Remember Adam Baba, and other reporters who were attacked by followers linked to the ruling party. Salute to all reporters for their professionalism in covering the event.
A fight broke out as Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng walked down from the stage to meet Anti Lynas Save Malaysia supporters after his speech to about 500 people at Speakers Corner, Esplanade, Penang, this evening.
The person injured is a reporter by the name of Adam Baba who was treated at the General Hospital for head and hand injuries.
Video by Jimmy Leow, Citizen Journalist (CJ.MY)
The peaceful anti Lynas rally in Penang to support the Kuantan people in their movement to stop the Lynas building rare earth processing plant in Kuantan. The said plant will be the world largest, and the output will place them as largest in the rare earth global market, able to challenge the leadership of China. But the said plant was not able to provide a solution for disposal of radioactive waste.
A bigger Anti Lynas Rally was held in Kuantan on the same day 26-2-2012 , but held earlier. Kuantan rally was held peacefully. For your information, Penang state was ruled by opposition party. The opposing group who support Lynas, was from NGO who support the ruling party and the youth group of ruling party. The use of violence to a peaceful people rally was a mockery to democracy of Malaysia.
Remember Adam Baba(the reporter), remember Kuantan's Lynas Processing Plant, Malaysia...remember ugly incident at Anti Lynas Rally in Penang, Malaysia.
Shame to democracy in Malaysia, this time demon really go crazy....
Let the people and the world know the true face of democracy in Malaysia
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, November 25, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Nanyang Transport Volunteers( 南洋华侨机工) 1937-1945
The history of Nanyang Volunteers or Nanqiao ji gong(南侨机工)was not a familiar history with most of us; but it is part of WW2 history, part of Chinese history, and now historical part of Malaysian Chinese, as well as South East Asian Chinese. Many have forgotten the history, many of young generation have never heard the story, and it is not in our school history textbooks.
Initially I was confused what is the correct name for the Nanyang Volunteers, should it be Nanyang Drivers(南洋司机) or Nanyang mechanics(南侨技工). The report from Dara Singh was talking about mechanics(修理工); some articles are talking about the heavy vehicle drivers(司机). Actually the volunteers included both vehicle drivers and mechanics. Broadly it was volunteer transport workers. Today, the correct name should be Nanyang Volunteers(南侨志愿者), but historically it was Nanyang Oversea Chinese Transport Volunteers(南侨机工), but to be fair to non-Chinese, it was also called Nanyang Transport Volunteers(南洋机工）.
In 1939, 3,200 young men from South-East Asia(called Nanyang(南洋) by Chinese), most were from Malaya, left their families and homes voluntarily to travel to China to work as drivers and mechanics during the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945. They left in 15 batches with 9 of 15 batches leaving from Singapore. The volunteers are called Nangiao ji gong(南侨机工)or “overseas Chinese mechanics”.
These 3200 volunteers included Indian, Malay men and four Chinese women. They were responding to China Relief Fund’s call to sustain China’s war materials supply chain during the Sino Japanese War. The China Relief Fund or Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund(南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会), was founded by founded in 1938 by 170 overseas Chinese representatives from the Nanyang region. Their objective was to coordinate regional relief work to support China against Japanese advancement. Mr.Tan Kah Kee was elected as the chairman. The regional headquarter of China Relief Fund was located in Ee Hoe Hean Club, Singapore.
They were known as Nanqiao ji gong or “overseas Chinese mechanics”. But historical records revealed that there were actually Indians and Malays among these volunteers.
These volunteers’ task took them along the Burma Road, a more than 1,453km-long route that began at the rail head town of Lashio in north-east Burma (or Myanmar) and wound its way across mountainous terrain through the province of Yunnan in the south-west corner of China to end at the provincial capital, Kunming.
The Burma Road(滇缅公路)
By the middle of 1938, the Yunnan-Burma Road, laid along segments of that ancient trail, was completed and ready for heavy use. (The Yunnan-Burma Highway and Yunnan Economy During the Periods of Anti-Japanese War by Li Cheng, Journal of Asian Culture and History, Canadian Center of Science and Education, ccsenet.org.)The Burma Road(滇缅公路) is a road linking Burma (also called Myanmar) with the southwest of China. Its terminals are Kunming, Yunnan(中国云南省昆明市), and Lashio, Burma(缅甸腊戌). When it was built, Burma was still a British colony.
View Larger Map
When the Japanese began blockading China’s seaboard in 1937 to cut off access to overseas war materials, the Chinese Government turned to this inland route that crossed its border to maintain a tenuous link with the outside world.
The Chinese government officials began the process of shipping military supplies from Irrawaddy River ports to Lashio for transportation into China via the road, they realised there were not enough skilled drivers and mechanics in China to service this overland route.
Malaya and Singapore had an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 skilled workers, according to research done for a documentary film made by a Chinese TV station and museum about the Nanqiao ji gong.
So in February 1939, a recruitment drive began in Singapore that called for drivers and mechanics aged between 20 to 40 years old to come to China’s aid. The drive was held under the aegis of the China Relief Fund that had initially been formed to raise funds from overseas Chinese to aid China during the Sino-Japanese War.
The response to the call was astonishing: within a matter of months more than 3,000 men – and not all of them Chinese either – from this part of the world volunteered, eventually joining tens of thousands of mainland Chinese in plying the 1,453km Yunnan-Burma Road(滇缅公路), China’s only link with the outside world after 1941.
According to the researchers, upon arriving in Kunming, the Nanqiao ji gong were sorted into Overseas Transportation Teams and given additional training.
It was these men’s job to ferry fuel, weapons, ammunition and soldiers to various parts of China. In return, the Chinese Government provided food, accommodation and medical support and a monthly salary of between 69 and 74 yuan, which was quite low compared to wages for such jobs in Malaya and Singapore at that time.
The route traveled over two mountain ranges, crossing three rivers and countless gorges over more than 400 bridges; it ran along the edges of cliffs and slopes and there were long stretches with sharp and precarious bends, as the road rose from about 600m to over 2,000m above sea level along its length. And then there were mosquito-infested jungles where deadly malaria was rampant.
Burma Road drivers ferried SOE and Force 136 operatives on their missions. Tan said: “We had a saying that if a truck flipped over on the highway on the first day of the month, it would reach the bottom only on the 15th. It was a very dangerous road. It was not paved and not wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. The drivers needed to have very good skills.
The reality was that by the time the war ended in 1945, about one-third of these volunteers had given their lives in the line of duty; some remained in China to find a living and got married and settled there. Only about 1,200 eventually returned to South-East Asia
According to Yunnan Province archives, records of the second brigade of Overseas Transportation Teams dated June 30, 1941, showed there were 97 non-Chinese mechanics – among them 55 Indians, 18 Malays, 11 Burmese and two Indonesians.
Half of them died during service and the remaining ones either settled in China or return to Nanyang after the war.
走遍中国-再会吧,南洋--南洋华侨机工 Part 1 of 3
走遍中国-再会吧,南洋--南洋华侨机工 Part 2 of 3
走遍中国-再会吧,南洋--南洋华侨机工 Part 3 of 3
One of the non-Chinese volunteer, Dara Singh wrote on his experience as Malayan Mechanic Volunteer in the Strait Times, dated 26-7-1939.
MALAYAN VOLUNTEERS IN CHINA Taiping Man On Dangers And Thrills Of Supply Routes (Taiping, July 24, 1939). THRILLS and danger that go hand-in-hand in the daily life of Malayan mechanics who are now doing service in war torn China are described in a letter from Dara Singh(The Straits Times, 26 July 1939, Page 16)
In 1946, after the end of the world war 2, the local Chinese in Penang built a monument in memory of civilians and Nanyang Transport Volunteers who lost their lives during WW2, it is commonly known as Penang Chinese Anti-War Memorial. The actual full name of the memorial is Penang Chinese War Memorial for the Nanyang Transport Volunteers and the victims of the world war(槟榔屿华侨抗战殉职机工罹难同胞纪念碑). The monument is located at the foot of Penang Hill, Penang, Malaysia(槟城升旗山). It was reported that there is another at Kuala Lumpur Kwang Tung Cemetery(吉隆坡的广东义山亭).
On 7 July 1989, the Yunan government constructed a monument,"赤子功勋", in memory of Nanyang Transport Volunteers at Kunming, the capital of Yunan Province.(昆明市的西山森林公园建有“南洋华侨机工抗日纪念碑).
There is another memorial monument at Wanding(畹町), Ruili(瑞丽市),opened on 12-12-2005.(云南瑞丽市畹町经济开发区南洋华侨机工抗战纪念碑).Ruili is a border town with Burma, Wanding Border Economic Cooperation Zone (WTBECZ) is a Chinese State Council-approved Industrial Park based in Wanding Town, Ruili City, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan, China, founded in 1992. Wanding Bridge(畹町桥)is the bridge at the border between Burma and China, where the Nanyang Transport Volunteers crew had pass through.
The Journey to Burma Road in remembrance of the Nanyang Volunteers
Initiated by the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and organized by Malayan Second World War History Society(滇缅公路马来亚二战历史研究会), and Persatuan Hope Negeri Johor, (柔佛河婆同乡会青年团), a group of history enthusiasts commemorated Nanyang Volunteers with a journey from Singapore to Kunming.
Their starting point was the Ee Hoe Hean Club,(怡和轩)in Singapore Chinatown,since Ee Hoe Hean was the headquarters of China Relief Fund and the send-off location for many batches of Nanyang Volunteers.
Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund(南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会) was formed in 1938, when 170 overseas Chinese representatives from the region met to establish a regional body to co ordinate regional relief work to support China against Japanese advancement. These delegates founded the Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund(南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会)and elected Mr. Tan Kah Kee(陈嘉庚)as the chairman. The regional headquarter of China Relief Fund was located in Ee Hoe Hean Club, Singapore.
Suggested readings/websites:
1. MALAYAN VOLUNTEERS IN CHINA , The Straits Times, 26 July 1939, Page 16( This was the report of one of the non Chinese volunteer, Dara Singh from Taiping)
2. Flying Tigers, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Tigers
3. Heroic contributions of the Nanqiao ji gong; The Star, dated August 8, 2010; http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/8/8/lifefocus/6746729&sec=lifefocus
Initially I was confused what is the correct name for the Nanyang Volunteers, should it be Nanyang Drivers(南洋司机) or Nanyang mechanics(南侨技工). The report from Dara Singh was talking about mechanics(修理工); some articles are talking about the heavy vehicle drivers(司机). Actually the volunteers included both vehicle drivers and mechanics. Broadly it was volunteer transport workers. Today, the correct name should be Nanyang Volunteers(南侨志愿者), but historically it was Nanyang Oversea Chinese Transport Volunteers(南侨机工), but to be fair to non-Chinese, it was also called Nanyang Transport Volunteers(南洋机工）.
In 1939, 3,200 young men from South-East Asia(called Nanyang(南洋) by Chinese), most were from Malaya, left their families and homes voluntarily to travel to China to work as drivers and mechanics during the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945. They left in 15 batches with 9 of 15 batches leaving from Singapore. The volunteers are called Nangiao ji gong(南侨机工)or “overseas Chinese mechanics”.
These 3200 volunteers included Indian, Malay men and four Chinese women. They were responding to China Relief Fund’s call to sustain China’s war materials supply chain during the Sino Japanese War. The China Relief Fund or Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund(南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会), was founded by founded in 1938 by 170 overseas Chinese representatives from the Nanyang region. Their objective was to coordinate regional relief work to support China against Japanese advancement. Mr.Tan Kah Kee was elected as the chairman. The regional headquarter of China Relief Fund was located in Ee Hoe Hean Club, Singapore.
They were known as Nanqiao ji gong or “overseas Chinese mechanics”. But historical records revealed that there were actually Indians and Malays among these volunteers.
These volunteers’ task took them along the Burma Road, a more than 1,453km-long route that began at the rail head town of Lashio in north-east Burma (or Myanmar) and wound its way across mountainous terrain through the province of Yunnan in the south-west corner of China to end at the provincial capital, Kunming.
The Burma Road(滇缅公路)
By the middle of 1938, the Yunnan-Burma Road, laid along segments of that ancient trail, was completed and ready for heavy use. (The Yunnan-Burma Highway and Yunnan Economy During the Periods of Anti-Japanese War by Li Cheng, Journal of Asian Culture and History, Canadian Center of Science and Education, ccsenet.org.)The Burma Road(滇缅公路) is a road linking Burma (also called Myanmar) with the southwest of China. Its terminals are Kunming, Yunnan(中国云南省昆明市), and Lashio, Burma(缅甸腊戌). When it was built, Burma was still a British colony.
View Larger Map
When the Japanese began blockading China’s seaboard in 1937 to cut off access to overseas war materials, the Chinese Government turned to this inland route that crossed its border to maintain a tenuous link with the outside world.
The Chinese government officials began the process of shipping military supplies from Irrawaddy River ports to Lashio for transportation into China via the road, they realised there were not enough skilled drivers and mechanics in China to service this overland route.
Malaya and Singapore had an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 skilled workers, according to research done for a documentary film made by a Chinese TV station and museum about the Nanqiao ji gong.
So in February 1939, a recruitment drive began in Singapore that called for drivers and mechanics aged between 20 to 40 years old to come to China’s aid. The drive was held under the aegis of the China Relief Fund that had initially been formed to raise funds from overseas Chinese to aid China during the Sino-Japanese War.
The response to the call was astonishing: within a matter of months more than 3,000 men – and not all of them Chinese either – from this part of the world volunteered, eventually joining tens of thousands of mainland Chinese in plying the 1,453km Yunnan-Burma Road(滇缅公路), China’s only link with the outside world after 1941.
According to the researchers, upon arriving in Kunming, the Nanqiao ji gong were sorted into Overseas Transportation Teams and given additional training.
It was these men’s job to ferry fuel, weapons, ammunition and soldiers to various parts of China. In return, the Chinese Government provided food, accommodation and medical support and a monthly salary of between 69 and 74 yuan, which was quite low compared to wages for such jobs in Malaya and Singapore at that time.
The route traveled over two mountain ranges, crossing three rivers and countless gorges over more than 400 bridges; it ran along the edges of cliffs and slopes and there were long stretches with sharp and precarious bends, as the road rose from about 600m to over 2,000m above sea level along its length. And then there were mosquito-infested jungles where deadly malaria was rampant.
Burma Road drivers ferried SOE and Force 136 operatives on their missions. Tan said: “We had a saying that if a truck flipped over on the highway on the first day of the month, it would reach the bottom only on the 15th. It was a very dangerous road. It was not paved and not wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. The drivers needed to have very good skills.
The reality was that by the time the war ended in 1945, about one-third of these volunteers had given their lives in the line of duty; some remained in China to find a living and got married and settled there. Only about 1,200 eventually returned to South-East Asia
According to Yunnan Province archives, records of the second brigade of Overseas Transportation Teams dated June 30, 1941, showed there were 97 non-Chinese mechanics – among them 55 Indians, 18 Malays, 11 Burmese and two Indonesians.
Half of them died during service and the remaining ones either settled in China or return to Nanyang after the war.
走遍中国-再会吧,南洋--南洋华侨机工 Part 1 of 3
走遍中国-再会吧,南洋--南洋华侨机工 Part 2 of 3
走遍中国-再会吧,南洋--南洋华侨机工 Part 3 of 3
One of the non-Chinese volunteer, Dara Singh wrote on his experience as Malayan Mechanic Volunteer in the Strait Times, dated 26-7-1939.
MALAYAN VOLUNTEERS IN CHINA Taiping Man On Dangers And Thrills Of Supply Routes (Taiping, July 24, 1939). THRILLS and danger that go hand-in-hand in the daily life of Malayan mechanics who are now doing service in war torn China are described in a letter from Dara Singh(The Straits Times, 26 July 1939, Page 16)
In 1946, after the end of the world war 2, the local Chinese in Penang built a monument in memory of civilians and Nanyang Transport Volunteers who lost their lives during WW2, it is commonly known as Penang Chinese Anti-War Memorial. The actual full name of the memorial is Penang Chinese War Memorial for the Nanyang Transport Volunteers and the victims of the world war(槟榔屿华侨抗战殉职机工罹难同胞纪念碑). The monument is located at the foot of Penang Hill, Penang, Malaysia(槟城升旗山). It was reported that there is another at Kuala Lumpur Kwang Tung Cemetery(吉隆坡的广东义山亭).
On 7 July 1989, the Yunan government constructed a monument,"赤子功勋", in memory of Nanyang Transport Volunteers at Kunming, the capital of Yunan Province.(昆明市的西山森林公园建有“南洋华侨机工抗日纪念碑).
There is another memorial monument at Wanding(畹町), Ruili(瑞丽市),opened on 12-12-2005.(云南瑞丽市畹町经济开发区南洋华侨机工抗战纪念碑).Ruili is a border town with Burma, Wanding Border Economic Cooperation Zone (WTBECZ) is a Chinese State Council-approved Industrial Park based in Wanding Town, Ruili City, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan, China, founded in 1992. Wanding Bridge(畹町桥)is the bridge at the border between Burma and China, where the Nanyang Transport Volunteers crew had pass through.
The Journey to Burma Road in remembrance of the Nanyang Volunteers
Initiated by the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and organized by Malayan Second World War History Society(滇缅公路马来亚二战历史研究会), and Persatuan Hope Negeri Johor, (柔佛河婆同乡会青年团), a group of history enthusiasts commemorated Nanyang Volunteers with a journey from Singapore to Kunming.
Their starting point was the Ee Hoe Hean Club,(怡和轩)in Singapore Chinatown,since Ee Hoe Hean was the headquarters of China Relief Fund and the send-off location for many batches of Nanyang Volunteers.
Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund(南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会) was formed in 1938, when 170 overseas Chinese representatives from the region met to establish a regional body to co ordinate regional relief work to support China against Japanese advancement. These delegates founded the Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund(南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会)and elected Mr. Tan Kah Kee(陈嘉庚)as the chairman. The regional headquarter of China Relief Fund was located in Ee Hoe Hean Club, Singapore.
Suggested readings/websites:
1. MALAYAN VOLUNTEERS IN CHINA , The Straits Times, 26 July 1939, Page 16( This was the report of one of the non Chinese volunteer, Dara Singh from Taiping)
2. Flying Tigers, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Tigers
3. Heroic contributions of the Nanqiao ji gong; The Star, dated August 8, 2010; http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/8/8/lifefocus/6746729&sec=lifefocus
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Malaysian Yellow around the world
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) was pushing for a free and fair elections in Malaysia. It demanded the reforms of postal voting, usage of indelible ink, a minimum of 21-day campaign period, allow all parties free access to the media, and put an end to electoral fraud.
The first Bersih rally took place in 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The second rally (known as Bersih 2.0 or the Walk for Democracy) happened on 9 July 2011 worldwide.
The Bersih Rally took place not only in Kuala Lumpur, it spread to all over the world.....
What is Bersih 2 in Malaysia?
Bersih in Malay language means clean.
The Bersih 2.0 rally (also called the Walk for Democracy) was a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur held on 9 July 2011 as a follow-up to the 2007 Bersih rally. The rally, organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), was supported by Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition of the three largest opposition parties in Malaysia, but was deemed illegal by the government. Bersih, chaired by former president of the Bar Council Ambiga Sreenevasan, were pushing the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) to ensure free and fair elections in Malaysia. It demanded that the EC clean up the electoral roll, reform postal voting, use indelible ink, introduce a minimum 21-day campaign period, allow all parties free access to the media, and put an end to electoral fraud.
