Miri My Beloved City

Miri my beloved city

Famed for its beauty

Near the coast of north-eastern Sarawak it lies

Bordering the Abode of Peace Brunei.

Miri has been touted as Sarawak’s most livable resort city

That has indeed become a reality

Life here moves at a more relaxed pace 

Compared to hectic life big city dwellers face.

The discovery of oil led to Miri’s rapid development

Sarawak at that time was under the Brooke government

It was Royal Dutch Shell

Which in 1910 drilled the first oil well.

Miri Petroleum Museum on Canada Hill puts the spotlight on the Miri oil industry

The displays in the museum show the contributions of the petroleum industry to the country

You can see a replica of the nodding donkey

The Time Capsule will be officially unlocked on May 20 2105 by a special key.

On top of Canada Hill

The Grand Old Lady stands still

A landmark monument to Miri’s first oil well

A well that has a lot of stories to tell.

Completed in 1921 the Salome Dam was rediscovered in 2020 by the public

It is now an industrial relic

It was used to supply water to Miri town

With a capacity of 11,000 tons.

Miri was named after a minority group called Jatti Miriek

Under its Denial Scheme the Allied air raids during World War 2 caused the oil refinery facilities in Miri to suffer much wreck

Miri was the first landing point of Japanese troops in Borneo

The abundant oil being the lure.

On 20th May 2005 Miri was elevated to city status

Becoming Malaysia’s tenth city thus

And the first city in Malaysia which is not a state capital

An event in Miri’s history that was truly pivotal.

Miri City Hall is an impressive nine-storey building shaped like an oil barrel

In Malaysia it has no parallel

It overlooks the South China Sea

A 360-degree view from its level 10 roof top offers visitors beautiful sights to see.

The current mayor of Miri is Adam Yii Siew Sang

A long time Sarawak United People’s Party’s partisan

Won the N.74 Pujut during the 2017 state election

A YB with an Universiti Malaya geology education.

The seahorse is the city’s official symbol

A gentle and graceful creature that many adore

It also denotes the proximity of Miri to the sea

A resort paradise with so many sights to see.

Miri’s official flower is periwinkle

A funny name as though it is full of wrinkles

You can see some of this flower in Taman Bunga

Check out the flower garden first before you say cowabunga.

Miri’s annual tecoma season

Is a truly beautiful reason

Why Miri is so blessed

A tecoma tree in full bloom looks like it is wearing a amazing dress.

Boasting a diverse ethnic population composition

Showcasing racial harmony to the rest of the nation

Dayak, Chinese, Malay, Melanau, Berawan, Lun Bawang, Bidayuh, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan and other minorities

The colourful mixture of races provides rich cultural identities.

The Indian community in Miri is quite small

But many of them are professionals in fields such as IT and law

Earning high income and executive pay

But in Sarawak Deepavali is not a public holiday.

Miri is famous for its many beaches

Each with its unique niches

Most are easily accessible by cars

As they are situated not far.

Brighton, Luak Bay, Lutong and Kuala Baram beaches are within easy reach

Further away are Hawaii Beach, Bakam Beach, Bungai Beach, Beraya Beach, Peliau Beach and Tusan Beach

Mirians are lucky with so many beaches for them to choose

To linger and let loose.

Lutong Beach is a popular early evening spot

Suitable for paragliding and paramotor sports

Roadside stalls sell drinks, barbecue fish, chicken wings and satay

Watching the sunset a great way to end the day.

Tusan Beach was once a top attraction

And blue tears brought it even more attention 

But a nature induced calamity caused a lot of grief

With the collapse of the iconic horse head drinking water cliff.

Taman Selera is Miri’s oldest recreational place

For people to relax and seek solace

But many locals miss the old seaside food stalls 

They feel that the privatised Taman Selera has lost its soul.

The old Miri Hospital was located in Pulau Melayu

While crossing the river in our cars using the ferry we needed to queue

Unless you drove all the way to the Piasau Bridge

Which would take a much longer time to reach.

The Long Jetty had long perished

A place that used to fill people with relish

Unfortunately some people committed suicide there

Choosing to drown in the sea to end their days.

A new bridge will be constructed to connect Marina Parkcity to Pulau Melayu

A cable-stayed bridge that will offer a great view

With a design likened to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

And destined to be Miri’s next icon.

Miri International Airport is the sixth busiest in Malaysia in terms of passenger and aircraft movement

And the second largest in Sarawak after Kuching International Airport at the moment

Miri’s location in the middle of Malaysian Borneo

Makes it a hub for rural air services to places like Mulu and Bario.

