Diocese of Miri: Pastoral visit to Sebauh 26Aug 2017

Pastoral visit to Sebauh 26Aug 2017
by The Most Rev. Bishop Richard Ng

Assisting Parish Priest: Fr Basil Enitli
Photography: Alvin Wong

Lying about 48 km from Bintulu town and nestled along the banks of Kemena River, Sebauh does not have that shabby, dusty look of many rural towns. It was clean and pleasant. In fact, it is a marriage of the old and new. The old structures are typical Chinese shops fronting the waterfront while the new ones are mostly government buildings.

Sebauh now stands equal to Bintulu District and Tatau District. It comprises of Sebauh proper and rural areas like Pandan, Maskat, Labang, Binyo and Tubau.

Sebauh used to be a sub-district under the Bintulu division but it was elevated to a district on August 1 2015. The population of Sebauh sub-district (year 2000 census) was 21,754.

Sebauh is home to Iban, Chinese, Melanau, Malay and Ulu people. Most Ibans are scattered throughout rural areas of Sebauh, namely in Pandan, Labang, Tubau and Kakus. Melanau people (or Melanau Bintulu/Vaie people) are concentrated at Sebauh town and rural communal areas, namely at Pandan and Labang.

Life in sebauh is very relaxing and is best to make time to sit at the coffeeshop and strike up conversations with customers in the coffeeshop.

Many Malay people are not originally from Sebauh, however, intermarriage with locals especially Melanau people has made Malay as one of the major ethnics in Sebauh. Chinese people are more concentrated at Sebauh town, while some reside in the rural areas of Kuala Kebulu and Jelalong.

Orang Ulu people, such as Kenyah, Kayan, Tatau, Penan and Punan are more scattered throughout Sebauh Sub-District compared to Iban people. Most of them still live in rural areas like Kakus and Jelalong.

Agriculture is a major part of the economy in Sebauh with oil palm, rattan and pepper the main products. Around 70% of Sebauh people are involved in agriculture, and 25% in the timber industry. Deposits of coal have been discovered, but are yet unexploited.

26August 2017 - After crossing the ferry, Most Rev. Bishop and his team members arrived at Rumah Henry Nuni. Gelam, Sebauh.