The police vowed to stop any rallies from taking place on the planned date on the grounds that all public gatherings without police permits are illegal. Having originally planned to march through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Bersih decided to hold its rally at Merdeka Stadium after consultations with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia's head of state.
Supporters of Bersih claim that demands for electoral reform made during the 2007 demonstration fell on deaf ears. UMNO Youth and Perkasa organised counter-rallies, dismissing Bersih's demands for electoral reform, but Perkasa called off its counter-rally due to its inability to secure a venue and permit.
The government officially estimates that 6000 people attended the rally. However, according to Asia Times, "online observations estimated the protester numbers were higher than the implausibly-low official figure." Independent assessments put the rally numbers at between 10,000 (sources sympathetic to the police) to over 20,000 (sources sympathetic to the protesters), while Bersih 2.0 claims a turnout of 50,000 (click to see caltulation). The protestors were unable to congregate at Merdeka Stadium as many were forced to disperse by police who were heavily deployed throughout the city. Police arrested more than 1660 protestors, including Ambiga and several opposition figures. "500 youth members of the ruling party" turned out for the counter-rallies.
(source: wikipedia)
For further info on Bersih 2, kindly visit their website, http://bersih.org/
The first Bersih rally took place in 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The second rally (known as Bersih 2.0 or the Walk for Democracy) happened on 9 July 2011 worldwide.
The Bersih Rally took place not only in Kuala Lumpur, it spread to all over the world.....
What is Bersih 2 in Malaysia?
Bersih in Malay language means clean.
The Bersih 2.0 rally (also called the Walk for Democracy) was a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur held on 9 July 2011 as a follow-up to the 2007 Bersih rally. The rally, organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), was supported by Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition of the three largest opposition parties in Malaysia, but was deemed illegal by the government. Bersih, chaired by former president of the Bar Council Ambiga Sreenevasan, were pushing the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) to ensure free and fair elections in Malaysia. It demanded that the EC clean up the electoral roll, reform postal voting, use indelible ink, introduce a minimum 21-day campaign period, allow all parties free access to the media, and put an end to electoral fraud.
The police vowed to stop any rallies from taking place on the planned date on the grounds that all public gatherings without police permits are illegal. Having originally planned to march through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Bersih decided to hold its rally at Merdeka Stadium after consultations with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia's head of state.
Supporters of Bersih claim that demands for electoral reform made during the 2007 demonstration fell on deaf ears. UMNO Youth and Perkasa organised counter-rallies, dismissing Bersih's demands for electoral reform, but Perkasa called off its counter-rally due to its inability to secure a venue and permit.
The government officially estimates that 6000 people attended the rally. However, according to Asia Times, "online observations estimated the protester numbers were higher than the implausibly-low official figure." Independent assessments put the rally numbers at between 10,000 (sources sympathetic to the police) to over 20,000 (sources sympathetic to the protesters), while Bersih 2.0 claims a turnout of 50,000 (click to see caltulation). The protestors were unable to congregate at Merdeka Stadium as many were forced to disperse by police who were heavily deployed throughout the city. Police arrested more than 1660 protestors, including Ambiga and several opposition figures. "500 youth members of the ruling party" turned out for the counter-rallies.
(source: wikipedia)
For further info on Bersih 2, kindly visit their website, http://bersih.org/
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Life of Malaysian Chinese
This is a simple story of Malaysian Chinese; the story is common to every Chinese family in Malaysia. Their life is not easy, but they are able to overcome all the difficulties to built a good life for the family members and their future.....
The story still go on....
The story still go on....
Friday, September 17, 2010
Malaysia Day
I have been wondering since a long time, why there is no Malaysia Day. We have been celebrating Merdeka Day for a long time since 1957. Despite the formation of Malaysia, the Merdeka Day is considered the National Day for Malaysia. Mederka Day is an important historical day for the people in Malayan Peninsular, but the people in Sabah and Sarawak are not directly involved historically. When we celebrated Mederka Day as national day, only Malaya Peninsular people or West Malaysian will feel the mood of the celebration, to East Malaysian, what is that to do with me?....Mederka day is a historical day, it was part of important day in Malaysia forming history, it is significant history, it need to be celebrate. But the national day should be celebrate by all citizen of Malaysia, from West Malaysia to East Malaysia, the whole nation should celebrate in spirit as National Day. This is historical day for Malaysia, Malaya or Federation of Malaya formed in 1957 is no longer exist today, it is now a part of historical chapter of nation forming history. The nation today is Malaysia(Peninsular Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak), naturally Malaysian should celebrate Malaysia Day as National Day, as Malaysian National Day.......
Malaysia Day is to be held on September 16 every year effective from 2010, to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963. It marked the joining together of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia. The formation of the new federation was planned to occur on June 1, 1963, but was later postponed to August 31, 1963, in order to coincide with the sixth Hari Merdeka. Several issues related to the Indonesian and the Filipino objection to the formation of Malaysia delayed the declaration to September 16 of the same year. The postponement was also done to allow the United Nations team time to conduct referendums in North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak regarding the two states participation in a new federation(source: wikipedia)
We have been historically blind for so long, and the nation was physically separate by the sea, the West and East. Many Malaysian in West Malaysia still did not know much of East Malaysia. It was only with the operation of low cost airline, Air Asia that the two Malaysia become closer. In fact there are so much to learn from East Malaysia, by West Malaysia.
The nation forming history before Mederka
Following the Japanese Invasion of Malaya and its subsequent occupation during World War II, popular support for independence grew. Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya under a single crown colony called the Malayan Union foundered on strong opposition from the Malays, who opposed the emasculation of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the ethnic Chinese. The Malayan Union, established in 1946 and consisting of all the British possessions in Malaya with the exception of Singapore, was dissolved in 1948 and replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the rulers of the Malay states under British protection. During this time, rebels under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party launched guerrilla operations designed to force the British out of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency, as it was known, lasted from 1948 to 1960, and involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by Commonwealth troops in Malaya.
Formation of Federation of Malaya, 31-8-1957
It was on 31-8-1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence from the British. It was the historical day for the citizen and people of former Strait Settlement states(Penang, Malacca), FMS or Federated Malay States(Selangor, Perak, Negri Sembilan,and Pahang) and the UMS or Unfederated Malay States(Johore, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Trengganu). The people from the three different political regions finally gained independence from Britain. The nation forming process was not through revolution war, nor through natural political evolution, but with the negotiation of different political stake holders with the colonist. It was a peaceful process with lobby and political negotiation. Finally the constitution was set up, it become the foundation stone for the new nation.
Formation of Malaysia 16-9-1963
In 1963, Malaya along with the then British crown colonies of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, formed Malaysia. The proposed date for the formation of Malaysia was 31 August 1963, to coincide with the independence day of Malaya and the British giving self-rule to Sarawak and Sabah. However, the date was delayed by opposition from the Indonesian government led by Sukarno and also attempts by the Sarawak United People's Party to delay the formation of Malaysia. Singapore's eventual exit in 1965.
Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. The federal head of state of Malaysia is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commonly referred to as the King of Malaysia. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected to a five-year term among the nine hereditary Sultans of the Malay states; the other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection.
The system of government in Malaysia is closely modelled on that of the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial rule. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, though the executive maintains a certain level of influence in the appointment of judges to the courts. Malaysia's legal system is based upon English Common Law.
Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicameral parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (literally the "Chamber of the People") and the upper house, the Senate or Dewan Negara (literally the "Chamber of the Nation"). The 222-member House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies, which are defined based on population. All 70 Senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, with the remaining 44 appointed by the king upon the Prime minsters recommendation
Besides the Parliament at the federal level, each state has a unicameral state legislative chamber (Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri) whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. Parliamentary elections are held at least once every five years, with the last general election being in March 2008. Registered voters of age 21 and above may vote for the members of the House of Representatives and, in most of the states, for the state legislative chamber. Voting is not mandatory.
Executive power is vested in the cabinet led by the prime minister; the Malaysian constitution stipulates that the prime minister must be a member of the lower house of parliament who, in the opinion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet is chosen from among members of both houses of Parliament and is responsible to that body
State governments are led by Chief Ministers(Menteri Besar in Malay states or Ketua Menteri in states without hereditary rulers), who are state assembly members from the majority party in the Dewan Undangan Negeri. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief Minister is required to be a Malay-Muslim, although this rule is subject to the rulers' discretion.
The parliament follows a multi-party system and the governing body is elected through a first-past-the-post system. Since independence in 1957, Malaysia has been governed by a multi-party coalition known as the Barisan Nasional (formerly known as the Alliance Party).
Citizenship
Most Malaysians are granted citizenship by lex soli, also known as birthright citizenship, is a right by which nationality or citizenship can be recognized to any individual born in the territory of the related state. Another social policy was Jus sanguinis (Latin: right of blood) is a social policy by which nationality or citizenship is not determined by place of birth, but by having an ancestor who is a national or citizen of the state. In Malaysia, the automatic application of jus soli has been modified to impose some additional requirements for children of foreign parents, such as the parent being a permanent resident or having lived in the country for a period of time, and able to speak Malay. Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip identity card, known as MyKad, at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times. This is the citizen identification for citizen by lex soli and citizen by operation of law(for strait born strait settlement citizen), otherwise a citizen certificate is required for citizen identification.
Multiple citizenship is not allowed in Malaysia. But due to some specific problems based on transportation in hinterland at Borneo or limited understanding of importance of registration of birth, especially for those born oversea or where mother is a foreigner, some rightful citizen was deprive of their right for citizenship.
The criteria to be a Malaysian citizen are:
* every person born before Malaysia Day who is a citizen of the Malaysia by virtue of these provisions
* every person who immediately before Merdeka Day, was a citizen of Malaysia by virtue of any of the provisions of the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1948, whether by operation of law or otherwise
* every person born within Malaysia on or after Merdeka Day and before October, 1962
* every person born within Malaysia after September 1962, of whose parents one at least was at the time of the birth either a citizen or permanently resident in Malaysia, or who was not born a citizen of any other country
* every person born outside Malaysia on or after Merdeka Day whose father was a citizen at the time of his birth and either was born in Malaysia or was at the time of the birth in service under the Government of Malaysia or of a State
* every person born outside Malaysia on or after Merdeka Day whose father was a citizen at the time of the birth if the birth was, or is, within 1 year of its occurrence or within such longer period as in any particular case was or is allowed by the Malaysian Government, registered at a consulate of Malaysia or, if it occurred in Singapore, Sarawak, Brunei or North Borneo, registered with the Federal Government
* every person born on or after Malaysia Day, and having any of the qualifications specified below
* every person born within Malaysia of whose parents one at least is at the time of the birth either a citizen or permanently resident in Malaysia and
* every person born outside the Malaysia whose father is at the time of the birth a citizen and either was born in Malaysia or is at the time of the birth in the service of the Federation or of a State and
* every person born outside Malaysia whose father is at the time of the birth a citizen and whose birth is, within 1 year of its occurrence or within such longer period as the Malaysian Government may in any particular case allow, registered at a consulate of Malaysia or, if it occurs in Brunei or in a territory prescribed for this purpose by order of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, registered with the Malaysian Government and
* every person born in Singapore of whose parents one at least is at the time of the birth a citizen and who is not born citizen otherwise than by virtue of this paragraph and
* every person born within Malaysia who is not born a citizen of any country otherwise than by virtue of this paragraph
(source: wikipedia)
Other than by operation of law, a person can become a citizen of Malaysia either by registration or naturalization. In cases by registration, where a person is by operation of law is a citizen but have yet to be registered, such person is entitled to citizenship upon application and be registered as a citizen of Malaysia. For cases by naturalization, this refers to the process of admitting a person not a citizen of Malaysia to citizenship. This is subjected to the requirements and conditions of the Federal Government. Any person holding Malaysian citizenship is also disallowed to hold any other country's citizenship. Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship.Those applying for citizenship by registration must have "an elementary knowledge of the Malay language". Those applying to become naturalised citizens must have "an adequate knowledge of the Malay language" and have resided in the country for ten of the past twelve years, including the twelve months immediately preceding the application. These requirements are set out by Part III of the Constitution; however, as there is no objective definition of what constitutes elementary or adequate knowledge of Malay, in practice, the tests are often subjective, sometimes even varying in whether a written knowledge of Malay is required.
Sabah and Sarawak
Residency in the states of Sabah and Sarawak are distinct from the other 11 states. While Sabah and Sarawak each has autonomy in immigration affairs (which includes imposing immigration restrictions on Peninsular Malaysia residents), residents of Sabah and Sarawak are exempted from the immigration controls of their own states. A Malaysian citizen born to a Sabah or Sarawak resident would have Sabah or Sarawak residency, regardless of where the person was born. Birth in Sabah or Sarawak alone does not make a person a resident unless one of his/her parents is a resident. A person may become a Sabah or Sarawak resident by obtaining Permanent Residence (PR) status issued by the respective state immigration departments. The residency status of a person is indicated by an alphabet on his/her MyKad below the photo, with, "H" for Sabahans, "S" for Sarawakians and none for Peninsular Malaysians.
As the nation has become an old man of 53 years nation; some of the citizen have forgotten the constitution and nation formation history. There were those historically blind people who still believed that Malaysian citizen was by specific race. We must always remember that the Malaysia was formed by the negotiation and mutual agreement of various stake holders representing the various interest parties of diffident racial background. It is a multi- racial country.
Malaysia after 53 years
Malaysia was the pride to many developing nations. Looking back we are going back to the starting point of nation formation, still not gaining the confident of the nation of 53 years of history. The maturity stage of nation development process just did not come, we are still behave like an infant country. The government and people are blurred in their thinking of nation, it was reflected in many of our national policies, national thinking, national identification. The nation just lack the mental of confident 53 years old nation to move forward. We just like to play political games, to consolidate power base, and the nation stand still when other younger or less developed countries are moving ahead, while we are still solving our internal problems.
The Westminster parliamentary system , where the judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, become blurred. There seems to be overlapping of influences, some begin to question the independence of our judiciary...
Some overzealous educationist or historian seeking ways to push their ideal concept of nationalism, many historically blind to nation formation history. The implementation of the official policies, some operating officers are historically blind to forget the root of nation formation, and that they are the servant of the Malaysian citizen.
Political Party and Nation become blurred, as the nation was controlled by the single political party for too long since the independence. National policies were always mistaken with political policies, Nation and Politic, become blurred. The problem of role conflict in the political situation. They are not able to change their hat in different role.
The young Malaysian born in Malaysia, are begin to question the equality as a citizen right. But some sector are historically blind to play around with citizen right, many with hidden political agenda. With the internet technology, the young citizen are exposed to development of outside world, the leaders can no longer like a ostrich hiding their head in the sand. The action of the national leaders and politician are being watched by the young citizen who are mostly educated lots.
The national day have been celebrated with Federation of Malaya day; only now we celebrate Malaysia day, but will it be at bigger scale than Mederka Day, will it be treated as National Day?.....
National climate of change is there, and it is moving; no one can stop the wheel of change, it is change with time, change with the world. We do not like to be in the coconut shell anymore....we want to look out at the world, and move with them.... In the borderless world, racial identity become blurred to the younger generation, common global popular culture become stronger, any policies based on racial identification will soon become outdated, and not fit with the current global environment.
Malaysian's Malaysia, One Malaysia, all should have started immediately after the formation of Malaysia nation, not 43 years later....
The nation and the people cannot become blurred....blur blur....anymore...late is still better than none. Hope we will think less of Malayan, more of Malaysian as national identity.
Happy Malaysia Day......
Note: It is interesting to know that 16th September is also the birthday of Lee Kuan Yew,who was born on 16th September 1923. Lee Kuan Yew was the chief minister of Malaysian Singapore, and former prime minister of Republic of Singapore. The day is also the birthday of the Yang di-Pertua of Sabah state. Is it coincident?...
Malaysia Day is to be held on September 16 every year effective from 2010, to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963. It marked the joining together of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia. The formation of the new federation was planned to occur on June 1, 1963, but was later postponed to August 31, 1963, in order to coincide with the sixth Hari Merdeka. Several issues related to the Indonesian and the Filipino objection to the formation of Malaysia delayed the declaration to September 16 of the same year. The postponement was also done to allow the United Nations team time to conduct referendums in North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak regarding the two states participation in a new federation(source: wikipedia)
We have been historically blind for so long, and the nation was physically separate by the sea, the West and East. Many Malaysian in West Malaysia still did not know much of East Malaysia. It was only with the operation of low cost airline, Air Asia that the two Malaysia become closer. In fact there are so much to learn from East Malaysia, by West Malaysia.
The nation forming history before Mederka
Following the Japanese Invasion of Malaya and its subsequent occupation during World War II, popular support for independence grew. Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya under a single crown colony called the Malayan Union foundered on strong opposition from the Malays, who opposed the emasculation of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the ethnic Chinese. The Malayan Union, established in 1946 and consisting of all the British possessions in Malaya with the exception of Singapore, was dissolved in 1948 and replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the rulers of the Malay states under British protection. During this time, rebels under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party launched guerrilla operations designed to force the British out of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency, as it was known, lasted from 1948 to 1960, and involved a long anti-insurgency campaign by Commonwealth troops in Malaya.
Formation of Federation of Malaya, 31-8-1957
It was on 31-8-1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence from the British. It was the historical day for the citizen and people of former Strait Settlement states(Penang, Malacca), FMS or Federated Malay States(Selangor, Perak, Negri Sembilan,and Pahang) and the UMS or Unfederated Malay States(Johore, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Trengganu). The people from the three different political regions finally gained independence from Britain. The nation forming process was not through revolution war, nor through natural political evolution, but with the negotiation of different political stake holders with the colonist. It was a peaceful process with lobby and political negotiation. Finally the constitution was set up, it become the foundation stone for the new nation.
Formation of Malaysia 16-9-1963
In 1963, Malaya along with the then British crown colonies of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, formed Malaysia. The proposed date for the formation of Malaysia was 31 August 1963, to coincide with the independence day of Malaya and the British giving self-rule to Sarawak and Sabah. However, the date was delayed by opposition from the Indonesian government led by Sukarno and also attempts by the Sarawak United People's Party to delay the formation of Malaysia. Singapore's eventual exit in 1965.
Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. The federal head of state of Malaysia is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commonly referred to as the King of Malaysia. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected to a five-year term among the nine hereditary Sultans of the Malay states; the other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection.
The system of government in Malaysia is closely modelled on that of the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial rule. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, though the executive maintains a certain level of influence in the appointment of judges to the courts. Malaysia's legal system is based upon English Common Law.
Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicameral parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (literally the "Chamber of the People") and the upper house, the Senate or Dewan Negara (literally the "Chamber of the Nation"). The 222-member House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies, which are defined based on population. All 70 Senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, with the remaining 44 appointed by the king upon the Prime minsters recommendation
Besides the Parliament at the federal level, each state has a unicameral state legislative chamber (Malay: Dewan Undangan Negeri) whose members are elected from single-member constituencies. Parliamentary elections are held at least once every five years, with the last general election being in March 2008. Registered voters of age 21 and above may vote for the members of the House of Representatives and, in most of the states, for the state legislative chamber. Voting is not mandatory.