Hikers love Canada Hill’s hiking trails

But the trails are not for the elderly and the frail

The hill is a favourite haunt of the locals in the early evenings

But not when it is raining.

Reminiscent of the world-famous Hollywood sign

The giant Miri sign on Canada Hill is the first of its kind

Fast becoming the city’s new icon

From its pedestal it beckons.

The golden hour in Miri offers opportunities for superb photography

Capturing awesome sunrises and sunsets are the much-sought trophies

Sunrises viewed on Asean Bridge are a feast for the eyes

And mesmerizing sunset on Lutong Beach kisses each day goodbye.

Coco Cabana has a resort ambience

The eyes of the giant seahorse often reflect the sun’s radiance

As one of the city’s top photography sites

It is definitely quite a sight.

A few beautiful parks adorn the city

With City Fan right inside the city

Bulatan Park, Taman Awam and Taman Selera are popular spots

Where Mirians like to go for walks and jogs.

Piasau Nature Reserve

Oriental pied hornbills’ turf

Kuala Baram Wetlands

A bird sanctuary slowly losing its fame.

Piasau Camp was a rustic area housing the SHELL expatriate community

Houses without fencing amidst casuarina trees in the vicinity

Piasau School catered to the children of the expatriate staff of SHELL

SHELL’s decision to relinquish the camp to the government turned out well.

The gorgeous houses in Luak Bay

Where crazy rich Mirians love to stay

Expensive cars in their garages and gardens

Truly the filthy rich’s Eden.

The completion of the Asean Bridge saw

The Kuala Baram ferry service going the way of the dinosaur

And with the opening of the Miri-Marudi road

Express boat service between Kuala Baram and Marudi came to a halt.

Bruneians love to come to Miri for shopping sprees

Business owners in shopping malls like Bintang Megamall and Imperial Mall are filled with glee

With the weak ringgit versus the Brunei currency

Bruneians’ spending power is the source of many Mirians’ envy.

The influx of Bruneians especially during the weekends

Is viewed by money changers as a godsend

At money changing outlets queues are often seen

A testimony to how good business has always been.

Marina ParkCity is a thriving central business hub

With lots of karaokes, bistros and pubs

Miri Times Square has become the top address for the community

An ambitious project by Samling brought to reality.

With Sarawak Shell soon moving in to its new Times Square building

Many expect a boom for business in the area will be unfolding

The concomitant increased demand for parking spaces

Is a problem the management of Times Square faces.

As the city’s oldest shopping mall

Wisma Pelita Tunku still stands tall

But it has lost its former prominence

As new malls compete with their sizes and affluence.

Food outlets are sprouting up everywhere

Each trying to cater to people’s taste in their unique way

Business at food courts like 2020 Café and Sin Yakin Food Centre are roaring

Not just during lunch time but also in the early morning.

Posh restaurants cater to rich clientele

Striving to capture their loyalty by serving them well

Shu Da Xia Hot Pot, Vibes In Paradise and The Nest

Offer dining in plush décor that ranks among the best.

Fisherman Wharf offers a new dining experience

Relax and enjoy the ambience

Watch the waiter pour the shell-out onto the table

You will be delighted by the savour.

Delicious local gastronomical delights

Tantalise your taste buds with each bite

Sarawak laksa apam balik and satay

Not forgetting the controversial bak kut teh.

Miri Central Market offers wide choices of local food

Make your way there if you are in the mood

Char kway teow, kolo mee, chicken porridge and curry rice

All sold at affordable prices.

A few decades ago in Miri Foochows were a minority

But today among the Chinese they form the majority

There is thus a good demand for Foochow dishes like Sibu kampua, red wine chicken and zao cai fen gan

Foochow coffee shops like Mummy Cafe cater to this demand.

In the evening the Wireless Walk comes alive

The food pedestrian street famous for its laid-back vibe

Ming Café enjoys immense popularity

As the must-go fusion restaurant in the city.

When you head to toilets in Miri’s coffee shops

Be prepared for some shocks

Many of them are dirty and smelly

Bringing your own toilet paper will come in handy.

The Old Man Street is a unique place

Where life seems to crawl at a slow pace

A meeting place for old folks

Where they gather to play chess and talk.

Older Mirians remember Cathay Cinema and Miri Theatre

They were very popular entertainment centres

Until they were phased out by cineplexes

In big shopping complexes.

Take a stroll along China Street, High Street, Jalan Bendahara and Jalan Kingsway

Nostalgia will raise its head its own way

These old parts of the city

Offer insights into how business owners deal with life’s nitty gritty.

To make way for a road the old fish market was demolished

The road provides easier access to the Marina area once its construction was finished

A new fish market was built behind the Pullman Hotel by the riverside

A good location on hindsight.

