About Museum

The modern history of Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum :
From a Hospital to a Living Heritage

Relocation of Patients and Medical Equipment from Lau King Howe Hospital to the New Sibu General Hospital in Year 1994
The historical legacy of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum began when Lau King Howe Hospital officially ended its medical service mission in June 2005. Although the hospital ceased its medical functions, its historical memories, medical heritage, and contributions to the community continued to live on, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum.
The Lau king Howe Hospital entrance and New Sibu General Hospital

For almost six decades, Lau King Howe Hospital had served the people of Sibu and the Since its official opening in 1936, Lau King Howe Hospital served the people of Sibu and the Central Region of Sarawak for nearly six decades. With the official opening of the new Sibu Hospital on 1 September 1994, Lau King Howe Hospital was converted from a hospital into a clinic. It gradually ceased to function as a major medical institution, eventually ending its medical services in June 2005.

However, the closure of a hospital does not mean that its history disappears. Lau King Howe Hospital served countless patients, trained generations of medical and healthcare professionals, and witnessed the development of Sibu’s society, population, and healthcare system. Therefore, following the closure of the hospital, members of the community began to recognize the importance of preserving this valuable medical heritage, so that future generations could learn about and understand the significant contributions Lau King Howe Hospital made to the people and community of Sibu.

The Establishment of the Memorial Museum

For this purpose, the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum Organizing Committee, led by its founding chairman, Pemanca Datuk Lau Hieng Ing, was established in 1994, with members representing the following organizations:
1. United Chinese Associations of Sibu
2. Sarawak Federation of Chinese Cultural Associations
3. Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce
4. Malaysian Medical Association, Sibu Branch
5. Sibu Hotel and Tourism Association

One of the most important responsibilities of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum Organizing Committee was to seek the necessary approval and support from the relevant government authorities, particularly the health authorities, for the establishment of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum.

Eventually, the Sarawak Health Department approved the proposal to establish the museum and agreed to have the Lau King Howe Hospital Outpatient/Specialist Clinic Building suitably renovated and adapted to serve as the premises of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum.

After the museum site was confirmed, the Organizing Committee appointed Architect Teng Mee Huong to undertake the design and layout of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum. The total cost of the renovation and refurbishment works amounted to RM450,000 (approximately USD132,000), which was raised through public donations.

The Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum Organizing Committee expressed its appreciation to Dr. R. Meganathan and the Sibu Health Department for undertaking the responsibility of preserving the hospital’s historical artefacts and for assisting with the initial administration and management of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum.

In May 1996, the construction, renovation, and refurbishment works of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum were officially completed.

Following the end of Lau King Howe Hospital’s medical services, members of the community began efforts to preserve the hospital’s history, heritage, and cultural legacy.

The Museum was officially declared opened on 3rd August 1996 by YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. Wong Soon Kai, Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak.
YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. Wong Soon Kai and Datin Patinggi Datuk Seri Dr. Jane Yong Sue Kheng looking at the model of main buildings and historical items of the Lau King Howe Hospital
Following a series of preparations and concerted efforts, the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum was officially established and opened to the public on 3 August 1996.

The establishment of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum marked the transformation of Lau King Howe Hospital from a functioning healthcare institution into an institution dedicated to preserving medical history, collective memories, and cultural heritage.

The Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum not only preserves the historical records and artefacts of the hospital, but also safeguards the shared memories of the many people who once worked, received medical treatment, were born, and lived within its walls.


Preserving the Hospital’s Heritage

The Memorial Museum was established with the purpose of preserving the historical legacy of Lau King Howe Hospital.
Historical medical equipment, photographs, documents, hospital records, medical instruments, and other materials related to the former Lau King Howe Hospital were collected, preserved, and carefully documented.
Behind every artefact lies a story; behind every photograph is a precious chapter of history; and every document bears witness to the development and transformation of the healthcare system in Sibu and the Central Region of Sarawak.
Through these collections, visitors can gain a better understanding of the medical environment, working conditions and challenges faced by healthcare workers in earlier generations.

A New Challenge in 2005

The development of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum also faced significant challenges. The disappearance of the original hospital buildings marked a major turning point in the history of Lau King Howe Hospital. However, although the physical buildings no longer exist, the history and legacy left behind by the hospital must not disappear with them.