Executive power is vested in the cabinet led by the prime minister; the Malaysian constitution stipulates that the prime minister must be a member of the lower house of parliament who, in the opinion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet is chosen from among members of both houses of Parliament and is responsible to that body
State governments are led by Chief Ministers(Menteri Besar in Malay states or Ketua Menteri in states without hereditary rulers), who are state assembly members from the majority party in the Dewan Undangan Negeri. In each of the states with a hereditary ruler, the Chief Minister is required to be a Malay-Muslim, although this rule is subject to the rulers' discretion.
The parliament follows a multi-party system and the governing body is elected through a first-past-the-post system. Since independence in 1957, Malaysia has been governed by a multi-party coalition known as the Barisan Nasional (formerly known as the Alliance Party).
Citizenship
Most Malaysians are granted citizenship by lex soli, also known as birthright citizenship, is a right by which nationality or citizenship can be recognized to any individual born in the territory of the related state. Another social policy was Jus sanguinis (Latin: right of blood) is a social policy by which nationality or citizenship is not determined by place of birth, but by having an ancestor who is a national or citizen of the state. In Malaysia, the automatic application of jus soli has been modified to impose some additional requirements for children of foreign parents, such as the parent being a permanent resident or having lived in the country for a period of time, and able to speak Malay. Citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. Every citizen is issued a biometric smart chip identity card, known as MyKad, at the age of 12, and must carry the card at all times. This is the citizen identification for citizen by lex soli and citizen by operation of law(for strait born strait settlement citizen), otherwise a citizen certificate is required for citizen identification.
Multiple citizenship is not allowed in Malaysia. But due to some specific problems based on transportation in hinterland at Borneo or limited understanding of importance of registration of birth, especially for those born oversea or where mother is a foreigner, some rightful citizen was deprive of their right for citizenship.
The criteria to be a Malaysian citizen are:
* every person born before Malaysia Day who is a citizen of the Malaysia by virtue of these provisions
* every person who immediately before Merdeka Day, was a citizen of Malaysia by virtue of any of the provisions of the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1948, whether by operation of law or otherwise
* every person born within Malaysia on or after Merdeka Day and before October, 1962
* every person born within Malaysia after September 1962, of whose parents one at least was at the time of the birth either a citizen or permanently resident in Malaysia, or who was not born a citizen of any other country
* every person born outside Malaysia on or after Merdeka Day whose father was a citizen at the time of his birth and either was born in Malaysia or was at the time of the birth in service under the Government of Malaysia or of a State
* every person born outside Malaysia on or after Merdeka Day whose father was a citizen at the time of the birth if the birth was, or is, within 1 year of its occurrence or within such longer period as in any particular case was or is allowed by the Malaysian Government, registered at a consulate of Malaysia or, if it occurred in Singapore, Sarawak, Brunei or North Borneo, registered with the Federal Government
* every person born on or after Malaysia Day, and having any of the qualifications specified below
* every person born within Malaysia of whose parents one at least is at the time of the birth either a citizen or permanently resident in Malaysia and
* every person born outside the Malaysia whose father is at the time of the birth a citizen and either was born in Malaysia or is at the time of the birth in the service of the Federation or of a State and
* every person born outside Malaysia whose father is at the time of the birth a citizen and whose birth is, within 1 year of its occurrence or within such longer period as the Malaysian Government may in any particular case allow, registered at a consulate of Malaysia or, if it occurs in Brunei or in a territory prescribed for this purpose by order of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, registered with the Malaysian Government and
* every person born in Singapore of whose parents one at least is at the time of the birth a citizen and who is not born citizen otherwise than by virtue of this paragraph and
* every person born within Malaysia who is not born a citizen of any country otherwise than by virtue of this paragraph
(source: wikipedia)
Other than by operation of law, a person can become a citizen of Malaysia either by registration or naturalization. In cases by registration, where a person is by operation of law is a citizen but have yet to be registered, such person is entitled to citizenship upon application and be registered as a citizen of Malaysia. For cases by naturalization, this refers to the process of admitting a person not a citizen of Malaysia to citizenship. This is subjected to the requirements and conditions of the Federal Government. Any person holding Malaysian citizenship is also disallowed to hold any other country's citizenship. Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship.Those applying for citizenship by registration must have "an elementary knowledge of the Malay language". Those applying to become naturalised citizens must have "an adequate knowledge of the Malay language" and have resided in the country for ten of the past twelve years, including the twelve months immediately preceding the application. These requirements are set out by Part III of the Constitution; however, as there is no objective definition of what constitutes elementary or adequate knowledge of Malay, in practice, the tests are often subjective, sometimes even varying in whether a written knowledge of Malay is required.
Sabah and Sarawak
Residency in the states of Sabah and Sarawak are distinct from the other 11 states. While Sabah and Sarawak each has autonomy in immigration affairs (which includes imposing immigration restrictions on Peninsular Malaysia residents), residents of Sabah and Sarawak are exempted from the immigration controls of their own states. A Malaysian citizen born to a Sabah or Sarawak resident would have Sabah or Sarawak residency, regardless of where the person was born. Birth in Sabah or Sarawak alone does not make a person a resident unless one of his/her parents is a resident. A person may become a Sabah or Sarawak resident by obtaining Permanent Residence (PR) status issued by the respective state immigration departments. The residency status of a person is indicated by an alphabet on his/her MyKad below the photo, with, "H" for Sabahans, "S" for Sarawakians and none for Peninsular Malaysians.
As the nation has become an old man of 53 years nation; some of the citizen have forgotten the constitution and nation formation history. There were those historically blind people who still believed that Malaysian citizen was by specific race. We must always remember that the Malaysia was formed by the negotiation and mutual agreement of various stake holders representing the various interest parties of diffident racial background. It is a multi- racial country.
Malaysia after 53 years
Malaysia was the pride to many developing nations. Looking back we are going back to the starting point of nation formation, still not gaining the confident of the nation of 53 years of history. The maturity stage of nation development process just did not come, we are still behave like an infant country. The government and people are blurred in their thinking of nation, it was reflected in many of our national policies, national thinking, national identification. The nation just lack the mental of confident 53 years old nation to move forward. We just like to play political games, to consolidate power base, and the nation stand still when other younger or less developed countries are moving ahead, while we are still solving our internal problems.
The Westminster parliamentary system , where the judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, become blurred. There seems to be overlapping of influences, some begin to question the independence of our judiciary...
Some overzealous educationist or historian seeking ways to push their ideal concept of nationalism, many historically blind to nation formation history. The implementation of the official policies, some operating officers are historically blind to forget the root of nation formation, and that they are the servant of the Malaysian citizen.
Political Party and Nation become blurred, as the nation was controlled by the single political party for too long since the independence. National policies were always mistaken with political policies, Nation and Politic, become blurred. The problem of role conflict in the political situation. They are not able to change their hat in different role.
The young Malaysian born in Malaysia, are begin to question the equality as a citizen right. But some sector are historically blind to play around with citizen right, many with hidden political agenda. With the internet technology, the young citizen are exposed to development of outside world, the leaders can no longer like a ostrich hiding their head in the sand. The action of the national leaders and politician are being watched by the young citizen who are mostly educated lots.
The national day have been celebrated with Federation of Malaya day; only now we celebrate Malaysia day, but will it be at bigger scale than Mederka Day, will it be treated as National Day?.....
National climate of change is there, and it is moving; no one can stop the wheel of change, it is change with time, change with the world. We do not like to be in the coconut shell anymore....we want to look out at the world, and move with them.... In the borderless world, racial identity become blurred to the younger generation, common global popular culture become stronger, any policies based on racial identification will soon become outdated, and not fit with the current global environment.
Malaysian's Malaysia, One Malaysia, all should have started immediately after the formation of Malaysia nation, not 43 years later....
The nation and the people cannot become blurred....blur blur....anymore...late is still better than none. Hope we will think less of Malayan, more of Malaysian as national identity.
Happy Malaysia Day......
Note: It is interesting to know that 16th September is also the birthday of Lee Kuan Yew,who was born on 16th September 1923. Lee Kuan Yew was the chief minister of Malaysian Singapore, and former prime minister of Republic of Singapore. The day is also the birthday of the Yang di-Pertua of Sabah state. Is it coincident?...
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Gua Musang(話望生), Kelantan
Map of Gua Musang
View Larger Map
Gua Musang(話望生) is a town in Kelantan state. It is a timber town, with timber loging and sawn milling as their main activities. Other than timber related business, agriculture is also dominant there, now eco-tourism seems to start there. I have been to Gua Musang a few times, at that time Fully Inn has not yet constructed. The land at Gua Musang new town has already having some occupation, but still not completely occupied. There was some housing development outside the town. It must be in late 90s. The Simpang Pulai - Cameron Highland -Gua Musang road is not yet constructed. The only way to Gua Musang is from Kota Bharu- Kuala Krai way. From Kuala Lipis train is the popular transport. Kuala Lipis - Padang Tunku-Gua Musang road is long and winding, normally travel by timber lorries. I have traveled from both ways, Kuala Lipis and Kota Bahru, even try train from Kuala Lipis to Gua Musang, and Gua Musang to Pasir Mas. I love the train, they called it Jungle Train now.
Gua Musang is not only the name of the town, it is also the largest district in Kelantan. Gua Musang is administered by the Gua Musang District Council. Gua Musang district is bordered by the state of Pahang to the south, Terengganu to the east, Perak to the west and the Kelantanese districts of Kuala Krai and Jeli to the north. It is a small railway town about 160 kilometers south of Kuala Krai. The town lies on the railway line from Gemas to Kota Bharu. Some called it Ulu Kelantan.
Nenggiri Ulu, which is part of Ulu Kelantan, now called Gua Musang, has a cave system where evidence of neolithic life has been found and the present orang asli community are said to be their descendents.research done has unveiled strong suspicions that there was a a pre-Islamic Malay Kingdom in Ulu Kelantan from where the legendary Princess Ruler of Kelantan - "Puteri Saadon" - originated from.
In the old days, Gua Musang is famous for gold mining, the gold mine was at Kampong Pulai, a Chinese village town near to Gua Musang, where gold mining by Chinese have been 600 years of history, and it provides evidence that Chinese may have been to Kelantan long before the Admiral Cheng Ho to Malacca. Most of early Chinese were from Pattani area(Note: In the old days Kelantan was once ruled by Siam, Pattani, Sri Vijaya... need to open the history book again).
Historically, Gua Musang is also the only town declared by CPM(Communist Party of Malaya) as liberated area; but after 5 days of occupation it was recaptured by the British, then the colonist of Malaya. It is considered as Black area by the administration, frequent curfew, military action taken place in the district during the late 40s to 70s.
The name of Gua Musang
Gua Musang literally means "Cave of the civet cat". Gua is Malay word for cave, and Musang is the term for civet cat. On the eastern side of this town stands Bukit Gua Musang, a barren hill of rocks and deceptive stone-steps running 105 meters high. It stands in a commanding position, with a huge cave running into its interior and is about meters away from the other green tree-covered hills. From a distance, this hill looks like a stone pillar with a big crack which nearly splits it vertically into two equal halves. Between the hill and the town, there runs a railway track.
It was believed that long ago this town was inhabited by some superstitious hunters who made offerings of animals in front of the cave of Bukit Gua Musang. One afternoon a raging storm broke out and the huts of the hunters were destroyed. At the height of the storm a bolt of lightning struck the summit of the hill and nearly split it in two. The hunters, believing that the God of the Cave was angry with them, knelt down and began to pray. As they were praying they saw a huge pack of civet cats (or musang in Malay) running into the cave. At once, they seized their bows and arrows and lay in wait for the foxes. They waited the whole evening but the foxes did not emerge, not even when the storm had stopped. From then on, the inhabitants called the cave Gua Musang.
A month after this strange event, seven young hunters climbed the hill but only one came back alive. He told the villagers that when he and his six companions were halfway up the hill, a length of stone staircase appeared before them. They climbed the staircase and upon reaching the summit they found a tree, under which, stood a bowl of pure water. The young men, with the exception of one, drank the water in the bowl to quench their thirst. Before the others could persuade him to drink, the bowl vanished. They grew afraid and quickly began to descend. Suddenly a blood-chilling cry was heard. The hunter turned quickly but it was too late! His six friends had disappeared from sight. He rushed down the slope but there was no sign of any dead bodies at the bottom of the hill.
He concluded that the "God of the Cave" had taken his friends and had spared him because he had not drunk the water in the bowl. Most of the villagers did not believe the young man's story. They were sure that the other six must have slipped and fallen, but the bodies of the missing hunters were never found.
The name of the town is from the name of the cave, Gua Musang. But the Chinese named it as Hua-wang-sheng(話望生), literally means "words hoping for life" or is it translate from Malay word Gua Musang. The Chinese there are mostly Hakka Chinese, especially the gold miners in Pulai. Why call it Hua-wang-sheng(話望生)?is it because the place is end of the road for gold miners, and it need to go for a new life outside?...Noted in the old days, there was no road to Gua Musang, you need to travel by boat, not even railway.
Transportation
By car
1. From Kota Bahru
2. From Kuala Lipis, Pahang
3. From Simpang Pulai, Perak(near Ipoh)
Second East-West Highway, Federal Route (Malay: Lebuhraya Timur-Barat Kedua) is a highway in Peninsular Malaysia which connects Simpang Pulai in Perak to Gua Musang in Kelantan. The highway is expected to be extended further east to Kuala Terengganu in the future. This highway features a four-lane carriageway from Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands and a two-lane carriageway from Cameron Highlands to Gua Musang. It is notorious for its many sharp corners which increase the risk of road accidents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Federal_Route_185
By Bus
http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptaguamusang.htm
KL - Gua Musang
Kuala Lipis - Gua Musang
Kota Bahru- Gua Musang
By Train
1. KL- Gemas - Gua Musang
2. Singapore- Gemas -Gua Musang
3. Tumpat - Gua Musang
Tourist attractions
Gua Musang is the northern gateway to Taman Negara (National Park), which is situated in the southeastern part of Gua Musang district. The untouched tropical rainforest in Taman Negara is among the oldest in the world. It is well known for its biodiversity and is home to many endangered species of animals and plants.
1. Bukit Gua Musang
Gua Musang is surrounded by limestone hills and caves, which have become popular with cavers and rock climbers. The cave of Gua Musang is located immediately behind the town’s railway station and is reached by a steep scramble up the hillside
2. Rock Climbing & tracking
The small village of Merapoh in Pahang which is just south of Gua Musang serves as a popular starting point for those who want to scale Gunung Tahan.
http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/donmah/climbingstuff/climbing/guamusang.htm
3. Taman Ethnobotani
Taman Ethnobotani, where there are rooms and chalets for rent. The park was set up in 1997 for the collection and propagation of medicinal herbs. This recreational and nature park is administered by the Kelantan Selatan Development Authority (Kesedar).
Some 3km from Gua Musang, the park covers 38ha of lush greenery and limestone outcrops. One small hill is located right at the entrance of Taman Ethnobotani, and here we got to watch climbers practise their moves.
The park holds many climbing routes. Apart from climbing, there are other outdoor activities like rope and wooden obstacle courses, and flying fox and abseiling. Visitors can also learn to make traps and pick up jungle survival skills. Nature lovers will enjoy visiting the deer and ostrich farms and the medicinal herb garden.
4. Nenggiri River: River Rafting
Nenggiri River is a favourite among those who enjoy river rafting. There is also a rafting race, called Nenggiri Challenge. Archaeological sites can be found in caves, such as Gua Cha, Chawan and Jaya, which are situated along the river.
http://www.malaysiasite.nl/guamusangeng1.htm
5. Railway station
The railway station is one of the heritage railway station around
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6. Jungle Train
The Jungle Railway is the railway line serving the East Coast states of Kelantan and Pahang in Malaysia. Officially the East Coast Railway line, it branches of the West Coast Trunk line at Gemas on the border of Johor and Negeri Sembilan and goes through the forested heart (hence the nickname "Jungle Railway") of Peninsular Malaysia to Tumpat, a small town on the East Coast near Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The first stretch of the East Coast Line between Gemas and Bahau is opened in 1910. It was however destroyed in 1941 during Japanese occupation. The railway service only resumed in 1953. In 1953, Golden Blowpipe Express drawn by the locomotive Coronation, carrying the High Commissioner Sir Gerald Templer from Kuala Lipis in Pahang to Kota Bharu [i.e. Baharu] in Kelantan on the first journey on the line since 1941, when the track was destroyed. A photo was taken on July 13 1953 at Gua Musang(http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0115%2FBAM%208%2F20)
http://www.pbase.com/cathryn/junglerailway
http://wikitravel.org/en/Jungle_Railway
Pulai Gold Mine Town
Another interesting place to visit in Gua Musang is a Chinese temple Shui Yue Gong(水月宮)in Kampung Pulai(布賴), which is purportedly 400 years old. Kampong Pulai is 14 km from Gua Musang, an isolated place, as only in 1988, a 7 km road connected to Gua Musang. It was reported that the Hakka Chinese came to Gua Musang 600 years ago, long before Admiral Cheng Ho arrival in Malacca. Pulai was founded in 1425 by two brothers, Lim Pak Yen and Lim Ghee Yee, who fled China. They come via Sungai Galas. The brothers came here in search of gold. Once word got out, there was a gold rush and a small settlement was created. As the gold supply slowly diminished, people started planting padi to survive(ref: http://www.cavesofmalaysia.com/newspage4.htm)
Pulai has a temple reputed to be 400-500 years old, reportedly the second oldest temple in the country after the Cheng Hoon Teng temple (1646) in Malacca. However some said it may be even older than Cheng Hoon Teng....
The Pulai Swee Nyet Keung Buddhist temple and its surrounding village was burnt down by the Japanese in 1941. The temple was rebuilt in 1970 and is quite small, but it has an interesting collection of ancient cannon parts.
Across the river from the temple is a limestone hill with a new temple. Bukit Tok Cu is also known as Princess Mountain and a temple is being constructed on top of it. The workers told us that a man had a vision of steps being built up the hill in 1984, but work on the temple only started in 1997. However, a shrine was already in existence in the upper cave when an archaeological team dug there in 1991
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History of Pulai
1425 - Pulai was founded in 1425 by two brothers, Lim Pak Yen and Lim Ghee Yee
1782 - A record by a sailor from China who visited Kelantan, during Qing Dynasty reported that there are Chinese living in Kelantan, and some Hakka Chinese are gold mining in Pulai. Historical record reported earlier arrival. Initially the gold miners depended on the supplies of rice and other provision from Kota Bahru and other areas through the river transportation. There were social contact with the Malay and Cina Bandar from Kota Bahru.
1825-1886 - Dsipute with Temenggong over the supply and trading of rice. Thousands of villagers was killed (全村幾千人被當地王族所殺). This incident may have start the subsistence farming of Pulai gold miners, and the village began the social isolation from outside world. Unlike the Cina Bandar(Town Chinese) and Cina Kampong(Village Chinese), who assimilated into the Malay culture and speak local Malay dialet, the Pulai Hakka Chinese even inter marriage with the orang asli(native) and Siamese, retain their distinctive Hakka culture. This is mainly due to the social isolation, and physical remote of the Pulai village, there are few Malay lived near the Pulai village. There were no road, no railway to the village.
