It’s rare that within an hour of arriving in a new city, I find myself saying, “I’ll be back.”
But with Sibu, that was exactly the case.
There’s something about this town. Maybe it was the hospitality of Penghulu Teo and Kapitan Goh. Maybe it was the river views that one hopes to wake up to every day. Or the Sibu Central Market — not hailed as Malaysia’s largest for nothing — a place that felt less like a market and more like the epicentre to fuel dreams and possibilities.
Or perhaps, it was the competency. The capabilities. Both shown and hidden.
Penghulu Teo— who also serves as the President of the Federation of Automobile Workshop Owners’ Association of Malaysia — shared openly about the gaps he sees in the younger generation. His concern was clear. But so was his intention to do something about it. In his 23rd year as President, he’s working on setting up a proper training centre in Sibu, bringing in experienced talent to train and build up local expertise.
He saw it not just from the perspective of fixing cars. Rather, it is about creating pride. Building pathways. Lifting the standard for all Sarawakians.
And that, to me, is what stood out most in Sibu — the sense that beneath the surface, this town is brimming with people who are putting in the work to shape what comes next.
Next stop, Bintulu!