In June 2005, as Phase Two of the Sibu Town Square Development Project proceeded, the historic buildings of the former Lau King Howe Hospital were affected by urban development and were eventually demolished.
This further underscores the importance and significance of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum: to preserve a history that can never be rebuilt, and to document an era that can never be relived.

The Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum has therefore become an important place for preserving the collective memory and historical legacy of Lau King Howe Hospital.

4 December 2008: Reopening and the Beginning of a New Chapter

Following renovation and restoration efforts, the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum was reopened in 04th December 2008.
State Minister of Finance II of Sarawak, and State Minister of Environment and Public Health of Sarawak, Dato Seri Wong Soon Koh, Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum Founder Chairman, Pemanca Datuk Lau Hieng Ing, together with Chairman, Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau Lee Ming Unveiling the statue of the late Mr. Lau King Howe on 04th December 2008.
The reopening marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Memorial Museum.

No longer simply a place preserving the memory of an old hospital, the museum began developing its role as an educational and heritage institution.

The museum sought to introduce younger generations to the history of healthcare in Sibu while also providing former patients, staff and members of the public with a place to reconnect with their memories.

Strengthening Heritage Cooperation

On 6th July 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in between The Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum Association, Sibu, Sarawak Health Department, and Sibu Municipal Council at the Sibu Municipal Council Meeting Room, Level 24, Wisma Sanyan to strengthen cooperation related to the development and preservation of the Memorial Museum.
Over the following years, the museum continued to work with various organizations, educational institutions, heritage bodies and government agencies. This including University Technologies Sarawak, Sarawak Museum Department.
On 7th April 2021, the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum Association, Sibu, held the Signing Ceremony for the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS). The ceremony marked the collaboration between both organizations to support educational and heritage-related activities.
On 31 October 2021, University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) presented the details of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum upgrading project to the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum Association and YB Datuk Dr. Hj. Annuar Rapaee.
On 31st October 2021, Yang Berhormat Datuk Dr. Haji. Annuar Rapaee briefing his idea of about the extension works.
On 29th November 2022, staff from the Sarawak Museum Department visited the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum for a discussion with the Upgrading Project team from University of Technology Sarawak (UTS). The discussion focused on preservation methods and ideas for developing future storylines and displays in the museum.
These collaborations helped the museum develop exhibitions, educational programmers, historical research and heritage activities.

The Memorial Museum gradually became part of Sibu’s wider cultural and historical landscape.

The “Babies of Lau King Howe Hospital” Project

An important initiative in preserving the hospital’s living history is the “Babies of Lau King Howe Hospital” project.

The project aims to identify and document individuals who were born at Lau King Howe Hospital, allowing them to reconnect with the hospital that once witnessed the beginning of their lives.

Behind every birth record lies a family story.

When countless family stories come together, they form a shared history spanning generations of people from Sibu and the surrounding areas.

Therefore, what the “Lau King Howe Hospital Babies” Project preserves is not merely a collection of birth records, but the living memories and life stories of generations of people.

From Medical Museum to Community Heritage Centre

Over the years, the role of the Memorial Museum has continued to evolve. It has become a place for historical exhibitions, educational visits, community activities, heritage programs and public engagement.

For students, the museum serves as a living classroom where they can learn about the history and development of healthcare. Researchers can also study the development of medicine and healthcare in the Central Region of Sarawak.
For the medical and healthcare professionals who once worked at Lau King Howe Hospital, the museum is a place where they can reconnect with and reminisce about their youthful years and cherished memories.
On 9 April 2024, Mr. Bernard Lee Teck Ming, a retired pharmacy assistant who dedicated an impressive 36 years of service to Lau King Howe Hospital from 1957 to 1993, visited the museum. At the age of 85 in 2024, Mr. Bernard was accompanied by his granddaughter, Ms. Rachel Ruth Wong Wen Jin, who pointed him out in a historical photograph.
On 3 May 2025, Mr. Mozzi De Souza, a former Laboratory Technologist who served at Lau King Howe Hospital from 1982, returned to visit the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum. Now 63 years old, he revisited the museum and the place where he had spent an important part of his professional life.
On 17 July 2025, Puan Setiah Abdullah and Puan Alfiah Ali, both former community nurses who served in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lau King Howe Hospital, visited the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum. Puan Setiah served from 1984 to 1990, while Puan Alfiah served from 1985 to 1994.
On 9 July 2026, Madam Regina Wilna Jong, a former Assistant Pharmacist who served at Lau King Howe Hospital from 1970 to 1994, returned to visit the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum. She dedicated 24 years of service to the hospital before being transferred to Sibu Hospital. Now 80 years old, she revisited the museum and reminisced about her years of service at the hospital.
For ordinary visitors, the museum serves as a window into Sibu’s past. For those who were born at the hospital, it preserves some of the earliest memories of their lives.
In this way, the Memorial Museum serves as a bridge between the past and the present.