Kampung Wireless is one of the oldest riverside settlements

A communication tower was erected in the area in the era of the Brooke Government

A radio transmission tower that was wireless

Hence the name Kampung Wireless.

The suburban township of Lutong

A historical oil and gas industrial zone

Lutong Shell Refinery was the first in Malaysia

A place that fills many older folks with nostalgia.

Miri Handicraft Centre offers a wide selection of handicrafts and souvenirs 

Drawing visitors from far and near

Where you are looking for wooden carvings woven baskets paintings or beads

The vast collection will meet your needs.

Malaysia’s first Orang Ulu Cultural Centre in Miri is nearing completion

It is destined to become a top tourist attraction

It combines the traditional Orang Ulu building designs and motifs

With the promotion of Orang Ulu unity and heritage as its motives.

Miri hosts a couple of music festivals every year

Borneo Jazz Festival attracts fans from far and near

Miri Country Music Fest offers foot-stomping and toe-tapping celebration

While the discontinued Asia Music Festivals featured artistes and musicians from Asian nations.

In recent years Miri has seen a glut of new hotels

The hotel industry has become more competitive with so many rooms to sell

Mercure and City Rise are the latest additions

Aiming for a piece of the action.

The Park Hotel stands lonely

Reminiscing its former glory

As Miri’s premier hotel in the old days

Things have not gone its way.

Sri Tanjung sits on a hillside near Brighton Beach

Built in 1925 this building used to be the residence of Miri Division Residents

It has been used as a VVIP Rest House for the past decades

It should be preserved as a historical heritage.

The gateway to world-famous Niah Caves, Loagan Bunut and Mulu

As well as Ba Kelalan, Bario and a taste of life in the ulu

For a taste of pristine rainforest

Lambir Hills National Park offers a mesmerising quest.

Gunung Mulu National Park boasts of Sarawak Chamber

The world’s largest known cave chamber

Sharing the limelight is The Pinnacles

A site only the fit can climb and tackle.

Loagan Bunut National Park boasts of Sarawak’s largest natural lake

The drought season can cause the lake to disappear in its wake

As the water in the lake subsides 

You will witness the emerging of a lot of wildlife.

The Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park boasts many diving sites

The abundance of pristine patch reefs are scuba divers’ delight

With a diversity of marine creatures

Offering a plethora of opportunities for taking deep-sea pictures.

Some entrepreneurs have seized the diving opportunities

To offer diving classes and other related activities

Miri Divers have established its name

As a pioneer deserving its fame.

Miri waters have remarkable potential as a fishing destination

The annual Miri City International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament attracts anglers from many nations

The Kuala Baram Wetlands is a popular fishing spot

Where fishermen compete with birds to bring home fishes for their wives’ cooking pots.

When it is musim bubuk or krill shrimp season

Fishermen in Miri have every reason

To be happy as it provides them with substantial extra income

The crustaceans are very much welcomed.

The krill shrimps are cooked as a tasty dish

You can use them to make belacan or cencaluk if you wish

During the bubuk season normally three to four weeks in duration

You can see many boats with pakat scoop nets in action.

If you are into golf

There are two golf clubs where you can tee off

Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club has a much shorter history

While Miri Golf Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in the country.

Gymkhana Club Miri is part of Miri’s historical tapestry

As one of the oldest family recreational club in the country

Boasting an Olympic size swimming pool

Located near St Columba’s National Secondary School.

Next to GCM sits the World War II Memorial Park

The atrocities of war had left its marks

A tribute to the 28 victims brutally executed by the Japanese

A vital reminder of the importance of peace.

Piasau Boat Club is Borneo’s premier sports and leisure club

It is an activity hub

Diving, rowing, fishing various ball sports and sailing 

It offers an unique ambience for dining.

Beach Republic is a kid and family-friendly venue situated in Luak Bay

A place where you can enjoy in many ways

Outdoor pool, fully-equipped gym, Zumba, yoga and ball sports

Or just grab a beer by the poolside in your shorts.

Marina Miri lies in a residential area with 24-hour security

Tucked in a sheltered lagoon close to the city

With berthing for 80 yachts up to 125 feet

The whole project is an engineering feat.

There is no public local zoo

A visit to Miri Crocodile Farm thus becomes a thing a visitor must do

Come face to face with thousands of crocodiles big and small

Besides a sizeable collection of other wildlife also.

Miri has its share of markets and tamus

Where you can buy lots of things including stuff from the ulus

Go to Emart Tudan if sago worms are your fancy

But the mere thoughts of the wriggling creatures make many antsy.