1930s - The construction of East Coast Railway open Ulu Kelantan(now Gua Musang) to the outside world, but Pulai village remained isolated.
1933 - S.M.Middlebrook in 1933 when he visited the village, the village had existed more than 200 years ago.
1942 - Japanese plane bombed the place and destroyed the village. Pulai people further moved into jungle and become self sufficient. But they are no more socially isolated from the outside world, the communist or MPAJA in the jungle become quasi protector of the villagers in the jungle.
1945- When the world ended, MPAJA become a legal political party MCP(Malayan Communist Party), Pulai villagers caught between the political cold war of the superpower, communist and capitalist colonist(British)
1947 - The colonist seeing the long term position will be threaten by the MCP, begin to arrest the MCP members and unionists. British also declared MCP illegal, MCP returned to jungle and started arm struggle in the jungle. Pulai and Gua Musang was view as Black Area by the British colonist government.
1948 - Formation of the Federation. The British relocated the villagers to new village or xincun(新村)at Kuala Trengganu(10 miles from Kuala Trengganu), Kuala Lipis(Pahang), Kota Tinggi- Kulai(Johore) under the strategic Briggs Plan by the British colonist to avoid locals supporting the communists, the period was historically called Malayan Emergency(1948-1960) (被英國人集體疏散到登嘉樓20哩外、彭亨瓜拉立卑及柔佛州古來). Today, UNHCR will call it IDP(Internally Displaced Person), a violation of human right.
1949 - Formation of MCA(Malaysian Chinese Association). About 30% of the villagers were forced to move to new village near Kota Tinggi, Johor. Another 30% to the new village at Gua Musang town.
1952 - The other 30% resettled in Pulai Baru, 10 miles from Kuala Trengganu, the capital of Trengannu state. Pulai villagers faced communication problem due to long term social isolation. Their inability to speak Malay, English, and other more popular Chinese dialects, restrict their employment prospect, they mainly worked as odd job workers.
1957 - Independence of Malaya from British
1960 - Malayan Emengency ended, the villagers returned from the new villages to rebuilt Pulai village(緊急狀態結束後，布賴人又帶著當初抱走的神像，回來重建家園和水月宮，再次把荒蕪的土地變成家園。) Many Pulai villagers from Johor and Trengganu saved sufficient money for them to return to their ancestral land. However some young people, who have learn new skills, decide to remain and work outside Pulai. The villagers revert back to cash economy by planting rubbers and paddy. They become socially isolated and politically sensitive, reluctant to disclose their political inclination.
1978 - PAS(Islamic Party of Malaysia) lost the state. PAS have been control the state of Kelantan since 1959, and lasted 18 years (1959–1978); PAS was under the coalition Barisan Nasional from 1974-78. Barisan National was formed in 1972.
1984 - Kelantan state government approved gold mining by the private companies in the area round Pulai. (苦難重重的布賴在80年代再次面臨巨變。這次也是因為金礦。吉蘭丹州政府於1984年批准私人公司在布賴和附近一帶採金). The Pulai fluviatile gold placer deposit stretches along 17 km of the upper reaches of S. Galas. Malaysia Mining Corporation had proved-up sizeable reserves following drilling and bulk testing during 1979–1983.
1987 - The authority started to acquire the land, regardless that the residents have been living there for generations, may be since 600 years ago, without compensation. Total 146 acres of land was acquired. According to the report by S.M.Middlebrook in 1933 when he visited the village, the village had existed more than 200 years ago. The report was in 1933. It was reported there were 700-800 residents there planting paddy, and the skin are dark due to mixed marriage with the native or Siamese(並於1987年開始強行征用 146英畝土地，共63名地主受影響，再次面對失去家園的慘痛，而且毫無賠償。經過多年的爭取，布賴村民雖然改善了原來毫無賠償與沒有安頓的惡劣條件，卻再也保不住他們世外桃源一般的田園生活，被迫搬到簡陋的“新村”聚居，而且連葬在家園的祖先墳地也要遷移，以免被挖金活動破壞。) Later after some appeals, the state government granted leasehold land of 30 to 60 years tenure to the villagers for the new village(經過三四年的爭取之後，受影響的村民獲得政府發給新村地契，但也只有30年到60年的期限). Normally under restrictive Kelantan land law, leasehold 30-60 years are for non-Kelantanese, a leasehold land of 99 years or freehold land is the norm for local Kelantanese. But the Pulai villagers like the Cina Kampong or Siamese in Tumpat, Wakaf Bahru area have been living in Kelantan for more than 3 generations, reported 600 years ago, they should be treated as local Kelantanese, a 99 years leasehold is expected by the villagers. A disappointment for villagers.
1988 - a 7 km road connected to Gua Musang was completed; not for the villagers but for the incoming commercial gold mining activities.
1990- Change of government, PAS(Islamic Party of Malaysia)took over the state from UMNO of Barisan National. Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat become the Mentri Besar(equivalent to Chief Minister of the state). Since 1990, with re-elections in 1995, 1999 and 2004, PAS had ruled the state.
1998 - MOU was signed between Mentri Besar of Kelantan Dato’ Haji Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat and NSW State Treasurer, Minister for Energy, and Minister for State Development Mr Michael Egan on 16th Feb 1998 in the signing ceremony at Macquarie Tower, Sydney, NSW. YAB Tuan Guru Dato’ Menteri Besar also gave the letter of appointment to Peter Anderson, appointing him as advisor of Kelantan state government in the commence and investment in NSW, Australia. Kelstone Sdn. Bhd, a company under state corporation, PKINK(PERBADANAN KEMAJUAN IKTISAD NEGERI KELANTAN)had discussion with Austral Malaysian Mining Ltd. on the gold mining at Pulai, Gua Musang.(source: http://rostam97.tripod.com/feb7998/feb7998p15.htm). Mr Anderson is also Chair of Austral Malaysian Mining Ltd, Pulai Mining Sdn Berhad(Source: CHW 2002 annual Report,www.chw.edu.au/abou/.../chw_annual_report_2002_low_quality.pdf) Pulai Mining Sdn Bhd is Malaysian mining arm of Austral Malaysian Mining Ltd, a NSW company.
Will the Pulai villagers benefit from the development?....
Map of Kampong Pulai Baru, Kuala Trengganu
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劉燕松當年就曾協助搬遷了幾十個墳墓。他說，有些墳墓長樹長成森林，沒辦法搬遷的，只好面對被採金商剷除的命運。“私人公司挖金挖了5、6年，留給布賴一個又一個的大水塘。現在就算把征用地還回給我們也沒有用，不能再拿來種田了。”也是布賴前村長的劉燕松極度遺憾的感嘆，上述挖金活動的進行，完全改變布賴人的居住環境和生活方式了，他小時候的“桃花源”再也回不去了。
“以前布賴一片青翠，都是田園，遠遠一戶人家，可能相隔半公里，屋子周圍都是牛羊雞鴨，山水直接引到家裡。現在住在新村裡……”他覺得，現在的生活越來越與“外面”沒有甚麼兩樣。 田地被政府徵用過後，失去田園的布賴人只好再次出發，開芭砍草，尋找新的謀生方式。 “90%人到山坡上種植橡膠，也有人種可可和榴槤等果樹。”經過三四年的爭取之後，受影響的村民獲得政府發給新村地契，但也只有30年到60年的期限。布賴人對這片土地的眷戀再次受到扭曲和壓制。
根據S.M.Middlebrook的記錄，這座村莊，在他1933年造訪的200年之前已經存在，它曾經是金礦區。在1800年左右，當地採礦為生的華人先民為了反對土酋天猛公（Temenggong，管理內政的大臣）壟斷白米的供應與貿易，影響他們的生計，憤而反抗及刺殺對方，導致過天猛公兒子入侵華人礦村大屠殺。
在1933年，Middlebrook到布賴去考察時，當地只有2、3位婦女是真正來自中國，他發現布賴村莊當時有7、800名客籍華人，他們已幾乎人人以種稻為生，同時他也發覺到布賴華人的皮膚黝黑。他認為這是布賴男人與原住民或泰女通婚的證明。
當時，也確有這種通婚現象，包括甲必丹的祖母是暹人。而當時的村民多住在村外私人的耕地，只有約20家人和店鋪在村中；村中的店舖兼住屋，包括村中的觀音廟在內，組成村中簡陋的建築，它們多用稻灰景象與竹子為材料。（注2）
布賴村華人一直到1933年時，仍還有慶祝華人主要的節日。迄今，老年人猶記得在他們還年輕時，布賴村最重要的慶典不是農曆新年，而是觀音誕辰。在這每年一度的節日慶祝工作，往往在觀音千秋數週以前就必須開始預備，以便維持超過10天的各種膜拜慶典儀式。
當時人群從哥打峇魯乘船沿河上來布賴，售賣貨物和參與祭拜典禮、宴樂和賭博，情況相當熱鬧。所有的神明也從廟裡被邀請到上轎游列村中為慶祝特備的亞答棚中去。此外，慶祝的儀式不但祭拜華人的神明，馬來人的“拿督公”神也受到祭拜，還有各家各戶的先祖礦工的神位等…
(extract from 小村大歷史布賴600年山中傳奇, 亞洲眼/第16期•文：賴碧清•2007.07.30）http://www.eyeasia.com.my/content.phtml?artid=200707300730)
馬來西亞最早的水月宮香火可能是在吉蘭丹布賴，其歷史比檳城更早，可以遠溯到18世紀末，但是，由於馬來亞共產黨在日治時代後反英殖鬥爭，在緊急狀態時期，英軍為了對付馬共，利用行政手段堅壁清野拆散當地以及活望生的客人村落，於1948年起將當地客籍人分散到瓜拉丁加奴20哩外、彭亨州的瓜拉立卑以及南方的柔佛古來附近，形成幾個不同的布賴新村，結果吉蘭丹水月宮的香火便隨著先輩一切從頭開始的遷州過府，香火分散上述各地新村去了.
(extract from 清代馬來西亞客家人的觀音信仰, http://www.xiao-en.org/cultural/magazine.asp?cat=34&loc=zh&id=556)
Related articles on Pulai
1.烏魯吉蘭丹一個金礦村莊的回憶（作者柯雪潤，譯者:黃寶國）
2.布賴客家人（作者劉崇漢）
3.Sepintas lalu mengenai sejarah Kampung Pulai（Penyunting: Kenny Chee Sien Chen）
4.Image of community in a Chinese Malaysian Settlement（Sharon A.Carstens,PH.D. Cornell University, 1980）
5. S.M.Middlebrook, M.C.S, Pulai: An Early Chinese settlement in Kelantan, Journal of the Malaysia Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vo1.11 (2). pp152.
6. http://web1.blogdns.org/shuiyuegong/
7. http://pulai.org/news/Pulai-HQ-Travel.pdf
Accommodation
There are a few accommodation options in Gua Musang
1. A1 Tourism's Hotel & Guest House
B&B
2. Kesedar Inn
18300 Gua, Musang can be contacted by phone +609 901229 or fax +609 902131
Budget hotel, no star
3. Hotel Gua Musang
Lot 1985-1986, Bandar Baru, Gua Musang
Tel: 609-9122929
4. Evergreen Hotel
Jalan Besar, Gua Musang
Budget hotel, no star
Tel: 609-9122273
5. Hotel Merling
No. 10, Jalan Besar, Gua Musang
Budget hotel, no star
Tel: 609-9121813
6. Fully Inn
75, Jalan Pekan Lama Gua Musang 18300 Kelantan
Tel: 609-9123311
Durian Kunyit King(貓山王)
THE Musang King durian from Malaysia is so delicious that Stanley Ho, Macau’s Gambling King had to send his personal jet to Singapore to purchase these “Musang King Durian” also known as “durian kunyit” or “Mao San Wong” (in cantonese). Source reported that Ho’s worker wanted to buy 98 durians but only managed to get 88 as supply was low due to adverse weather. China Press reported that Ho spent about RM4,800 worth (S$2,071) of the durian from the 818 Durian Stall in the island republic. In Singapore, the Musang King durian costs about RM38 (S$16.40) per kilo. Ho also shared the king of fruits with his friend Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing by giving him 10 durians(source: The Star,2010). For those who do not know the thorny fruit, Durian, it is a tropical fruit, considered king of the fruits. The taste and aroma is strong, you either love it or hate it, it taste like heaven or hell...
(note for more info on durian fruit refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian)
Durian Kunyit is originate from Gua Musang. It is originally called Durian Kunyit by Malay. Kunyit is the Malay word for turmeric. The durian is called Durian Kunyit is because of the flesh is yellow in color, resembles kunyit, which was also used for nasi kunyit. The durian is rebranded "Musang King" or “Mao San Wong”(貓山王) in cantonese. It has small seeds, and it’s texture is sweet, tender and with a powerful aroma”.. This Musang King durian can reach as high as 3kg of weight for each durian. The pricing is by weight ,1kg of these durian can peak as high as RM28 to Rm30 per kilogram. So a 3 kg durian will cost RM90 or US$30 per durian fruit. What Ho bought may be more expensive because he bought it in Singapore or with heavier weight.
But it seems the best is Raja Kunyit, better than Kunyit; don't believe then read the article "Chung has a nose for business"(2007), The Star dated July 9, 2007; http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/9/nation/18249619&sec=nation. Unless Chung or the reporter make a mistake that Raja Kunyit is Musang King, Chung said Raja Kunyit is the best durian, and Ang Heh (Red Prawn)is the 2nd, and the third is the humble but pungent jungle durians. D24 is not in his list.....Is Raja Kunyit similar to Musang King?.....
Outside Gua Musang
Fort Brooke
A lonely police and military post near Cameron Highland were visited. It was built by 22nd SAS to controlled the east area of Cameron Highland where communist activities from Gua Musang to Cameron Highland can be stopped.
Built near orang asli village, it was commanded by military or police and it was famously published by Roy Follows who commanded the fort on his book "Jungle Beat".
Fort Brooke was built with 3 machineguns emplacement protected by sandbags and later concrete to protected the fort from ambushes. The fort also had its helicopter landing pad and constantly re-supplied with airdrops from Dakotas and Valettas. The fort also were barbed wires and everyone inside the perimeter were 24 hours alerted. Patrols also were sent out to patrolled nearby area.
Later it was commanded by Royal Malaysian Police until late 80s when it was demolished and abandoned. Today, the new name Post Brooke were moved slightly south of the original location and connected by new highway routes from Cameron Highland to Gua Musang. The old fort were overgrown and forgotten.
Gunong Stong & Gua Ikan
Go up north to Kelantan and spend a weekend at the ever-popular Stong Waterfalls; make a trip to the Gua Ikan caves and visit the Krai town. Sweat it out hiking (2hrs) from Stong Resort, crossing the waterfall route (with safety chain links) to Jelawang camp (1000ft) where campers camp out in the wild. You could visit the upper waterfalls to dip your toes in the cool waters and have a well-deserved swim, or you could just laze around and enjoy the natural "Jacuzzi" effect of the falls
Motorbiking to Cameron Highland
95km route from Kg Raja to Gua Musang
http://www.motobiking.com/2007_Files/CH070407_main01.htm
Kuala Lipis
http://www.mytwentyfive.com/blog/2008/06/peninsula-trip-part-2-kuala-lipis-gua-musang/
Kuala Koh
"Kuala Koh is the new entry point to Taman Negara. This is still a lightly visited area with superb wilderness and pristine rivers flowing down from the mountains of Tahan, Perlis, Penumpu and Gagau."
Kuala Koh is the new entry point to Taman Negara on its northern border. This is still a lightly visited area of superb wilderness and pristine rivers flowing down from the mountains of Tahan, Perlis, Penumpu and Gagau. These rivers are lined with giant trees like the tualang and the neram, the fruit of the latter providing food for the kelah, Malaysia's premier river sportfish.
Kuala Koh houses the headquarters of this part of Taman Negara. Chalets and dormitories are available and a small cafe serves local fare upon request. Fishing waters are found as close as 10 minutes boat ride from Kuala Koh. For the more adventurous, camping-cum-fishing packages are available where tent accommodation, meals and fishing guides are provided. This, however, must be arranged well in advance.
Kuala Koh boasts pleasant natural settings and lush rainforest greenery. At the same time, it is equipped with facilties that will make your visit here a comfortable one. It is ideal for nature activities such as jungle-trekking, bird watching, river rafting, fishing and mountain climbing.
Accommodation - Kuala Koh
There are 6 chalets and a 74-bed hostel. Each chalet costs RM50 per night while the hostel costs RM12 per person per night. Campers are charged RM2 each. Each visitor must obtain an entrance permit at RM1 per person. Fishing licence costs RM10 each while camera licence is RM5 per camera.
For more information on Kuala Koh, please contact the Wildlife Department office in Gua Musang at 609-9122940 or Kuala Koh Country Village (Kelantan National Park) at 609-7431 603.
http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/destination/kuala%20koh%20national%20park.html
Reference/related articles:
1.清代馬來西亞客家人的觀音信仰, by 王琛發, http://www.xiao-en.org/cultural/magazine.asp?cat=34&loc=zh&id=556
2. 小村大歷史布賴600年山中傳奇, 亞洲眼/第16期•文：賴碧清•2007.07.30）http://www.eyeasia.com.my/content.phtml?artid=200707300730
3. http://pulai.org/news/The-Spiritual-World-of-a-Hakka-Village.pdf
4. http://pulai.org/news/Pulai-HQ-Travel.pdf
5. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pulaiorg-ma-lai-xi-ya-ji-lan-dan-hua-wang-sheng-bu-lai-ke-jia-cun-Kampung-Pulai-Gua-Musang-Kelantan-Malaysia/247125593207
5. Surprises aplenty caving(2006), by Liz Price,The Star; http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/7/15/lifetravel/14316289&sec=lifetravel
6. Histories, cultures, identities: studies in Malaysian Chinese worlds(2005), by Sharon A. Carstens, Singapore University Press, Singapore. Pg 57 to Pg 81
7. The New Villages in Malaysia - the Journey Ahead(2005), by Lim Hin Fui & Fong Tian Yong, INSAP(Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research), MCA ( article on new village)
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Gua Musang(話望生) is a town in Kelantan state. It is a timber town, with timber loging and sawn milling as their main activities. Other than timber related business, agriculture is also dominant there, now eco-tourism seems to start there. I have been to Gua Musang a few times, at that time Fully Inn has not yet constructed. The land at Gua Musang new town has already having some occupation, but still not completely occupied. There was some housing development outside the town. It must be in late 90s. The Simpang Pulai - Cameron Highland -Gua Musang road is not yet constructed. The only way to Gua Musang is from Kota Bharu- Kuala Krai way. From Kuala Lipis train is the popular transport. Kuala Lipis - Padang Tunku-Gua Musang road is long and winding, normally travel by timber lorries. I have traveled from both ways, Kuala Lipis and Kota Bahru, even try train from Kuala Lipis to Gua Musang, and Gua Musang to Pasir Mas. I love the train, they called it Jungle Train now.
Gua Musang is not only the name of the town, it is also the largest district in Kelantan. Gua Musang is administered by the Gua Musang District Council. Gua Musang district is bordered by the state of Pahang to the south, Terengganu to the east, Perak to the west and the Kelantanese districts of Kuala Krai and Jeli to the north. It is a small railway town about 160 kilometers south of Kuala Krai. The town lies on the railway line from Gemas to Kota Bharu. Some called it Ulu Kelantan.
