Another highlight of the tour was our visit to Sungai Lembing - a place that holds deep personal significance for me. Ever since I learned that my maternal grandfather first set foot in this very town when he left China for Southeast Asia, it had been a lifelong dream of mine to come here and see this place - and the mines - where he once toiled.
The moment I heard the locals conversing in Hakka, I felt a strong sense of connection. The dialect spoken here is virtually identical to the one spoken in Kota Kinabalu and across Sabah, reaffirming my belief that my grandfather had indeed lived and worked in this town.
During my stay, I made an effort to talk to some residents, hoping to meet people whose ancestors might have come from the same village as my grandfather. Unfortunately, the name of his hometown didn’t seem to resonate with the younger generation I spoke to. It made me wonder - could it be that his entire clan had migrated together to North Borneo, leaving behind few, if any, ties to the place they once called home?
Many generations have come and gone, but the towering old trees in the town centre still stand - silent sentinels bearing witness to the passage of time. They serve as living reminders of Sungai Lembing’s resilience and enduring spirit, quietly telling the story of a town that refuses to be forgotten.
This sleepy old town has seen little change over the years - and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon, especially now that its once-thriving mining industry is a thing of the past. Its future now rests in the hands of the remaining residents, whose creativity and determination will be key in reimagining Sungai Lembing as a destination for visitors seeking heritage, history, and a glimpse into a bygone era.
The huge Khek (Hakka) Association's building located strategically in the town centre speaks volume of the influence of the Hakka people here.
The hanging bridge across Sg. Lembing is now a symbol of this old town.
The river flowing through Sungai Lembing was calm and gentle during our visit, with its bed visibly silted up over time. However, we were told that during periods of heavy rain and flooding, the water level could rise dramatically - sometimes reaching as high as the suspension bridge. In such events, residents are typically given advance warning, allowing them time to evacuate and safeguard their belongings, including moving their vehicles to higher ground.
Steamers used to ply along this river during the good old days.
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