What We Preserve Is Not Just Artefacts, but the Stories of People

What the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum preserves most dearly is not merely the medical equipment displayed in its showcases.

The true history of the hospital is embodied in the people who once lived, worked, and received treatment here.

They include:

Surgeon performing operation in the new operating theatre in Lau King Howe hospital in year 1985
ome of the ICU staff looking after a patient in 1980’s. on the Left was Dr. Chew Peng Hong, Founder of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU)
Dr. Mariama James Lopez, Hospital Director of Lau King Howe Hospital, Dr. Annuar Rapaee, Medical Officer and a senior Medical Assistant posing in front of the Accident and Emergency unit. Lau King Howe hospital, Sibu in 1993.
Patients who received treatment.
Families who waited outside the wards.
And thousands of children who were born within the hospital.
All of these people formed part of the story of Lau King Howe Hospital.
On 17 December 2023, Mdm. January Ak Luban, a retired midwife, visited the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum. She underwent three years of midwifery training at Lau King Howe Hospital from 1973 to 1975. After completing her training, she served at the Health Sub-Centre in Sungai Bangkit, Kapit, from 1975 to 1977. She then returned to Lau King Howe Hospital and continued working there until 1984, before being transferred to Ipoh, Perak. She was 70 years old in 2023.
Therefore, over the years, the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum has continued to encourage people who have a connection with the former hospital to share their photographs, documents, stories, and personal memories, helping to preserve these valuable oral histories for future generations.


The Spirit of Lau King Howe

The core value of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum lies not merely in preserving the history of a hospital, but in safeguarding the shared memories and historical legacy of the people of Sibu and the Central Region of Sarawak. More importantly, it is about carrying forward the “Spirit of Lau King Howe”, a spirit of compassion, service, dedication, and commitment to the community.

Mr. Lau King Howe believed that a person’s wealth and abilities should not be used solely for personal benefit, but should also be used to help those in need within society.

Therefore, his true legacy is not merely a hospital bearing his name, but a spirit of care, dedication, charity, compassion, and service to the community.

This spirit was deeply embedded throughout the nearly six decades of history of Lau King Howe Hospital.

Generation after generation of doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, and hospital staff served patients in their respective roles, cared for the vulnerable, and contributed to the well-being of the Sibu community.

This is the “Spirit of Lau King Howe” that the museum hopes to preserve and pass on to future generations.

Looking to the Future

As it enters a new chapter, the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum will continue to focus on historical preservation, education, heritage promotion, and community engagement.

With the advancement of technology, the Museum will continue to explore new ways to preserve and share history, including the digitization of historical records, preservation of oral histories, enhancement of exhibitions, and engaging more young people in learning about the history of Lau King Howe Hospital.

Although the historic buildings of Lau King Howe Hospital no longer exist, the stories, spirit, and memories they left behind continue to live on.

The responsibility of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum is to ensure that this history continues to be seen, understood, cherished, and passed on to future generations.

The doors of the hospital have closed,
but the doors of history will never close.

Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum
Preserving History · Carrying Forward the Spirit · Connecting Communities · Inspiring the Future

30 Years of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum.

Since its establishment in 1996, the Museum has carried the important mission of preserving the medical history and heritage of Sibu for the past three decades.

The 30th anniversary is not merely a milestone to be celebrated.

It is an opportunity to look back on the Museum’s journey and development over the past 30 years;

to pay tribute to the generations of doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, and hospital staff who served at Lau King Howe Hospital;

to remember the countless people who once received treatment, were born, and lived at the hospital;

and to express our gratitude to all members of the community, institutions, and organizations that have supported the development of the Museum.

More importantly, the 30th anniversary marks a new beginning.

1996 – 2026