This tragedy still haunts the older Sarawakians and its survivors till today. Till date, it was referred to as Malaysia's worst maritime accident.
MV Pulau Kidjang was a popular passenger ship between Kuching and Sarikei. MV Pulau Kidjang, weighing at a massive 227 tonnes, was built in Hong Kong. It was an RM320,000 ship and started its first operations in Sarawak in 1965. The one-way journey will take approximately 11-12 hours.
Chronology of The MV Pulau Kidjang. Image source via mymatapena.blogspot.com
It departed Kuching port on 26 December, 6.25 pm, a twenty-five-minute delay than scheduled. On 27 December 1973, there was a tempest near Kuala Rajang. MV Pulau Kidjang was carrying 159 people including crews, cargos and vehicles got caught in the storm. The ship fought against the deadly waves, tilting left and right. The storm was relentless.
Water began to seep into the MV Pulau Kidjang.
Cables retaining the cars and cargo snapped and causing the MV Pulau Kidjang loses its stability and ultimately flip and sink.
Image source via malaysiagazette.com
The ship sank in the waters of Tanjung Jerijeh, 3.5 nautical miles from West Sarikei. It is believed that the remains of MV Pulau Kidjang and the tombless soul still rest at the same location as it was 48 years ago.
Recovering of the victims' body remain in vain as they were buried in mud and sand. According to records, the tragedy of the Titanic Tale of Sarawak - MV Pulau Kidjang took 121 souls that day. Only 38 people survived that tragedy. Only 41 sets of human remains were recovered where 80 are still missing, although a massive search and rescue mission was launched that time.
The survivors have washed ashore to the beaches of Tanjung Gerigat and were found by MV Hornbill, which was en route to Selalang.
Sarikeians did not eat fish for many months after the incident. Fingers, buttons, rings were found in the fishes caught during that time.
MV Pulau Kidjang docking at Bintagor. Image source via dzaf-mysri.blogspot.com
The Sarawak Government built a memorial 2 km away from Sarikei Town for the tombless soul.
The MV Kidjang layout. Image source via mymatapena.blogspot.com
We want to convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the tragedy.
A local filmmaker, Allen Tinggie Sdn Bhd, produced a documentary on MV Pulau Kidjang tragedy.
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