THE BIG FLOOD 1963

The year 1963 was an eventful and historical year for Bau. It was one of the districts in Sarawak with the majority of the people who supported the formation of Malaysia. When Gobold Commission visited Bau in order to determine the wishes of the people to join Malaysia, anti-Malaysia posters were seen on both sides of the road from Kuching to Ban and Bau Town itself. Under the tense and risk)' environment, the majority of the people of Bau led by Temenggong Datuk Salau ak Jambang expressed full support for the formation of Malaysia, On 16.9.1963, Sarawak achieved independence within Malaysia and Bau people had obviously played an important role in it.

General View of Bau Town During the Big Flood in 1963


On the other hand, the year 1963 was one of the worst tragic years which Bau had experienced. The big flood which occurred at the end of January, 1963 had taken two human lives. 115 houses were completely washed away and 51 houses including the Home under the Management of Bau District Relief Committee and Public Works Department (PWD) Local Camp were badly damaged.

Bau Bazaar was flooded up to 10 feet high and the Police Station was 4 feet under water. Due to the heavy rain and the rising flood water, Bau was totally cut off from other areas and even telephone contact was cut off because the SESCO Station and Postal Communication 01'1'icc were also under water.

On 30.1.1963, under the chairmanship of Kapitan Liew Nyan Foo an emergency meeting was called and immediate food and cash relief was given to homeless flood victims. A total of 815 destitute families were given financial and food assistance. National Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee gave $14,050.00 to Bau district to assist the flood victims and free fertilizers were given to 364 pepper farmers toassist them to replant their pepper. The Home under the Management of Bau District Relief Co.mmittee and PWD Local Camp were among the 115 houses being washed away by the flood. The District Officer at that time was Datuk William Nais. However, Datuk William Nais was transferred on 7.3.1963 and Datuk Hj. YusufArbi took over his place on 8.3.1963. It was really a hard time for Datuk Hj. Yusuf Arbi and his staff to handle the after-flood situation. With his experience and prompt action, the situation was well under control and in a matter of a few months, everything was back-to normal. It is worth mentioning here the role of Temenggong Datuk Salau ak. Jambang. He initiated the move to collect Atap from the villagers to assist the flood victims. He received very good response from the Kampung people. Thousands ofAtaps were collected and sent to District Office for distribution victims to the flood.

More General View of Bau Town During the Big Flood in 1963

There is an interesting story in connection with 1963 flood. The flood had not only hit Bau but most of the areas in the 1st Division(Kuching Division). According to an old woman who went into a trance at Lim Hua San Temple at Tabuan Road, Kuching on 10.3.1963, the Sarawak Museum which held captives of a red-headed tortoise was to be blamed. The tortoise was believed to be 'The Daughter of Sea Dragon King," If she was not released, the woman said that the flood would one day rise as high as the Museum building to enable the tortoise to escape from the wooden tub where it was kept for public exhibition. Upon the request of Tan Sri Datuk Ong Kee Hui, Mr Tom Harrison, the then Curator of Sarawak Museum released the tortoise at Muara Tebas on 14.3.1963 during a religious ceremony. True enough, after tlie release of "The Daugliter of Sea Dragon King", the flood subsided.

The Brunei Rebellion in December, 1962 had also badly affected tlie livelihood of the people in Bau. Terrorists intruded into Bau district, making hit and run attacks on the Bidayuh Kampungs along the border areas. Curfew from 7.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. was imposed as from 29.6.1964. Rubber tappers at Kg. Stass, Kg. Serikin, Kg. Gumbang, Kg. Tringgus and Pangkalan Tcbang were prevented from tapping. As a result of the curfew, hundreds of Chinese families moved away from Bau and settled down in Kuching district for fear of attacks by the intruders or being arrested as terrorist sympathisers.

In spite of the destructive flood and small groups of the people who opposed the formation of Malaysia, Bau town took part in the celebration of Sarawak's independence within Malaysia on 16.9.1963.