Nenggiri Ulu, which is part of Ulu Kelantan, now called Gua Musang, has a cave system where evidence of neolithic life has been found and the present orang asli community are said to be their descendents.research done has unveiled strong suspicions that there was a a pre-Islamic Malay Kingdom in Ulu Kelantan from where the legendary Princess Ruler of Kelantan - "Puteri Saadon" - originated from.
In the old days, Gua Musang is famous for gold mining, the gold mine was at Kampong Pulai, a Chinese village town near to Gua Musang, where gold mining by Chinese have been 600 years of history, and it provides evidence that Chinese may have been to Kelantan long before the Admiral Cheng Ho to Malacca. Most of early Chinese were from Pattani area(Note: In the old days Kelantan was once ruled by Siam, Pattani, Sri Vijaya... need to open the history book again).
Historically, Gua Musang is also the only town declared by CPM(Communist Party of Malaya) as liberated area; but after 5 days of occupation it was recaptured by the British, then the colonist of Malaya. It is considered as Black area by the administration, frequent curfew, military action taken place in the district during the late 40s to 70s.
The name of Gua Musang
Gua Musang literally means "Cave of the civet cat". Gua is Malay word for cave, and Musang is the term for civet cat. On the eastern side of this town stands Bukit Gua Musang, a barren hill of rocks and deceptive stone-steps running 105 meters high. It stands in a commanding position, with a huge cave running into its interior and is about meters away from the other green tree-covered hills. From a distance, this hill looks like a stone pillar with a big crack which nearly splits it vertically into two equal halves. Between the hill and the town, there runs a railway track.
It was believed that long ago this town was inhabited by some superstitious hunters who made offerings of animals in front of the cave of Bukit Gua Musang. One afternoon a raging storm broke out and the huts of the hunters were destroyed. At the height of the storm a bolt of lightning struck the summit of the hill and nearly split it in two. The hunters, believing that the God of the Cave was angry with them, knelt down and began to pray. As they were praying they saw a huge pack of civet cats (or musang in Malay) running into the cave. At once, they seized their bows and arrows and lay in wait for the foxes. They waited the whole evening but the foxes did not emerge, not even when the storm had stopped. From then on, the inhabitants called the cave Gua Musang.
A month after this strange event, seven young hunters climbed the hill but only one came back alive. He told the villagers that when he and his six companions were halfway up the hill, a length of stone staircase appeared before them. They climbed the staircase and upon reaching the summit they found a tree, under which, stood a bowl of pure water. The young men, with the exception of one, drank the water in the bowl to quench their thirst. Before the others could persuade him to drink, the bowl vanished. They grew afraid and quickly began to descend. Suddenly a blood-chilling cry was heard. The hunter turned quickly but it was too late! His six friends had disappeared from sight. He rushed down the slope but there was no sign of any dead bodies at the bottom of the hill.
He concluded that the "God of the Cave" had taken his friends and had spared him because he had not drunk the water in the bowl. Most of the villagers did not believe the young man's story. They were sure that the other six must have slipped and fallen, but the bodies of the missing hunters were never found.
The name of the town is from the name of the cave, Gua Musang. But the Chinese named it as Hua-wang-sheng(話望生), literally means "words hoping for life" or is it translate from Malay word Gua Musang. The Chinese there are mostly Hakka Chinese, especially the gold miners in Pulai. Why call it Hua-wang-sheng(話望生)?is it because the place is end of the road for gold miners, and it need to go for a new life outside?...Noted in the old days, there was no road to Gua Musang, you need to travel by boat, not even railway.
Transportation
By car
1. From Kota Bahru
2. From Kuala Lipis, Pahang
3. From Simpang Pulai, Perak(near Ipoh)
Second East-West Highway, Federal Route (Malay: Lebuhraya Timur-Barat Kedua) is a highway in Peninsular Malaysia which connects Simpang Pulai in Perak to Gua Musang in Kelantan. The highway is expected to be extended further east to Kuala Terengganu in the future. This highway features a four-lane carriageway from Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands and a two-lane carriageway from Cameron Highlands to Gua Musang. It is notorious for its many sharp corners which increase the risk of road accidents.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Federal_Route_185
By Bus
http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptaguamusang.htm
KL - Gua Musang
Kuala Lipis - Gua Musang
Kota Bahru- Gua Musang
By Train
1. KL- Gemas - Gua Musang
2. Singapore- Gemas -Gua Musang
3. Tumpat - Gua Musang
Tourist attractions
Gua Musang is the northern gateway to Taman Negara (National Park), which is situated in the southeastern part of Gua Musang district. The untouched tropical rainforest in Taman Negara is among the oldest in the world. It is well known for its biodiversity and is home to many endangered species of animals and plants.
1. Bukit Gua Musang
Gua Musang is surrounded by limestone hills and caves, which have become popular with cavers and rock climbers. The cave of Gua Musang is located immediately behind the town’s railway station and is reached by a steep scramble up the hillside
2. Rock Climbing & tracking
The small village of Merapoh in Pahang which is just south of Gua Musang serves as a popular starting point for those who want to scale Gunung Tahan.
http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/donmah/climbingstuff/climbing/guamusang.htm
3. Taman Ethnobotani
Taman Ethnobotani, where there are rooms and chalets for rent. The park was set up in 1997 for the collection and propagation of medicinal herbs. This recreational and nature park is administered by the Kelantan Selatan Development Authority (Kesedar).
Some 3km from Gua Musang, the park covers 38ha of lush greenery and limestone outcrops. One small hill is located right at the entrance of Taman Ethnobotani, and here we got to watch climbers practise their moves.
The park holds many climbing routes. Apart from climbing, there are other outdoor activities like rope and wooden obstacle courses, and flying fox and abseiling. Visitors can also learn to make traps and pick up jungle survival skills. Nature lovers will enjoy visiting the deer and ostrich farms and the medicinal herb garden.
4. Nenggiri River: River Rafting
Nenggiri River is a favourite among those who enjoy river rafting. There is also a rafting race, called Nenggiri Challenge. Archaeological sites can be found in caves, such as Gua Cha, Chawan and Jaya, which are situated along the river.
http://www.malaysiasite.nl/guamusangeng1.htm
5. Railway station
The railway station is one of the heritage railway station around
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6. Jungle Train
The Jungle Railway is the railway line serving the East Coast states of Kelantan and Pahang in Malaysia. Officially the East Coast Railway line, it branches of the West Coast Trunk line at Gemas on the border of Johor and Negeri Sembilan and goes through the forested heart (hence the nickname "Jungle Railway") of Peninsular Malaysia to Tumpat, a small town on the East Coast near Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The first stretch of the East Coast Line between Gemas and Bahau is opened in 1910. It was however destroyed in 1941 during Japanese occupation. The railway service only resumed in 1953. In 1953, Golden Blowpipe Express drawn by the locomotive Coronation, carrying the High Commissioner Sir Gerald Templer from Kuala Lipis in Pahang to Kota Bharu [i.e. Baharu] in Kelantan on the first journey on the line since 1941, when the track was destroyed. A photo was taken on July 13 1953 at Gua Musang(http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0115%2FBAM%208%2F20)
http://www.pbase.com/cathryn/junglerailway
http://wikitravel.org/en/Jungle_Railway
Pulai Gold Mine Town
Another interesting place to visit in Gua Musang is a Chinese temple Shui Yue Gong(水月宮)in Kampung Pulai(布賴), which is purportedly 400 years old. Kampong Pulai is 14 km from Gua Musang, an isolated place, as only in 1988, a 7 km road connected to Gua Musang. It was reported that the Hakka Chinese came to Gua Musang 600 years ago, long before Admiral Cheng Ho arrival in Malacca. Pulai was founded in 1425 by two brothers, Lim Pak Yen and Lim Ghee Yee, who fled China. They come via Sungai Galas. The brothers came here in search of gold. Once word got out, there was a gold rush and a small settlement was created. As the gold supply slowly diminished, people started planting padi to survive(ref: http://www.cavesofmalaysia.com/newspage4.htm)
Pulai has a temple reputed to be 400-500 years old, reportedly the second oldest temple in the country after the Cheng Hoon Teng temple (1646) in Malacca. However some said it may be even older than Cheng Hoon Teng....
The Pulai Swee Nyet Keung Buddhist temple and its surrounding village was burnt down by the Japanese in 1941. The temple was rebuilt in 1970 and is quite small, but it has an interesting collection of ancient cannon parts.
Across the river from the temple is a limestone hill with a new temple. Bukit Tok Cu is also known as Princess Mountain and a temple is being constructed on top of it. The workers told us that a man had a vision of steps being built up the hill in 1984, but work on the temple only started in 1997. However, a shrine was already in existence in the upper cave when an archaeological team dug there in 1991
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History of Pulai
1425 - Pulai was founded in 1425 by two brothers, Lim Pak Yen and Lim Ghee Yee
1782 - A record by a sailor from China who visited Kelantan, during Qing Dynasty reported that there are Chinese living in Kelantan, and some Hakka Chinese are gold mining in Pulai. Historical record reported earlier arrival. Initially the gold miners depended on the supplies of rice and other provision from Kota Bahru and other areas through the river transportation. There were social contact with the Malay and Cina Bandar from Kota Bahru.
1825-1886 - Dsipute with Temenggong over the supply and trading of rice. Thousands of villagers was killed (全村幾千人被當地王族所殺). This incident may have start the subsistence farming of Pulai gold miners, and the village began the social isolation from outside world. Unlike the Cina Bandar(Town Chinese) and Cina Kampong(Village Chinese), who assimilated into the Malay culture and speak local Malay dialet, the Pulai Hakka Chinese even inter marriage with the orang asli(native) and Siamese, retain their distinctive Hakka culture. This is mainly due to the social isolation, and physical remote of the Pulai village, there are few Malay lived near the Pulai village. There were no road, no railway to the village.
1930s - The construction of East Coast Railway open Ulu Kelantan(now Gua Musang) to the outside world, but Pulai village remained isolated.
1933 - S.M.Middlebrook in 1933 when he visited the village, the village had existed more than 200 years ago.
1942 - Japanese plane bombed the place and destroyed the village. Pulai people further moved into jungle and become self sufficient. But they are no more socially isolated from the outside world, the communist or MPAJA in the jungle become quasi protector of the villagers in the jungle.
1945- When the world ended, MPAJA become a legal political party MCP(Malayan Communist Party), Pulai villagers caught between the political cold war of the superpower, communist and capitalist colonist(British)
1947 - The colonist seeing the long term position will be threaten by the MCP, begin to arrest the MCP members and unionists. British also declared MCP illegal, MCP returned to jungle and started arm struggle in the jungle. Pulai and Gua Musang was view as Black Area by the British colonist government.
1948 - Formation of the Federation. The British relocated the villagers to new village or xincun(新村)at Kuala Trengganu(10 miles from Kuala Trengganu), Kuala Lipis(Pahang), Kota Tinggi- Kulai(Johore) under the strategic Briggs Plan by the British colonist to avoid locals supporting the communists, the period was historically called Malayan Emergency(1948-1960) (被英國人集體疏散到登嘉樓20哩外、彭亨瓜拉立卑及柔佛州古來). Today, UNHCR will call it IDP(Internally Displaced Person), a violation of human right.
1949 - Formation of MCA(Malaysian Chinese Association). About 30% of the villagers were forced to move to new village near Kota Tinggi, Johor. Another 30% to the new village at Gua Musang town.
1952 - The other 30% resettled in Pulai Baru, 10 miles from Kuala Trengganu, the capital of Trengannu state. Pulai villagers faced communication problem due to long term social isolation. Their inability to speak Malay, English, and other more popular Chinese dialects, restrict their employment prospect, they mainly worked as odd job workers.
1957 - Independence of Malaya from British
1960 - Malayan Emengency ended, the villagers returned from the new villages to rebuilt Pulai village(緊急狀態結束後，布賴人又帶著當初抱走的神像，回來重建家園和水月宮，再次把荒蕪的土地變成家園。) Many Pulai villagers from Johor and Trengganu saved sufficient money for them to return to their ancestral land. However some young people, who have learn new skills, decide to remain and work outside Pulai. The villagers revert back to cash economy by planting rubbers and paddy. They become socially isolated and politically sensitive, reluctant to disclose their political inclination.
1978 - PAS(Islamic Party of Malaysia) lost the state. PAS have been control the state of Kelantan since 1959, and lasted 18 years (1959–1978); PAS was under the coalition Barisan Nasional from 1974-78. Barisan National was formed in 1972.
1984 - Kelantan state government approved gold mining by the private companies in the area round Pulai. (苦難重重的布賴在80年代再次面臨巨變。這次也是因為金礦。吉蘭丹州政府於1984年批准私人公司在布賴和附近一帶採金). The Pulai fluviatile gold placer deposit stretches along 17 km of the upper reaches of S. Galas. Malaysia Mining Corporation had proved-up sizeable reserves following drilling and bulk testing during 1979–1983.
1987 - The authority started to acquire the land, regardless that the residents have been living there for generations, may be since 600 years ago, without compensation. Total 146 acres of land was acquired. According to the report by S.M.Middlebrook in 1933 when he visited the village, the village had existed more than 200 years ago. The report was in 1933. It was reported there were 700-800 residents there planting paddy, and the skin are dark due to mixed marriage with the native or Siamese(並於1987年開始強行征用 146英畝土地，共63名地主受影響，再次面對失去家園的慘痛，而且毫無賠償。經過多年的爭取，布賴村民雖然改善了原來毫無賠償與沒有安頓的惡劣條件，卻再也保不住他們世外桃源一般的田園生活，被迫搬到簡陋的“新村”聚居，而且連葬在家園的祖先墳地也要遷移，以免被挖金活動破壞。) Later after some appeals, the state government granted leasehold land of 30 to 60 years tenure to the villagers for the new village(經過三四年的爭取之後，受影響的村民獲得政府發給新村地契，但也只有30年到60年的期限). Normally under restrictive Kelantan land law, leasehold 30-60 years are for non-Kelantanese, a leasehold land of 99 years or freehold land is the norm for local Kelantanese. But the Pulai villagers like the Cina Kampong or Siamese in Tumpat, Wakaf Bahru area have been living in Kelantan for more than 3 generations, reported 600 years ago, they should be treated as local Kelantanese, a 99 years leasehold is expected by the villagers. A disappointment for villagers.
1988 - a 7 km road connected to Gua Musang was completed; not for the villagers but for the incoming commercial gold mining activities.
1990- Change of government, PAS(Islamic Party of Malaysia)took over the state from UMNO of Barisan National. Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat become the Mentri Besar(equivalent to Chief Minister of the state). Since 1990, with re-elections in 1995, 1999 and 2004, PAS had ruled the state.
1998 - MOU was signed between Mentri Besar of Kelantan Dato’ Haji Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat and NSW State Treasurer, Minister for Energy, and Minister for State Development Mr Michael Egan on 16th Feb 1998 in the signing ceremony at Macquarie Tower, Sydney, NSW. YAB Tuan Guru Dato’ Menteri Besar also gave the letter of appointment to Peter Anderson, appointing him as advisor of Kelantan state government in the commence and investment in NSW, Australia. Kelstone Sdn. Bhd, a company under state corporation, PKINK(PERBADANAN KEMAJUAN IKTISAD NEGERI KELANTAN)had discussion with Austral Malaysian Mining Ltd. on the gold mining at Pulai, Gua Musang.(source: http://rostam97.tripod.com/feb7998/feb7998p15.htm). Mr Anderson is also Chair of Austral Malaysian Mining Ltd, Pulai Mining Sdn Berhad(Source: CHW 2002 annual Report,www.chw.edu.au/abou/.../chw_annual_report_2002_low_quality.pdf) Pulai Mining Sdn Bhd is Malaysian mining arm of Austral Malaysian Mining Ltd, a NSW company.
Will the Pulai villagers benefit from the development?....
Map of Kampong Pulai Baru, Kuala Trengganu
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劉燕松當年就曾協助搬遷了幾十個墳墓。他說，有些墳墓長樹長成森林，沒辦法搬遷的，只好面對被採金商剷除的命運。“私人公司挖金挖了5、6年，留給布賴一個又一個的大水塘。現在就算把征用地還回給我們也沒有用，不能再拿來種田了。”也是布賴前村長的劉燕松極度遺憾的感嘆，上述挖金活動的進行，完全改變布賴人的居住環境和生活方式了，他小時候的“桃花源”再也回不去了。
“以前布賴一片青翠，都是田園，遠遠一戶人家，可能相隔半公里，屋子周圍都是牛羊雞鴨，山水直接引到家裡。現在住在新村裡……”他覺得，現在的生活越來越與“外面”沒有甚麼兩樣。 田地被政府徵用過後，失去田園的布賴人只好再次出發，開芭砍草，尋找新的謀生方式。 “90%人到山坡上種植橡膠，也有人種可可和榴槤等果樹。”經過三四年的爭取之後，受影響的村民獲得政府發給新村地契，但也只有30年到60年的期限。布賴人對這片土地的眷戀再次受到扭曲和壓制。
根據S.M.Middlebrook的記錄，這座村莊，在他1933年造訪的200年之前已經存在，它曾經是金礦區。在1800年左右，當地採礦為生的華人先民為了反對土酋天猛公（Temenggong，管理內政的大臣）壟斷白米的供應與貿易，影響他們的生計，憤而反抗及刺殺對方，導致過天猛公兒子入侵華人礦村大屠殺。
在1933年，Middlebrook到布賴去考察時，當地只有2、3位婦女是真正來自中國，他發現布賴村莊當時有7、800名客籍華人，他們已幾乎人人以種稻為生，同時他也發覺到布賴華人的皮膚黝黑。他認為這是布賴男人與原住民或泰女通婚的證明。
當時，也確有這種通婚現象，包括甲必丹的祖母是暹人。而當時的村民多住在村外私人的耕地，只有約20家人和店鋪在村中；村中的店舖兼住屋，包括村中的觀音廟在內，組成村中簡陋的建築，它們多用稻灰景象與竹子為材料。（注2）
布賴村華人一直到1933年時，仍還有慶祝華人主要的節日。迄今，老年人猶記得在他們還年輕時，布賴村最重要的慶典不是農曆新年，而是觀音誕辰。在這每年一度的節日慶祝工作，往往在觀音千秋數週以前就必須開始預備，以便維持超過10天的各種膜拜慶典儀式。
當時人群從哥打峇魯乘船沿河上來布賴，售賣貨物和參與祭拜典禮、宴樂和賭博，情況相當熱鬧。所有的神明也從廟裡被邀請到上轎游列村中為慶祝特備的亞答棚中去。此外，慶祝的儀式不但祭拜華人的神明，馬來人的“拿督公”神也受到祭拜，還有各家各戶的先祖礦工的神位等…
(extract from 小村大歷史布賴600年山中傳奇, 亞洲眼/第16期•文：賴碧清•2007.07.30）http://www.eyeasia.com.my/content.phtml?artid=200707300730)
馬來西亞最早的水月宮香火可能是在吉蘭丹布賴，其歷史比檳城更早，可以遠溯到18世紀末，但是，由於馬來亞共產黨在日治時代後反英殖鬥爭，在緊急狀態時期，英軍為了對付馬共，利用行政手段堅壁清野拆散當地以及活望生的客人村落，於1948年起將當地客籍人分散到瓜拉丁加奴20哩外、彭亨州的瓜拉立卑以及南方的柔佛古來附近，形成幾個不同的布賴新村，結果吉蘭丹水月宮的香火便隨著先輩一切從頭開始的遷州過府，香火分散上述各地新村去了.