Tamu Muhhibah comes alive in the early morning

As lots of shoppers come calling

Vendors try to entice shoppers with what they have to offer

Hoping to boost their personal coffers.

Saberkas Weekend Night Market is a hive of activities

With vendors selling a wide selection of delicacies

A must-try is the apam balik

Which is literally a turnover pancake.

Gong Xi Bazaar is held annually a week or two before Chinese New Year Eve

With lots of stalls selling food, fireworks, Chinese New Year decor and gifts

Attracting huge crowds of all races

With happy and smiling faces.

Miri May Fest is a month-long celebration

With entertainment, trade fairs, cultural, arts and sports activities and lots of action

Miri City Day is celebrated during this fest

Showcasing Miri at its best.

Oil palm is a major contributor to the local economy

The timber industry, though still a substantial contributor, is now a sunset industry

Shipbuilding and ship repair companies are based mainly in Kuala Baram Industrial Area along the Baram River

Light and medium industries in Piasau Industrial Estate, Senadin Industrial Area and Eastwood Industrial Estate are some of the local economic drivers

In response to calls by the state government for business to diversify into agriculture

Many local businesses have set up large scale fruit and vegetable farming ventures

Jackfruits, melons, oranges, coconuts, grapes, durians and pineapples

As well as all sorts of vegetables.

Dato Lau Siu Wai is a businessman who has contributed a lot to Miri’s development

Education is another of his commitment

Said to be Sarawak’s first private housing developer

The multitude of his projects over past few decades has seen his business prosper.

The now defunct Miri Secondary School was set up by Dato Lau Siu Wai in 1964

A private English school for dropouts it was for

Only thirty percent of primary six students with very good results were able to progress to secondary school education

Due to insufficient secondary schools to cope with the situation.

Miri has two Chinese independent schools

Namely Pei Min Middle School and Riam Road Middle School

Sekolah Rendah Sri Mawar and Sekolah Rendah Sri Mulia are private schools offering primary education

These private schools offer pricier options.

The first Mirian to enjoy truly international stardom is Zee Avi

In her debut album she sang about a honey bee

And Kantoi, Bitter Heart and Poppy

With her achievements she must be happy.

Mirian Watson Nyambek used to be a household name

The Flying Dayak shot to great fame

Clocking 10.38 seconds in the 1996 Malaysia Games’ 100-metre sprint

Running like his legs had powerful springs.

Miri has many beautiful churches, temples, mosques and other places of worship

Showcasing outstanding workmanship

Particularly spectacular are some of the Chinese temples

Sights that often fill tourists with savour.

The Masjid An-Naim Lutong and the Anglican Good Shepherd Church are located side by side

Like brothers keeping each other in sight

A splendid example of religious harmony

As if brought together by destiny.

Mirians are proud of Curtin University

An Australian university with a campus in the city

Which provides tertiary education to not just Malaysians

But also a lot of Asians.

Knewton Global Schools are located in Senadin

Quite close to Curtin

Comprising of Hornbill Preschool, Knewton International School and Sekolah Sri Knewton

Stimulating learning and talents that may be latent.

Trying to capture a bigger slice of the cake by what they can offer.

Medical centres like Borneo Medical Centre, KPJ, Columbia and MCMC compete with each other

Each with its panel of medical specialists

Who are making money hand over fist.

Older folks remember Tanjong Lobang College

A great institution imparting students with knowledge

Upon the change of its name to Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang

Students protested in vain with their demand.

It isn’t easy to operate bookstores profitably

Belle’s Bookshop, Kwan Bookstore and Hong Yi Bookstore are now relegated to annals of Miri history

With books so expensive many people are turning to e-books

Even Popular Bookstore seems to be stocking fewer books.

A social problem in Miri is the littering

It gives us an inkling

Of the indiscriminate attitudes of litter bugs

Such littering truly sucks.

Indiscriminate parking is another issue

Because of this temper eruptions sometimes ensue

Often OKU parking spaces are used by perfectly normal drivers

Parking attendants sometimes bear the brunt of temper spillovers.

We see some homeless sleeping on five foot ways

And also in parks on certain days

Beggars are not such a common sight

But there is one who would ask for RM20 outright.

In the old days it was the barber salons with rotating barber’s poles

Nowadays it is the massage centres welcoming you all

Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Chinese women for you to choose

A good massage helps to make your muscles relaxed and loose.

I won’t touch on Miri politics or politicians

I have no intention of causing any controversy or disruption

For I am an apolitical person

With no ambition to end up in prison.

Miri oh Miri

Despite some shortfalls I still love thee

Miri oh Miri

You are my most beloved city.