Things to See In Sarikei
Sarawak

Welcome to my review of Things to See In Sarikei.

My wife and I recently completed a slow road trip around Sarawak. We spent 13 days exploring various towns and cities between Kuching and Miri. Using the Pan Borneo Highway we stayed overnight at Simanggang, Sarikei, Sibu and Bintulu and did a side trip up to Kanowit and Kapit. From Miri we flew up to Mulu Caves for a couple of days before driving back to Kuching, this time via the coast road from Miri to Bintulu and from Sibu to Kuching using the newly opened Batang Lupar Bridge 1. After a 2,100 km round trip we feel we know Sarawak a bit better now.

The town of Sarikei (population around 45,000) started life as far back as the 1840s as a small trading post on the banks of the Rajang River which flows between Sibu and the sea. It traded products like rice, beeswax, jungle products, dried fish and cloth. Following an influx of Chinese settlers with agricultural experience in the early 20th Century the area's production of cash crops such as pepper and rubber increased significantly. Nowadays Sarikei is an agricultural hub, sometimes known as the food basket of Sarawak, producing crops such as pineapples, other fruits and vegetables and of course oil palms.

Things to See In Sarikei

The town does not pretend to be a tourism destination, it is a commercial town and home to its hard-working inhabitants. But it is not without its charms. Here are some of the sights that caught my attention while walking around:

Dewan Suarah Sarikei

A surprise to me was the sight of this colossal civic centre (Dewan Suarah Sarikei) belonging to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak. The design of the building has a Japanese look to it. The car park area was staging a market and street food event during our visit.

Nyelong Esplanade

Sarikei is located where the Sungai Nyelong merges into the Rajang River. A section of the riverfront has been landscaped with paths, gazebos, playground and sitting areas and is known as Nyelong Esplanade. It has a relaxed feel and seems to be popular with anglers.

Lorong Coffee

A narrow alleyway off Jalan Wharf nicknamed Lorong Coffee has been decorated with murals , coloured lights, umbrellas and native fabrics in a creative attempt to attract the Instagram generation to the alley's kedai kopi.

Sarikei Clock Tower

In the centre of town, also on Jalan Wharf next to the river front, stands the Sarikei Clock Tower which was unveiled on 29 June 1974.

Pineapple Statue

Next to the clock tower is the Pineapple Statue which is probably Sarikei's most famous landmark. Sarikei is known as Pineapple Town as it is a major pineapple cultivation area. I think it looks quite realistic.

Do you think we've bought enough pineapples?

Sarikei Old Courthouse

On the lookout for old buildings from the colonial era the only one I noticed was this one on Jalan Nyelong bearing the date 1937 which I understand was the Sarikei Old Courthouse. It now serves as the Sarikei Innovation Center and is used as an events and co-working space which, to me, seems a good use of a heritage building.

Doraemon in Sarikei

The Sarawak-based supermarket chain Dorémart has an outlet in Sarikei. The company used to be known as Doremon which presumably explains the presence of the Japanese Doraemon cartoon characters in this location.

Location of Things to See In Sarikei

The places mentioned in this review can be found on this map:

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AUTHOR BIO

David (the one on the left) is the writer behind Malaysia Traveller, sharing first-hand travel advice from over five decades of living and travelling across Asia and the Middle East. Based in Malaysia since 2009 and now in Kuching, he has published over 760 pages on this website, personally visited every place he covers, and uses only his own photos. Readers can learn more on his About Me page. He also shares updates on Facebook and YouTube. He loves uncovering overlooked places that even some Malaysians have never visited.