(extract from 清代馬來西亞客家人的觀音信仰, http://www.xiao-en.org/cultural/magazine.asp?cat=34&loc=zh&id=556)
Related articles on Pulai
1.烏魯吉蘭丹一個金礦村莊的回憶（作者柯雪潤，譯者:黃寶國）
2.布賴客家人（作者劉崇漢）
3.Sepintas lalu mengenai sejarah Kampung Pulai（Penyunting: Kenny Chee Sien Chen）
4.Image of community in a Chinese Malaysian Settlement（Sharon A.Carstens,PH.D. Cornell University, 1980）
5. S.M.Middlebrook, M.C.S, Pulai: An Early Chinese settlement in Kelantan, Journal of the Malaysia Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vo1.11 (2). pp152.
6. http://web1.blogdns.org/shuiyuegong/
7. http://pulai.org/news/Pulai-HQ-Travel.pdf
Accommodation
There are a few accommodation options in Gua Musang
1. A1 Tourism's Hotel & Guest House
B&B
2. Kesedar Inn
18300 Gua, Musang can be contacted by phone +609 901229 or fax +609 902131
Budget hotel, no star
3. Hotel Gua Musang
Lot 1985-1986, Bandar Baru, Gua Musang
Tel: 609-9122929
4. Evergreen Hotel
Jalan Besar, Gua Musang
Budget hotel, no star
Tel: 609-9122273
5. Hotel Merling
No. 10, Jalan Besar, Gua Musang
Budget hotel, no star
Tel: 609-9121813
6. Fully Inn
75, Jalan Pekan Lama Gua Musang 18300 Kelantan
Tel: 609-9123311
Durian Kunyit King(貓山王)
THE Musang King durian from Malaysia is so delicious that Stanley Ho, Macau’s Gambling King had to send his personal jet to Singapore to purchase these “Musang King Durian” also known as “durian kunyit” or “Mao San Wong” (in cantonese). Source reported that Ho’s worker wanted to buy 98 durians but only managed to get 88 as supply was low due to adverse weather. China Press reported that Ho spent about RM4,800 worth (S$2,071) of the durian from the 818 Durian Stall in the island republic. In Singapore, the Musang King durian costs about RM38 (S$16.40) per kilo. Ho also shared the king of fruits with his friend Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing by giving him 10 durians(source: The Star,2010). For those who do not know the thorny fruit, Durian, it is a tropical fruit, considered king of the fruits. The taste and aroma is strong, you either love it or hate it, it taste like heaven or hell...
(note for more info on durian fruit refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian)
Durian Kunyit is originate from Gua Musang. It is originally called Durian Kunyit by Malay. Kunyit is the Malay word for turmeric. The durian is called Durian Kunyit is because of the flesh is yellow in color, resembles kunyit, which was also used for nasi kunyit. The durian is rebranded "Musang King" or “Mao San Wong”(貓山王) in cantonese. It has small seeds, and it’s texture is sweet, tender and with a powerful aroma”.. This Musang King durian can reach as high as 3kg of weight for each durian. The pricing is by weight ,1kg of these durian can peak as high as RM28 to Rm30 per kilogram. So a 3 kg durian will cost RM90 or US$30 per durian fruit. What Ho bought may be more expensive because he bought it in Singapore or with heavier weight.
But it seems the best is Raja Kunyit, better than Kunyit; don't believe then read the article "Chung has a nose for business"(2007), The Star dated July 9, 2007; http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/9/nation/18249619&sec=nation. Unless Chung or the reporter make a mistake that Raja Kunyit is Musang King, Chung said Raja Kunyit is the best durian, and Ang Heh (Red Prawn)is the 2nd, and the third is the humble but pungent jungle durians. D24 is not in his list.....Is Raja Kunyit similar to Musang King?.....
Outside Gua Musang
Fort Brooke
A lonely police and military post near Cameron Highland were visited. It was built by 22nd SAS to controlled the east area of Cameron Highland where communist activities from Gua Musang to Cameron Highland can be stopped.
Built near orang asli village, it was commanded by military or police and it was famously published by Roy Follows who commanded the fort on his book "Jungle Beat".
Fort Brooke was built with 3 machineguns emplacement protected by sandbags and later concrete to protected the fort from ambushes. The fort also had its helicopter landing pad and constantly re-supplied with airdrops from Dakotas and Valettas. The fort also were barbed wires and everyone inside the perimeter were 24 hours alerted. Patrols also were sent out to patrolled nearby area.
Later it was commanded by Royal Malaysian Police until late 80s when it was demolished and abandoned. Today, the new name Post Brooke were moved slightly south of the original location and connected by new highway routes from Cameron Highland to Gua Musang. The old fort were overgrown and forgotten.
Gunong Stong & Gua Ikan
Go up north to Kelantan and spend a weekend at the ever-popular Stong Waterfalls; make a trip to the Gua Ikan caves and visit the Krai town. Sweat it out hiking (2hrs) from Stong Resort, crossing the waterfall route (with safety chain links) to Jelawang camp (1000ft) where campers camp out in the wild. You could visit the upper waterfalls to dip your toes in the cool waters and have a well-deserved swim, or you could just laze around and enjoy the natural "Jacuzzi" effect of the falls
Motorbiking to Cameron Highland
95km route from Kg Raja to Gua Musang
http://www.motobiking.com/2007_Files/CH070407_main01.htm
Kuala Lipis
http://www.mytwentyfive.com/blog/2008/06/peninsula-trip-part-2-kuala-lipis-gua-musang/
Kuala Koh
"Kuala Koh is the new entry point to Taman Negara. This is still a lightly visited area with superb wilderness and pristine rivers flowing down from the mountains of Tahan, Perlis, Penumpu and Gagau."
Kuala Koh is the new entry point to Taman Negara on its northern border. This is still a lightly visited area of superb wilderness and pristine rivers flowing down from the mountains of Tahan, Perlis, Penumpu and Gagau. These rivers are lined with giant trees like the tualang and the neram, the fruit of the latter providing food for the kelah, Malaysia's premier river sportfish.
Kuala Koh houses the headquarters of this part of Taman Negara. Chalets and dormitories are available and a small cafe serves local fare upon request. Fishing waters are found as close as 10 minutes boat ride from Kuala Koh. For the more adventurous, camping-cum-fishing packages are available where tent accommodation, meals and fishing guides are provided. This, however, must be arranged well in advance.
Kuala Koh boasts pleasant natural settings and lush rainforest greenery. At the same time, it is equipped with facilties that will make your visit here a comfortable one. It is ideal for nature activities such as jungle-trekking, bird watching, river rafting, fishing and mountain climbing.
Accommodation - Kuala Koh
There are 6 chalets and a 74-bed hostel. Each chalet costs RM50 per night while the hostel costs RM12 per person per night. Campers are charged RM2 each. Each visitor must obtain an entrance permit at RM1 per person. Fishing licence costs RM10 each while camera licence is RM5 per camera.
For more information on Kuala Koh, please contact the Wildlife Department office in Gua Musang at 609-9122940 or Kuala Koh Country Village (Kelantan National Park) at 609-7431 603.
http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/destination/kuala%20koh%20national%20park.html
Reference/related articles:
1.清代馬來西亞客家人的觀音信仰, by 王琛發, http://www.xiao-en.org/cultural/magazine.asp?cat=34&loc=zh&id=556
2. 小村大歷史布賴600年山中傳奇, 亞洲眼/第16期•文：賴碧清•2007.07.30）http://www.eyeasia.com.my/content.phtml?artid=200707300730
3. http://pulai.org/news/The-Spiritual-World-of-a-Hakka-Village.pdf
4. http://pulai.org/news/Pulai-HQ-Travel.pdf
5. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pulaiorg-ma-lai-xi-ya-ji-lan-dan-hua-wang-sheng-bu-lai-ke-jia-cun-Kampung-Pulai-Gua-Musang-Kelantan-Malaysia/247125593207
5. Surprises aplenty caving(2006), by Liz Price,The Star; http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/7/15/lifetravel/14316289&sec=lifetravel
6. Histories, cultures, identities: studies in Malaysian Chinese worlds(2005), by Sharon A. Carstens, Singapore University Press, Singapore. Pg 57 to Pg 81
7. The New Villages in Malaysia - the Journey Ahead(2005), by Lim Hin Fui & Fong Tian Yong, INSAP(Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research), MCA ( article on new village)
Kemaman(甘馬挽), Trengganu
Map of Kemaman(甘馬挽)
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Kemaman is a district in Terengganu, Malaysia. It is situated on the coast of the South China Sea. Kemaman district is bordered by Dungun to the north and the state of Pahang to the south. It is at the southest district of Trengannu state.
Kemaman is administered by the Kemaman Municipal Council. The town of Chukai(朱盖)is Kemaman's administrative and economic centre. Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is the Member of Parliament for Kemaman. He is also the Malaysia Youth and Sports Minister.
Kemaman is a fishing village town, and a transits town for the East Coast. Historically it was benefited from the spill off effect of iron mine activities in Kuala Dungun, Bukit Besi; and timber logging in the area. Iron mining however come to an end in the late 70s and early 80s. But after the opening of Kertih Petronas processing plant, the Kemaman Port, and the opening of Teluk Kalong Industrial Estate(where famous Pewaja is located). Kemaman saw the development come to the place. In the early 80s, the housing development by the Malay development company, Mohd Yusoff also bought some activities to the town. At that time the state assemblyman for Kemaman was the Mentri Besar the late Dato Seri Amar Diraja Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad from 1974 to 1999. This obviously have a beneficial effect on Kemaman. The opposition and folks were then saying, that the state revenue from the petroleum were all used on the development at the south Trengganu.
Another strange thing about Kemaman; they always calling the Chukai town, not Chukai but Kemaman, the name of the district. Are you going to Kemaman or Cukai?. We normally talk about Kemaman, and not Chukai.
Kemaman is called Kam-ma-sik(甘馬挽), similar to the name of the small Malay town Kemasik in the north, near the beach. Kemasik is located midway between Kerteh and Kijal. There is a beach called Kemasik Beach (Pantai Kemasik in Malay), which is the main attraction in the town. There is a Hananese new village nearby, Kampong Air Jernih. Is it because the earlier town center was located at Kemasik? the Chinese call Chukai town with the name "kan-ma-sik"?.... What is the meaning of Kemasik?.... Another confusion arise, be careful when you mention kam-ma-sik or Kemaman or Kemasik?.....
Kemaman Food
When you come to Kemaman, the first thing people will advise you, drink the Hainan coffee at Kemaman
1. Kedai kopi Hai Peng (海濱咖啡店)
Hai Peng coffee shop is the most famous coffee shop in the east coast, even before the WW2. It used to be at the timber shop, but now a modern 3 storey shop house was constructed. A small old coffee shop have become a modern cafe. Their famous specialties was the Hainan coffee, the toasted bread with kaya. In the old days, nmost people travel from West coast to East Coast, especially to Kuala Trengganu or Kota Bharu, will stop by at Kemaman to have a cup of Hainan coffee. This is mainly to rest for a while on their long journey. Kemaman is a town populated by Hainan Chinese, obviously Hainan coffee is famous. The uniqueness of the coffee shop in those day at the wooden shop, was there are many Malay patron too at the shop, and serving Nasi Dagang , Nasi Lemak, and Curry puff etc. Slowly the shop become popular and famous. The most famous and the best in east coast.
The current owner is the younger generation, I have bought some coffee powder back, it cannot compare with the coffee you drink in the coffee shop. May be for Hainan coffee, you need to drink when it is prepared with hot boiling water on the spot. The coffee powder is not of that class. It need the skill to recognize when the boiling water is fit for the coffee. It is the skill, not the name....... may be Hainan coffee is not Nescafe...need to drink on the spot at Kopitiam....
Note: The Chinese called coffee shop, kopitiam(ko-pi-tiam), kopi is coffee, and tiam is shop, now even Malay also call coffee shop as "kopitiam" or kedai kopi.
Hai Peng Kopitiam
3753 Jalan Sulaimani
Chukai
24000 Kemaman
Terengganu
Tel No: 09 - 859 7810
http://bernsy.blogspot.com/2008/03/haipeng-kopitiam-kemaman-terengganu.html
2. Restoran Tong Juan, Stuffed Crab(東源餐室)
Restoran Tong Juan is located at K117, Jalan Sulaimani, Chukai/Kemaman. Stuffed crab only a hit during the economy boom of late 80s and early 90s. The food become famous must be the fresh crabs available at the river in Kemaman.
http://food.malaysiamostwanted.com/venues/tong-juan-stuffed-crab-chukai-kemaman
Kuala Kemaman(甘马昔渔村)
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There is a small Malay coastal town called Kuala Kemaman, famous for satar. Coming from Cukai town, after the bridge over Sungai Kemaman, from Route 3 turning to a side road to the fishing village. Satar is a type of otak-otak or fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over a grill. This delicacy can also be found along road side stalls and food bazaars. This dish is cooked-wrapped in a banana leaf over a low-fire barbecue. Fish meat, shallots and ginger are pounded to a paste and wrapped in banana leaf before it is cooked. Satar is an interesting blend of succulent boneless fish marinated in spices, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over a flaming charcoal fire. Its sweet taste is tinged with delicate smell of the wrapping, making it a great appetizer and a healthy snack.
The satar is beautiful and delicious, which must not be missed. I can eat many sticks of Satar.... and still feel not enough.
Kampong Air Jernih(亚依仁耐村)
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The name Kampong Air Jernih is the Malay name for Clear Water Village. Kampong is Malay word for village, Air is Malay word for water, Jernih is Malay word for clear. Kampong Air Jernih is literally Clear Water Village. The Chinese used the Malay name for the village town.
Kampong Air Jernih(亚依仁耐村)is a new village located near to Kamasik town. It may be the only new village in Trengganu state. The village used to have 5,000 villagers, 96% Hainan Chinese. The villagers are mainly rubber small holders, planting rubber. Now only less than 1,000 villagers are left, mainly old people. There is one Chinese primary school(乐群小学) in the village town,the school was built and financed by the Hainanese villagers. The founders are 吕先传、史福章、许升俊、林明育. (该村的一座学校“乐群小学”的确是海南先贤创办，创办人为吕先传、史福章、许升俊、林明育等人，我们也会见了已故符国英先辈的后人，符曾是该村村长，1891年出生，1984年逝世，亨龄93岁。1959年受苏丹殿下封赐PPM勋衔，受封时所获得的证书是用爪夷文写成的，纸已发黄，不能借出，只好拍照带回隆展出。我们晚上在甘马挽过夜，甘马挽另一名称是朱盖).
http://pythonjoe.blogspot.com/2009/09/cycling-trip-to-kg-air-jerneh.html(A pilot's cycling trip to Air Jernih new village)
Chye Hin Railway
All the railways in Malaya are operated by KTMB; in the old days some mining companies operated private railway. One is the tin mine in Sungai Lembing, the other is Chye Hin Railway at Kemaman. All these railway lines had stopped service.
ISK(ISHIHARA SANGYO KAISHA, LTD.) purchased an iron and manganese mine in Kemaman on May, 1924.
The heavy dependence of steel-making in Japan on imported iron ore is extremely apparent. From the 1920s through the 1930s, imports accounted for 70 to 90 per cent of the nation's total iron ore needs (or 90 to 95 per cent, if imports from the overseas Japanese territories are also counted). The two biggest sources of Japan's iron ore imports were China and British Malaya, which were responsible for around 90 per cent, in some years almost 100 per cent, of total annual imports. China had been virtually the sole import source until 1920. Malaya emerged in 1921 as a new exporter to Japan, quickly expanded its importance as an iron ore supply source during the second half of the 1920s, and surpassed China in 1929. It retained its top position until 1940 (iron shipments from Malaya were discontinued in July 1941 as the US, UK and Netherlands froze Japanese assets in their territories).
The emergence of Malaya as the most important supplier to Japan is more evident from a breakdown of yearly iron ore deliveries to the Yawata Steel Works (the Imperial works, reorganized in 1934 into the Yawata Works of Japan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.). Deliveries of Malay iron ore, which started in fiscal 1920,* surpassed those of Chinese ore in yearly total as early as fiscal 1928. Underlying this change was the unique way in which the Imperial steel mill secured the supply of its iron ore needs.
The Kemaman (Machang Stawn) mine was handicapped, compared with the Sri Medan mine,Batu Pahat in that loading of its product onto ocean carriers was virtually impossible in the rainy season (from December till March) and because transport by a light railway was required for a distance of four to seven miles (six to eleven km) from the mine to Sungei Pinan, but it was generally similar to the Sri Medan mine in other aspects of mining and conveyance. For this reason, and also because it was far smaller than the Sri Medan mine, it does not deserve any more detailed description (the above-cited Sogyo Nijunen-shi, p. 46, and Sogyo Sanjugonen o Kaiko shite, p. 48). For further details, see "Trengganu Kemaman Mangan-ko Shisatsu Hokokusho" [An inspection report on the Kemaman manganese mine, Trengganu] (incorporated into Taisho Jusannen Nanyo Kogyo Koshi Kankei), the Nanyo Kogyo Koshi, "Nanyo Kogyo Koshi Kemaman Hokokusho" A report on Kemaman by the Nanyo Kogyo Koshi, 12 April 1925, "Marai Hanto Ma-chang Stawn Tetsuzan Mangan-ko" [The manganese ore of the Machang Stawn iron mine, Malay Peninsula] and "Trengganu Kozan Jogyo Hokoku-sho (Hachigatsu-matsu Genzai.)" [A situation report on the Trengganu mine (as of the end of August)] (all incorporated into Taisho Juyonen Nanyo Kogyo Koshi Kankei).
Mining operations ceased in December 1941, when the Japanese Army invaded Malaya. Railway equipment owned by ISK, including the locomotives, remained at Pasir Gajah after the start of the Occupation. It was moved, probably during 1943, to a bauxite mine in the vicinity of Batu Pahat (Johore); confirmation of the new location, and ultimate fate of the equipment and locomotives, has yet to be substantiated.
Chye Hin commenced operations during 1926, in the forests about ten miles north of Pasir Gajah. Their line started on the south side of the Sungei Ibok, at the northern edge of Kampong Peng Yak Yah, and ran north-west alongside the river. It was extended gradually, as logging operations moved deeper into the forest. By the time of the Japanese Occupation, the railway had attained a length of almost 30 miles, winding up the valley of the Sungei Ibok to reach Ulu Paka; at the edge of the Ulu Chukai Forest reserve. For the first few miles it remained on the south bank of the river; thereafter, it crossed and re‑crossed both the river and some of its tributaries. A loop, and two branches served logging sites distant from the main line around Pasir Belaram (about ten miles from Peng Yak Yah); it is likely that these are later additions, being shown on post‑War Ordnance Survey Maps, but not on the surviving pre‑War map still retained by the Company.
