover Memorial Square Named after the great Methodist missionary from USA, the late Pastor James Mathew Hoover, this memorial square is set to attract more tourists to Sibu through religious tourism. Located at Island Road, the project when completed in August this year, will house an exhibition hall for the display of photographs and articles relating to the history of Methodist Church in the town. The building housed a joint treasury office, an administrative block, a library, conference room, a 180-parking lot bay and hostels for members. Methodist Church denomination started in Sarawak in 1901. In fact, the early historical and economic development of the Methodist Church in Sarawak has its beginning in Sibu. The church presently consists of the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC), the Sabah Mission Conference, the Chinese Methodist Church in Australia and New Zealand and the Sarawak Iban Annual Conference (SIAC). The spread of the Methodist Church to Sibu owed very much to the founder of Sibu Foochow settlement, the late Wong Nai Siong. In his plan to help his poverty-stricken fellow Christians, oppressed by the Boxer Rebellion which had become anti-Christian and in which persecution was prevalent, Wong travelled through South East Asia looking for a place to start a Christian colony. He first visited Hong Kong, then Singapore and finally Sarawak. Upon his arrival in Sarawak, he called on Rajah James Brooke who also wanted to start a Christian colony. As both were on the same plan, the Rajah advanced $20,000 to Wong Nai Siong for expenses to bring in Chinese farmers from China. In 1901, about 600 Chinese pilgrims, of whom 90 per cent were affiliated with the Methodist Church, set sail in the ships Beng Hai and Hai Ceu. Meanwhile, Bishop Warne who was on his way from America to the Philippines to conduct conferences, met the two pilgrim ships in Hong Kong. He was so impressed by this venture that he cancelled his passage to Manila and joined them on their great adventure. The Foochow immigrants touched ground at Sungai Merah on 16 th March 1901. Bishop Warne greatly helped in the settlement and the establishment of Methodist congregations in the new habitat. Wong, who was a lay preacher himself, brought in two other groups of immigrants a year later. The three phases of migration totaled 1,118 men, of whom two third were Methodist Christians. They scattered about Sungei Merah and the nearby land of Sungei Rejang and began their new life of planting potatoes, tapioca and vegetables as well as rice. With the coming of the Heng Hua Chinese in 1911, more church buildings and schools were constructed on a 300 acre site at Bukit Lan, about 50 km from Sibu enrolling both Chinese and Iban students. After the Japanese occupation, the Foochow immigrants who by nature were extremely thrifty, hardworking and gifted with business acumen, began to move and establish themselves in other towns in Sarawak. As many of them were Methodist, the church spread wherever they went: Kapit 1953, Kuching 1954, Limbang 1956, Sarikei and Simmangang (now Sri Aman) 1957, Miri 1965, Bintulu 1975 and Sabah 1980. Thus by the mid 20 th Century, the Chinese Methodist Church covered virtually all the major towns of every Administrative Division of Sarawak and Sabah. There are now 121 Methodist churches in Sarawak and another 41 in Sabah. The late Pastor James was the first oversea’s pastor for the Methodist Church in Sibu. He served the church in the town from 1903-1935. Yu Lon San Tien En Si Temple Said to be the largest temple in Asia, the newly built Yu Lon San Tien En Si Temple of the three religious faiths, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, is now a new tourism draw for Sibu. Even before its completion expected end of this year, stream of visitors from overseas have visited this magnificent place of worship. 18 | BorneoTalkJul-Sept2009
To be exact, some 3,000 foreign tourists from far and near have set foot in the temple. That speaks volume how this temple would be a tourism icon for Sibu. Located at KM26 Sibu-Bintulu Road or just half an hour drive from the town, the temple is slated to have its official opening on November 5 after more than two years of construction. One of the main attractions of the temple is that it prominently features a set of 12 Chinese zodiac animals on its left entrance. The temple is so huge that inside it are four halls (dian) of Davejara (Tienwangdian), Mahavira (Daxiiongbaodian), Maitreya (Miledian) and Daomudian. The sight of such halls is set to enthrall visitors as they are adorned with statues of Amitabh, Gautama Buddha, Smiling Buddha, Weitao, eightarmed and four-faced Daomu Goddess and Dashizi Bodhisattvra. Another star attraction of the temple are the accessory halls on both sides of it – the Bell and Drum towers, both furnished with the same hexagonal windows and curved eaves. In any ceremonial event, the drum would be beaten and the bell rung. At the right side of the temple is the Sutras Keeping Hall (cangjinglou) which keeps the three treasures of the temple – Dazang sutras, gold seals and the Buddha statues. Last but not least are the statues of the legendary Tang monk, Xuan Zang, a follower of Buddha, the Monkey God, also known as Sung Mu Kong, Zhu Ba Chiat, the humorous pig who transformed from a heavenly general for his crime of assaulting a fairy and a sea monster Xa Zhen. They are found in front of the pavilion. For those intending to go to the temple, they should make proper transport arrangements as it is quite a distance from the town. The hotels can also assist in making these arrangements for tourists to travel in groups and save on cost and providing comradeship. Where luxury and comfort awaits every guest A hotel is only as good as what others say about it and for Tanahmas Hotel Sibu, the accolades say it all; Best Accommodation, Excellent Services, Best Media Promotion from Sarawak Hornbill Tourism. In addition, courteous services plus central location in the heart of the town makes Tanahmas Hotel the ideal place for holiday or business as it has all the facilities you are looking for. Dine at the Pepper’s Café for a sumptuous meal with the family or talk over a business lunch; the halal certified outlet is a comfortable place anytime of the day! For bigger parties, the 400 seat banquet room is the obvious choice with wide range of authentic Chinese cuisines and western delights. Wind down the day at Club Emas, the entertainment outlet where karaoke session and beautiful music sooth the mood for an evening of relaxation. Tanahmas Hotel is the choice for a pleasant and comfortable stay while in Sibu, Swan City in the making! For further information, please contact: Sibu Municipal Council Level 19-24, Wisma Sanyan No. 1, Jalan Sanyan, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 084 333411 Fax: (6) 084 320240 Lot 277, Block 5, Jalan Kampung Nyabor, P.O. Box 240 96007 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Fax: 6 084 333288 Tel: 6 084 333188 Email: tanahmas@streamyx.com Website: www.tanahmas.com.my
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