DOWN MEMORY LANE: MV SANG FAJAR (1980'S)

Seeing this photo of the MV Sang Fajar likely brings back many memories of the "Golden Age" of coastal travel in Malaysia.

A fantastic historical photo of a journey that many Sarawakians and travelers remember fondly. Before the Pan-Borneo Highway made road travel common, ships like the MV Sang Fajar and its sister ship MV Sang Suria, were the primary lifeline between Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

The MV Sang Fajar has a particularly interesting history linked to the development of Malaysia's maritime identity:

• Original Identity: The ship was originally named the Soochow, built in Govan on Clydeside, Scotland, in 1947 for the China Navigation Company.
• Renaming: It was purchased from Swires of Hong Kong by the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) and renamed Sang Fajar. Its sister ship, the Shansi, was renamed Sang Suria.
• Role in Sarawak: During the period you traveled (1983), these ships served as vital coastal passenger and cargo vessels. They were known for carrying a mix of passengers—sometimes including troops and government officials being transferred between divisions—along with significant cargo.
• The Experience: A voyage from Kuching to Sibu back then was quite an event, often taking much longer than today's express boats or road trips, but offering a unique perspective of the Sarawak coastline and the Rejang River entrance.

My transfer to KD Sri Rejang at Sibu, Sarawak in April 1983 happened right at a time when these coastal "Sang" ships were the giants of the local waters. It is a rare glimpse into a bygone era of Sarawakian travel.

Also sailing with me and my friends at that time were members of the Army from the 24th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment who were assigned to the Operation in Sibu.

Traveling by sea in 1983 was a vastly different experience than today. Passengers often recall the distinct smell of the engine oil mixed with the salt air, the crowded but communal deck spaces, and the excitement of docking at the Sibu wharf, which was the heart of the town's commerce. The journey from Kuching to Sibu was a significant trip that typically took between 12 to 15 hours, depending on the tide and weather conditions. The ship would travel out of the Sarawak River into the South China Sea, hugging the coastline before entering the mouth of the mighty Rajang River.

The 1980s marked the final decade for many of these classic liners as regional air travel and improved road networks began to take over.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

ex KD Sri Rejang

(1983-84)

5/1/2026: 5.14 p.m