During the early years, the length of the railway was such that hand-operation was adequate for requirements. However, by 1936 there was a need for locomotives. The first was constructed by the Company in 1936. A four‑wheeled diesel was evolved by mounting a Newmans road lorry engine on a substantial frame. The transmission shaft was retained, and the cross-shaft at the rear was connected on each side, by means of cogs and chains, to the rear axle! As the chains are outside the frames and wheels, a very primitive appearance has resulted. The hand‑operated gear change from the road lorry was also retained in position, on the transmission shaft, just behind the bonnet. Although cumbersome, and not particularly powerful, this machine was a considerable improvement after hand‑operation of the line. It survived until cessation of the Chye Hin railway system, and remained derelict at Pasir Gajah during 1971. In 1937 an old steam locomotive was purchased second-hand from Singapore. It survived until the 1950's, but no records of its origin or identity have yet been traced.
1938 saw the arrival of a German 0‑4‑0 mine diesel, as well as the first Ruston & Hornsby 4‑wheel diesel. A second Ruston locomotive was delivered in the following year. The German locomotive was not really suited for work on a timber line, and was never used more than necessary. It survived derelict at Pasir Gajah during 1971. One of the Ruston locomotives was of 19hp rating, both being supplied through United Engineers, the Ruston agents for Malaya. Records of these locomotives have not been retained by the agents, and perusal of the builder's list has not provided positive identification. The two locomotives were sold during 1966.
During their occupation of Malaya, the Japanese took over the Chye Hin railway, and continued some logging operations. Company records were destroyed. The Chinese owner and his son were arrested; the father died in April 1945 as the result of years of torture and ill‑treatment at the hands of the Kempetai (Secret Police). However, the son survived to assume control of the Company at the beginning of 1946, subsequently remaining at work until his death in 1967.
A further Ruston was ordered in 1946, and delivered in the following year. As in the case of earlier locomotives from this builder, the identity has not been established. It too was sold during 1966.
Timber operations were disrupted by Communist terrorist activities during the early part of the "Emergency" in 1948. Later, the Security Forces imposed a ban on continuance of operations by the Company in the Peng Yak Yah area. However, new concessions were granted, in forests to the north-west of Pasir Gajah. During 1950, the rails and equipment were moved from Peng Yak Yah to the new site. The course of the old line was abandoned, and has since become completely over-grown; no accessible traces now remain.
At the time of the move, the bed of the former ISK line was still intact, although somewhat over-grown; it suited the needs of Chye Hin Ltd. The Company established its terminal on the west bank of Sungei Pinang, rather than take the railway across the river as the ISK had done before the Occupation. From the terminal the Chye Hin rails followed the course of the old ISK line west for some three miles, passing Pasir Gajah village. Near the Eleventh Mile Stone, at the west end of the village, the Chye Hin line diverged from the course of the old ISK line; it crossed the road on the level, and plunged into the forest where now the Company had its concessions. Once inside the forest, the course of the line tended to fluctuate, depending on the exact site of timber operations at any particular time.
Timber was conveyed on small four‑wheeled wooden frames that could be spaced under each trunk according to its size and length. These frames were connected by ropes, and ropes were also used to connect the loaded frames with the locomotive. A few 4‑wheel Hudson tipper wagons were retained, and used when any earth works were required for the line inside the forest.
Shortly after the move to Pasir Gajah, a further Ruston was ordered, again through the agents in Singapore; it was delivered during 1951. Unfortunately, the identity has not been substantiated. This locomotive was also sold during 1966.
In 1952 the Company constructed a second four wheel diesel. This had a transverse engine, with chain drive inside the frames. Although the engine had been removed, the remains of this locomotive were still at Pasir Gajah in 1971. During examination, it was noted that the axle boxes were marked 'MRTC'; the Manager was not able to say whether in fact the frame had originated from a locomotive built by Motor Rail.
The final locomotive to be purchased by Chye Hin arrived in 1963. This was Ruston & Hornsby 235676, which was acquired second-hand to provide spares to maintain the other Rustons. Records show that this locomotive was built new for the Ministry of Supply. In 1946, it was sold to A. Pollock, a dealer who seems to have supplied a number of locomotives to Malaya; however, details of its whereabouts until arrival at Pasir Gajah have not yet been established. It remained derelict in the out‑house during 1971.
In the early 1960's, another company attempted to resume mining operations on the former ISK sites at Machang Sa'Tahun. The site was cleared, and various new buildings were erected in 1963, but it did not affect Chye Hin or the railway; from the outset the new company used road transport for removal of the ore. After a short time, it was found that the ore was of a very low grade with only a limited market. Operations ceased in 1964 and the plant was sold by auction in the following year.
As will be realised, the road up the valley had been substantially improved by the time that operations to resume mining at Machang Sa'Tahun commenced. As a result, the economics of maintaining a railway for removal of timber were becoming unfavourable. By 1965 bulldozers and other plant suitable for use in the forest had been purchased; arrangements were made for removal of timber by road vehicles, and the railway ceased operation. Much of the rail equipment was sold, although four older locomotives, a quantity of rails, a few tippers and some timber-carrying frames were stored in the out‑house at Pasir Gajah in June 1971. A month later it was noted that the rails had been removed.
The warm, humid climate of Malaysia encourages rapid growth of vegetation. Much of the course of the railway has been obscured and in the forests very little trace now remains visible. The climate also encourages rust, so that it is now doubtful if any of the remaining equipment at Pasir Gajah will see further use.
(source: Extract from DIESELS IN THE OUT - HOUSE, http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/55/Out-House.htm)
Kemaman - the future
The proposed project by KTMB or Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad(Malayan Railway Limited) on Komuter Timur service(East Coast commuter train service) linking Kuala Terengganu to Kemaman and Kuantan by 2014.
There are many history, and heritage in Kemaman which have been lost; without proper record and preserved. The iron mining history of Dugun, Bukit Besi, Kemaman, where are the record now? Looking back, on the road toward development, have we lost something?......just like the Kemaman coffee which had lost its original taste.....
Related articles/websites:
1. 琼州人在丁加奴, http://www.hainannet.com/History/History-FromSouth-004.htm
2. 追寻海南先辈的踪迹 - 潇洋 , http://www.hainannet.com/DataStore/Hainan-SearchForElderHainans.htm
3. 甘馬挽食誌, by 林金城, http://www.got1mag.com/blogs/kimcherng.php/2008/05/15/-37
4. The prewar Japanese steel industry and iron ore resources in Southeast Asia : the development of Malaysian iron ore by the Ishihara Sangyo Company(1981), by Nagura, Bunji, Japanese Experience of the UNU Human and Social Development Programme series ; 33; http://d-arch.ide.go.jp/je_archive/english/society/wp_je_unu33.html
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Kemaman is a district in Terengganu, Malaysia. It is situated on the coast of the South China Sea. Kemaman district is bordered by Dungun to the north and the state of Pahang to the south. It is at the southest district of Trengannu state.
Kemaman is administered by the Kemaman Municipal Council. The town of Chukai(朱盖)is Kemaman's administrative and economic centre. Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is the Member of Parliament for Kemaman. He is also the Malaysia Youth and Sports Minister.
Kemaman is a fishing village town, and a transits town for the East Coast. Historically it was benefited from the spill off effect of iron mine activities in Kuala Dungun, Bukit Besi; and timber logging in the area. Iron mining however come to an end in the late 70s and early 80s. But after the opening of Kertih Petronas processing plant, the Kemaman Port, and the opening of Teluk Kalong Industrial Estate(where famous Pewaja is located). Kemaman saw the development come to the place. In the early 80s, the housing development by the Malay development company, Mohd Yusoff also bought some activities to the town. At that time the state assemblyman for Kemaman was the Mentri Besar the late Dato Seri Amar Diraja Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad from 1974 to 1999. This obviously have a beneficial effect on Kemaman. The opposition and folks were then saying, that the state revenue from the petroleum were all used on the development at the south Trengganu.
Another strange thing about Kemaman; they always calling the Chukai town, not Chukai but Kemaman, the name of the district. Are you going to Kemaman or Cukai?. We normally talk about Kemaman, and not Chukai.
Kemaman is called Kam-ma-sik(甘馬挽), similar to the name of the small Malay town Kemasik in the north, near the beach. Kemasik is located midway between Kerteh and Kijal. There is a beach called Kemasik Beach (Pantai Kemasik in Malay), which is the main attraction in the town. There is a Hananese new village nearby, Kampong Air Jernih. Is it because the earlier town center was located at Kemasik? the Chinese call Chukai town with the name "kan-ma-sik"?.... What is the meaning of Kemasik?.... Another confusion arise, be careful when you mention kam-ma-sik or Kemaman or Kemasik?.....
Kemaman Food
When you come to Kemaman, the first thing people will advise you, drink the Hainan coffee at Kemaman
1. Kedai kopi Hai Peng (海濱咖啡店)
Hai Peng coffee shop is the most famous coffee shop in the east coast, even before the WW2. It used to be at the timber shop, but now a modern 3 storey shop house was constructed. A small old coffee shop have become a modern cafe. Their famous specialties was the Hainan coffee, the toasted bread with kaya. In the old days, nmost people travel from West coast to East Coast, especially to Kuala Trengganu or Kota Bharu, will stop by at Kemaman to have a cup of Hainan coffee. This is mainly to rest for a while on their long journey. Kemaman is a town populated by Hainan Chinese, obviously Hainan coffee is famous. The uniqueness of the coffee shop in those day at the wooden shop, was there are many Malay patron too at the shop, and serving Nasi Dagang , Nasi Lemak, and Curry puff etc. Slowly the shop become popular and famous. The most famous and the best in east coast.
The current owner is the younger generation, I have bought some coffee powder back, it cannot compare with the coffee you drink in the coffee shop. May be for Hainan coffee, you need to drink when it is prepared with hot boiling water on the spot. The coffee powder is not of that class. It need the skill to recognize when the boiling water is fit for the coffee. It is the skill, not the name....... may be Hainan coffee is not Nescafe...need to drink on the spot at Kopitiam....
Note: The Chinese called coffee shop, kopitiam(ko-pi-tiam), kopi is coffee, and tiam is shop, now even Malay also call coffee shop as "kopitiam" or kedai kopi.
Hai Peng Kopitiam
3753 Jalan Sulaimani
Chukai
24000 Kemaman
Terengganu
Tel No: 09 - 859 7810
http://bernsy.blogspot.com/2008/03/haipeng-kopitiam-kemaman-terengganu.html
2. Restoran Tong Juan, Stuffed Crab(東源餐室)
Restoran Tong Juan is located at K117, Jalan Sulaimani, Chukai/Kemaman. Stuffed crab only a hit during the economy boom of late 80s and early 90s. The food become famous must be the fresh crabs available at the river in Kemaman.
http://food.malaysiamostwanted.com/venues/tong-juan-stuffed-crab-chukai-kemaman
Kuala Kemaman(甘马昔渔村)
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There is a small Malay coastal town called Kuala Kemaman, famous for satar. Coming from Cukai town, after the bridge over Sungai Kemaman, from Route 3 turning to a side road to the fishing village. Satar is a type of otak-otak or fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over a grill. This delicacy can also be found along road side stalls and food bazaars. This dish is cooked-wrapped in a banana leaf over a low-fire barbecue. Fish meat, shallots and ginger are pounded to a paste and wrapped in banana leaf before it is cooked. Satar is an interesting blend of succulent boneless fish marinated in spices, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over a flaming charcoal fire. Its sweet taste is tinged with delicate smell of the wrapping, making it a great appetizer and a healthy snack.
The satar is beautiful and delicious, which must not be missed. I can eat many sticks of Satar.... and still feel not enough.
Kampong Air Jernih(亚依仁耐村)
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The name Kampong Air Jernih is the Malay name for Clear Water Village. Kampong is Malay word for village, Air is Malay word for water, Jernih is Malay word for clear. Kampong Air Jernih is literally Clear Water Village. The Chinese used the Malay name for the village town.
Kampong Air Jernih(亚依仁耐村)is a new village located near to Kamasik town. It may be the only new village in Trengganu state. The village used to have 5,000 villagers, 96% Hainan Chinese. The villagers are mainly rubber small holders, planting rubber. Now only less than 1,000 villagers are left, mainly old people. There is one Chinese primary school(乐群小学) in the village town,the school was built and financed by the Hainanese villagers. The founders are 吕先传、史福章、许升俊、林明育. (该村的一座学校“乐群小学”的确是海南先贤创办，创办人为吕先传、史福章、许升俊、林明育等人，我们也会见了已故符国英先辈的后人，符曾是该村村长，1891年出生，1984年逝世，亨龄93岁。1959年受苏丹殿下封赐PPM勋衔，受封时所获得的证书是用爪夷文写成的，纸已发黄，不能借出，只好拍照带回隆展出。我们晚上在甘马挽过夜，甘马挽另一名称是朱盖).
http://pythonjoe.blogspot.com/2009/09/cycling-trip-to-kg-air-jerneh.html(A pilot's cycling trip to Air Jernih new village)
Chye Hin Railway
All the railways in Malaya are operated by KTMB; in the old days some mining companies operated private railway. One is the tin mine in Sungai Lembing, the other is Chye Hin Railway at Kemaman. All these railway lines had stopped service.
ISK(ISHIHARA SANGYO KAISHA, LTD.) purchased an iron and manganese mine in Kemaman on May, 1924.
The heavy dependence of steel-making in Japan on imported iron ore is extremely apparent. From the 1920s through the 1930s, imports accounted for 70 to 90 per cent of the nation's total iron ore needs (or 90 to 95 per cent, if imports from the overseas Japanese territories are also counted). The two biggest sources of Japan's iron ore imports were China and British Malaya, which were responsible for around 90 per cent, in some years almost 100 per cent, of total annual imports. China had been virtually the sole import source until 1920. Malaya emerged in 1921 as a new exporter to Japan, quickly expanded its importance as an iron ore supply source during the second half of the 1920s, and surpassed China in 1929. It retained its top position until 1940 (iron shipments from Malaya were discontinued in July 1941 as the US, UK and Netherlands froze Japanese assets in their territories).
The emergence of Malaya as the most important supplier to Japan is more evident from a breakdown of yearly iron ore deliveries to the Yawata Steel Works (the Imperial works, reorganized in 1934 into the Yawata Works of Japan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.). Deliveries of Malay iron ore, which started in fiscal 1920,* surpassed those of Chinese ore in yearly total as early as fiscal 1928. Underlying this change was the unique way in which the Imperial steel mill secured the supply of its iron ore needs.
The Kemaman (Machang Stawn) mine was handicapped, compared with the Sri Medan mine,Batu Pahat in that loading of its product onto ocean carriers was virtually impossible in the rainy season (from December till March) and because transport by a light railway was required for a distance of four to seven miles (six to eleven km) from the mine to Sungei Pinan, but it was generally similar to the Sri Medan mine in other aspects of mining and conveyance. For this reason, and also because it was far smaller than the Sri Medan mine, it does not deserve any more detailed description (the above-cited Sogyo Nijunen-shi, p. 46, and Sogyo Sanjugonen o Kaiko shite, p. 48). For further details, see "Trengganu Kemaman Mangan-ko Shisatsu Hokokusho" [An inspection report on the Kemaman manganese mine, Trengganu] (incorporated into Taisho Jusannen Nanyo Kogyo Koshi Kankei), the Nanyo Kogyo Koshi, "Nanyo Kogyo Koshi Kemaman Hokokusho" A report on Kemaman by the Nanyo Kogyo Koshi, 12 April 1925, "Marai Hanto Ma-chang Stawn Tetsuzan Mangan-ko" [The manganese ore of the Machang Stawn iron mine, Malay Peninsula] and "Trengganu Kozan Jogyo Hokoku-sho (Hachigatsu-matsu Genzai.)" [A situation report on the Trengganu mine (as of the end of August)] (all incorporated into Taisho Juyonen Nanyo Kogyo Koshi Kankei).
Mining operations ceased in December 1941, when the Japanese Army invaded Malaya. Railway equipment owned by ISK, including the locomotives, remained at Pasir Gajah after the start of the Occupation. It was moved, probably during 1943, to a bauxite mine in the vicinity of Batu Pahat (Johore); confirmation of the new location, and ultimate fate of the equipment and locomotives, has yet to be substantiated.
Chye Hin commenced operations during 1926, in the forests about ten miles north of Pasir Gajah. Their line started on the south side of the Sungei Ibok, at the northern edge of Kampong Peng Yak Yah, and ran north-west alongside the river. It was extended gradually, as logging operations moved deeper into the forest. By the time of the Japanese Occupation, the railway had attained a length of almost 30 miles, winding up the valley of the Sungei Ibok to reach Ulu Paka; at the edge of the Ulu Chukai Forest reserve. For the first few miles it remained on the south bank of the river; thereafter, it crossed and re‑crossed both the river and some of its tributaries. A loop, and two branches served logging sites distant from the main line around Pasir Belaram (about ten miles from Peng Yak Yah); it is likely that these are later additions, being shown on post‑War Ordnance Survey Maps, but not on the surviving pre‑War map still retained by the Company.
During the early years, the length of the railway was such that hand-operation was adequate for requirements. However, by 1936 there was a need for locomotives. The first was constructed by the Company in 1936. A four‑wheeled diesel was evolved by mounting a Newmans road lorry engine on a substantial frame. The transmission shaft was retained, and the cross-shaft at the rear was connected on each side, by means of cogs and chains, to the rear axle! As the chains are outside the frames and wheels, a very primitive appearance has resulted. The hand‑operated gear change from the road lorry was also retained in position, on the transmission shaft, just behind the bonnet. Although cumbersome, and not particularly powerful, this machine was a considerable improvement after hand‑operation of the line. It survived until cessation of the Chye Hin railway system, and remained derelict at Pasir Gajah during 1971. In 1937 an old steam locomotive was purchased second-hand from Singapore. It survived until the 1950's, but no records of its origin or identity have yet been traced.
1938 saw the arrival of a German 0‑4‑0 mine diesel, as well as the first Ruston & Hornsby 4‑wheel diesel. A second Ruston locomotive was delivered in the following year. The German locomotive was not really suited for work on a timber line, and was never used more than necessary. It survived derelict at Pasir Gajah during 1971. One of the Ruston locomotives was of 19hp rating, both being supplied through United Engineers, the Ruston agents for Malaya. Records of these locomotives have not been retained by the agents, and perusal of the builder's list has not provided positive identification. The two locomotives were sold during 1966.
During their occupation of Malaya, the Japanese took over the Chye Hin railway, and continued some logging operations. Company records were destroyed. The Chinese owner and his son were arrested; the father died in April 1945 as the result of years of torture and ill‑treatment at the hands of the Kempetai (Secret Police). However, the son survived to assume control of the Company at the beginning of 1946, subsequently remaining at work until his death in 1967.
A further Ruston was ordered in 1946, and delivered in the following year. As in the case of earlier locomotives from this builder, the identity has not been established. It too was sold during 1966.
Timber operations were disrupted by Communist terrorist activities during the early part of the "Emergency" in 1948. Later, the Security Forces imposed a ban on continuance of operations by the Company in the Peng Yak Yah area. However, new concessions were granted, in forests to the north-west of Pasir Gajah. During 1950, the rails and equipment were moved from Peng Yak Yah to the new site. The course of the old line was abandoned, and has since become completely over-grown; no accessible traces now remain.
At the time of the move, the bed of the former ISK line was still intact, although somewhat over-grown; it suited the needs of Chye Hin Ltd. The Company established its terminal on the west bank of Sungei Pinang, rather than take the railway across the river as the ISK had done before the Occupation. From the terminal the Chye Hin rails followed the course of the old ISK line west for some three miles, passing Pasir Gajah village. Near the Eleventh Mile Stone, at the west end of the village, the Chye Hin line diverged from the course of the old ISK line; it crossed the road on the level, and plunged into the forest where now the Company had its concessions. Once inside the forest, the course of the line tended to fluctuate, depending on the exact site of timber operations at any particular time.
Timber was conveyed on small four‑wheeled wooden frames that could be spaced under each trunk according to its size and length. These frames were connected by ropes, and ropes were also used to connect the loaded frames with the locomotive. A few 4‑wheel Hudson tipper wagons were retained, and used when any earth works were required for the line inside the forest.
Shortly after the move to Pasir Gajah, a further Ruston was ordered, again through the agents in Singapore; it was delivered during 1951. Unfortunately, the identity has not been substantiated. This locomotive was also sold during 1966.
In 1952 the Company constructed a second four wheel diesel. This had a transverse engine, with chain drive inside the frames. Although the engine had been removed, the remains of this locomotive were still at Pasir Gajah in 1971. During examination, it was noted that the axle boxes were marked 'MRTC'; the Manager was not able to say whether in fact the frame had originated from a locomotive built by Motor Rail.
The final locomotive to be purchased by Chye Hin arrived in 1963. This was Ruston & Hornsby 235676, which was acquired second-hand to provide spares to maintain the other Rustons. Records show that this locomotive was built new for the Ministry of Supply. In 1946, it was sold to A. Pollock, a dealer who seems to have supplied a number of locomotives to Malaya; however, details of its whereabouts until arrival at Pasir Gajah have not yet been established. It remained derelict in the out‑house during 1971.
In the early 1960's, another company attempted to resume mining operations on the former ISK sites at Machang Sa'Tahun. The site was cleared, and various new buildings were erected in 1963, but it did not affect Chye Hin or the railway; from the outset the new company used road transport for removal of the ore. After a short time, it was found that the ore was of a very low grade with only a limited market. Operations ceased in 1964 and the plant was sold by auction in the following year.
As will be realised, the road up the valley had been substantially improved by the time that operations to resume mining at Machang Sa'Tahun commenced. As a result, the economics of maintaining a railway for removal of timber were becoming unfavourable. By 1965 bulldozers and other plant suitable for use in the forest had been purchased; arrangements were made for removal of timber by road vehicles, and the railway ceased operation. Much of the rail equipment was sold, although four older locomotives, a quantity of rails, a few tippers and some timber-carrying frames were stored in the out‑house at Pasir Gajah in June 1971. A month later it was noted that the rails had been removed.
The warm, humid climate of Malaysia encourages rapid growth of vegetation. Much of the course of the railway has been obscured and in the forests very little trace now remains visible. The climate also encourages rust, so that it is now doubtful if any of the remaining equipment at Pasir Gajah will see further use.
(source: Extract from DIESELS IN THE OUT - HOUSE, http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/55/Out-House.htm)
Kemaman - the future
The proposed project by KTMB or Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad(Malayan Railway Limited) on Komuter Timur service(East Coast commuter train service) linking Kuala Terengganu to Kemaman and Kuantan by 2014.
There are many history, and heritage in Kemaman which have been lost; without proper record and preserved. The iron mining history of Dugun, Bukit Besi, Kemaman, where are the record now? Looking back, on the road toward development, have we lost something?......just like the Kemaman coffee which had lost its original taste.....
Related articles/websites:
1. 琼州人在丁加奴, http://www.hainannet.com/History/History-FromSouth-004.htm
2. 追寻海南先辈的踪迹 - 潇洋 , http://www.hainannet.com/DataStore/Hainan-SearchForElderHainans.htm
3. 甘馬挽食誌, by 林金城, http://www.got1mag.com/blogs/kimcherng.php/2008/05/15/-37
4. The prewar Japanese steel industry and iron ore resources in Southeast Asia : the development of Malaysian iron ore by the Ishihara Sangyo Company(1981), by Nagura, Bunji, Japanese Experience of the UNU Human and Social Development Programme series ; 33; http://d-arch.ide.go.jp/je_archive/english/society/wp_je_unu33.html
Gambang(甘孟), Pahang
Gambang is the 2nd tin mining town in Pahang that I know, which was facing the same fate as Sungai Lembing. The tin mining was abandoned, but unlike Sungei Lembing it is locate close to the state capital, Kuantan. The people in Gambang still can depend on their rubber plantation, fruit orchard; and some of the residents are able find job in Kuantan without relocation. The town still maintain some activities, and going on with daily life, there is not much diaspora of resident like Sungai Lembing.
When I left Kuantan, the early 2000. Gambang still a small quiet town, without much development. The local business was depended on the local residents and settlers from nearby Felda oil palm settlements. The MEC city, the pet project by the former Dr M was failed and abandoned. Later on the place was taken over by University of Pahang. The theme park show some earth movement, and sign board was set up; but no further activities. However the completion of East Coast Highway later on, did provide some boost to the town.
Gambang is famous for its food; especially dishes cooked from meat of wild jungle animals; many travellers stopped by for lunch or dinner while on the way to KL. During the durian season, you can get some fruits from the nearby orchard and Felda settlement. There is also a famous singing group in Gambang, which is popular in Pahang area. They are most needed for stage show during the Ghost Festival, in the 7th month of lunar calendar. And they said Gambang produced fair beautiful girls like Sungai Lembibg and Ipoh. Some said that is because they drink water that contain minerals like other mining towns.
The recently opened Bukit Gambang Water park, using the ex-mining site will surely provide some life to Gambang town, it will generate business activities to the small town.
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Gambang is a town in Pahang, Malaysia. It is about 30 km from the state capital, Kuantan. It is located at a junction between Federal route Jkr-ft2.png, MEC Highway or Lebuhraya MEC (Federal route Jkr-ft222.png) and Tun Razak Highway (Federal route Jkr-ft12.png).
Gambang is an ex-mining town. Most of the residents in the town are Chinese Hakka people. The town is located at the main road between Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur. If you travel from Kl to Gambang, there is a row of shop houses at the left, and market was at the right. There are only few shop houses at the right after the market. The new village is up the hill slop on the left after the shop houses. The Chinese primary school, SJK(C)Gambang(甘孟国民型华文小学) are there. Not far down the street to Kuantan, there is a temple , then a government clinic. After that you arrived at the cross road, on the right it will lead you to Segamat , Johore. On the left following the Lebuhraya MEC is the MEC city, The Malaysia Electric Corporation(来西亚国产电器集团有限公司 or MEC) town (Bandar MEC) and electrical appliances manufacturing factory is located here. It is accessible via the Gambang Interchange of the East Coast Expressway (ECE) Mes-e8.png. Gambang is also the location of Universiti Malaysia Pahang's temporary campus(formerly known as KUKTeM). Going straight the road can lead to Kuantan town,or through East Coast Highway(东海岸高速公路) to Kemaman, Trengganu.
The name
The name Gambang is a Malay term for a musical instrument called gambang,or should properly called a gambang kayu ('wooden gambang') is a xylophone-like instrument used among peoples of Indonesia and the southern Philippines in gamelan and kulintang, with wooden bars as opposed to the metallic ones of the more typical metallophones in a gamelan. A largely obsolete instrument, the gambang gangsa, is a similar instrument made with metal bars. Why the town was named after musical instrument?.
I do not know is it related to the Orang Asli, there is orang asli villages in nearby Lake Cini or Tasik cini, a lake near the Pahang River, inhabited by Jakun branch of the Orang Asli. The 12,565 acres (5,026 hectares) Tasik Chini is the second largest fresh water lake in Malaysia and is made up of a series of 12 interconnecting lakes. Chini River, which drains from the lake, flows into Pahang River. (For further info of Tasik Cini, visit http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ML_chini.htm.). Is it named after the musical instrument used by the Jakun?
Loke Yew & Tin Mining
Loke Yew was the owner of tin mine at Sungai Belat, about 2 km from Gambang town. He is the one that built the Kuantan port, may be jetty, obviously not today's Kuantan Port. The jetty is located at Kuantan river, may be just opposite the Kuantan hospital. Kuantan jetty is 5 km from Sungai Belat, at those day to reach Sungai Belat you need to take sampan( a small boat) from Kuantan jetty to Sungai Belat tin mine, after landed at the river bank, it still need to walk 25km through jungle path to the tin mine. Later on bicycle was used. Loke Yew later open a road from Kuantan to Gambang and Kuala Belat. A bus company was later opened by him to operate service between the two places. Loke Yew was the largest shareholder in Pahang Motor Car Service, owned shares in the Raub Straits Trading Company. It was reported that Loke Yew was the main person behind the development of Kuantan, Bentong and Gambang.
Biography of Loke Yew
Loke Yew (陸佑), CMG, LL.D. (1845-1917) was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era. He played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur.
His actual name was Wong Loke Yew and born of humble parentage in the village of Dong Jiang in the district of Heshan(鹤山), in the Guangdong Province of China in 1845. He was the only son in a family of four children, and spent his childhood working as a farm hand before he decided to set sail to Malaya to seek his fortune. He was only 13 years old then. The young Wong dropped his surname Wong upon arriving in Singapore, and changed his middle name to 陸(Lù) as he thought the new name sounded more auspicious. His relatives recommended him for his first job at Kwong Man General Store, a provision shop in Market Street and earned $20 a month. The young Loke scrimped and managed to save $99 after 4 years of hard work. With the money, he started his own provision store called Tong Hing Loong(興隆號). His business gradually grew and Loke left his staff in charge of the store while he traveled to northern Malaya, particularly Perak to explore the tin mining business
The ambitious young man took great risks in his new venture in Perak, and lost nearly $60,000 in his first four years. But he persisted in keeping the business going until he found a rich tin deposit in Kelian Bahru in Perak. His tin-mining business suddenly took an upswing, and Loke then went on to acquire and own many more tin mines, and rubber and coconut plantations in Perak. He also ventured into supplying provisions to British troops during the Perak War, running a pawnbroking business, and even obtained monopoly for liquor sales, gambling licences and other privileges from the colonial government. One of the tin mine was at Sungai Belat, Pahang, about 2 km from Gambang town.
Loke Yew died on 24 February 1917 from malaria and his funeral was one of the grandest of those times. He was buried at Hawthornden Estate (a rubber estate he owned), presently close to where army quarters of the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) are located, and a bronze statue of him was erected in front of his grave. Loke Yew also contributed to the Chinese communities in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Loke Yew left an estate estimated at over ₤10 million a business empire composed of rubber plantations, factories and banks(Note: Kwaong Yik Bank open in July 1915,which later become subsidiary of Malayan Banking). Jalan Loke Yew in Kuala Lumpur and Bentong are named after him.
(extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loke_Yew)
History of Gambang
1800s - Late 1800s, discovery of tin ore in Sungai Bela.
1900- Fire destroyed the old town Sungai Bela. The fire also resulted in some villagers turned to agriculture, particularly rubber planting. Some of them started paddy planting in Sri Jaya(斯裡再也), 3 hours of bicycling from Gambang.
1911- The new town was developed at Gambang after fire destroyed the old town at Sungai Belat. The current venue of University Malaysia Pahang . Today there are still some mining pool remained in the area. The tin mining activities and businesses slowly moved to the new town.
1914- The grandest occasion of Gambang history is when in 1914; the opening of a Pei Ying Chinese primary school(培英學校), many personalities from KL, Kuantan, and Gambang attended the function.
1917 - Loke Yew died on 24 February 1917 from malaria
1941 - Japanese occupation
1980s - Tine mining declined
1997- MEC city was opened by Dr Mahatir on 17-3-1997. It was the pet project of the former Prime Minister. The project was faced with failure.
2002 - University Malaysia Pahang
2009 - Bukit Gambang Water Park
Bukit Gambang Resort City
Bukit Gambang Resort City is to be the first and largest water park resort city in the East Coast of Malaysia. Bukit Gambang Water Park opens its door on 22 July 2009.
Bukit Gambang Water Park spans across 60 acres offering non-stop fun and exceitment! Amongst the unique and fascinating attractions include a man-made 20-acre lake with breathtaking views and which is also suitable for a wide variety of fun water sports. Check out the 25,000 sq ft wave pool that will surely offer a whale of a time! Not to mention the family river raft rides and a 6-lane racer slides with a timing scoreboard
With the Children Fantasy Island ("penguin island"), special Kidz Zone, the Adventurous Typhoon River as well as a 1 kilometer long man-made sandy beach, neverending fun and merriment awaits for the young and young at heart!
Related websites:
http://www.sentoria.com.my/
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/12/2/southneast/5164339&sec=southneast
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/31/business/18413505&sec=business
When I left Kuantan, the early 2000. Gambang still a small quiet town, without much development. The local business was depended on the local residents and settlers from nearby Felda oil palm settlements. The MEC city, the pet project by the former Dr M was failed and abandoned. Later on the place was taken over by University of Pahang. The theme park show some earth movement, and sign board was set up; but no further activities. However the completion of East Coast Highway later on, did provide some boost to the town.
Gambang is famous for its food; especially dishes cooked from meat of wild jungle animals; many travellers stopped by for lunch or dinner while on the way to KL. During the durian season, you can get some fruits from the nearby orchard and Felda settlement. There is also a famous singing group in Gambang, which is popular in Pahang area. They are most needed for stage show during the Ghost Festival, in the 7th month of lunar calendar. And they said Gambang produced fair beautiful girls like Sungai Lembibg and Ipoh. Some said that is because they drink water that contain minerals like other mining towns.
The recently opened Bukit Gambang Water park, using the ex-mining site will surely provide some life to Gambang town, it will generate business activities to the small town.
View Larger Map
Gambang is a town in Pahang, Malaysia. It is about 30 km from the state capital, Kuantan. It is located at a junction between Federal route Jkr-ft2.png, MEC Highway or Lebuhraya MEC (Federal route Jkr-ft222.png) and Tun Razak Highway (Federal route Jkr-ft12.png).
Gambang is an ex-mining town. Most of the residents in the town are Chinese Hakka people. The town is located at the main road between Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur. If you travel from Kl to Gambang, there is a row of shop houses at the left, and market was at the right. There are only few shop houses at the right after the market. The new village is up the hill slop on the left after the shop houses. The Chinese primary school, SJK(C)Gambang(甘孟国民型华文小学) are there. Not far down the street to Kuantan, there is a temple , then a government clinic. After that you arrived at the cross road, on the right it will lead you to Segamat , Johore. On the left following the Lebuhraya MEC is the MEC city, The Malaysia Electric Corporation(来西亚国产电器集团有限公司 or MEC) town (Bandar MEC) and electrical appliances manufacturing factory is located here. It is accessible via the Gambang Interchange of the East Coast Expressway (ECE) Mes-e8.png. Gambang is also the location of Universiti Malaysia Pahang's temporary campus(formerly known as KUKTeM). Going straight the road can lead to Kuantan town,or through East Coast Highway(东海岸高速公路) to Kemaman, Trengganu.
The name
The name Gambang is a Malay term for a musical instrument called gambang,or should properly called a gambang kayu ('wooden gambang') is a xylophone-like instrument used among peoples of Indonesia and the southern Philippines in gamelan and kulintang, with wooden bars as opposed to the metallic ones of the more typical metallophones in a gamelan. A largely obsolete instrument, the gambang gangsa, is a similar instrument made with metal bars. Why the town was named after musical instrument?.
I do not know is it related to the Orang Asli, there is orang asli villages in nearby Lake Cini or Tasik cini, a lake near the Pahang River, inhabited by Jakun branch of the Orang Asli. The 12,565 acres (5,026 hectares) Tasik Chini is the second largest fresh water lake in Malaysia and is made up of a series of 12 interconnecting lakes. Chini River, which drains from the lake, flows into Pahang River. (For further info of Tasik Cini, visit http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ML_chini.htm.). Is it named after the musical instrument used by the Jakun?
Loke Yew & Tin Mining
Loke Yew was the owner of tin mine at Sungai Belat, about 2 km from Gambang town. He is the one that built the Kuantan port, may be jetty, obviously not today's Kuantan Port. The jetty is located at Kuantan river, may be just opposite the Kuantan hospital. Kuantan jetty is 5 km from Sungai Belat, at those day to reach Sungai Belat you need to take sampan( a small boat) from Kuantan jetty to Sungai Belat tin mine, after landed at the river bank, it still need to walk 25km through jungle path to the tin mine. Later on bicycle was used. Loke Yew later open a road from Kuantan to Gambang and Kuala Belat. A bus company was later opened by him to operate service between the two places. Loke Yew was the largest shareholder in Pahang Motor Car Service, owned shares in the Raub Straits Trading Company. It was reported that Loke Yew was the main person behind the development of Kuantan, Bentong and Gambang.
Biography of Loke Yew
Loke Yew (陸佑), CMG, LL.D. (1845-1917) was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era. He played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur.
His actual name was Wong Loke Yew and born of humble parentage in the village of Dong Jiang in the district of Heshan(鹤山), in the Guangdong Province of China in 1845. He was the only son in a family of four children, and spent his childhood working as a farm hand before he decided to set sail to Malaya to seek his fortune. He was only 13 years old then. The young Wong dropped his surname Wong upon arriving in Singapore, and changed his middle name to 陸(Lù) as he thought the new name sounded more auspicious. His relatives recommended him for his first job at Kwong Man General Store, a provision shop in Market Street and earned $20 a month. The young Loke scrimped and managed to save $99 after 4 years of hard work. With the money, he started his own provision store called Tong Hing Loong(興隆號). His business gradually grew and Loke left his staff in charge of the store while he traveled to northern Malaya, particularly Perak to explore the tin mining business
The ambitious young man took great risks in his new venture in Perak, and lost nearly $60,000 in his first four years. But he persisted in keeping the business going until he found a rich tin deposit in Kelian Bahru in Perak. His tin-mining business suddenly took an upswing, and Loke then went on to acquire and own many more tin mines, and rubber and coconut plantations in Perak. He also ventured into supplying provisions to British troops during the Perak War, running a pawnbroking business, and even obtained monopoly for liquor sales, gambling licences and other privileges from the colonial government. One of the tin mine was at Sungai Belat, Pahang, about 2 km from Gambang town.
Loke Yew died on 24 February 1917 from malaria and his funeral was one of the grandest of those times. He was buried at Hawthornden Estate (a rubber estate he owned), presently close to where army quarters of the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) are located, and a bronze statue of him was erected in front of his grave. Loke Yew also contributed to the Chinese communities in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Loke Yew left an estate estimated at over ₤10 million a business empire composed of rubber plantations, factories and banks(Note: Kwaong Yik Bank open in July 1915,which later become subsidiary of Malayan Banking). Jalan Loke Yew in Kuala Lumpur and Bentong are named after him.
(extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loke_Yew)
History of Gambang
1800s - Late 1800s, discovery of tin ore in Sungai Bela.
1900- Fire destroyed the old town Sungai Bela. The fire also resulted in some villagers turned to agriculture, particularly rubber planting. Some of them started paddy planting in Sri Jaya(斯裡再也), 3 hours of bicycling from Gambang.
1911- The new town was developed at Gambang after fire destroyed the old town at Sungai Belat. The current venue of University Malaysia Pahang . Today there are still some mining pool remained in the area. The tin mining activities and businesses slowly moved to the new town.
1914- The grandest occasion of Gambang history is when in 1914; the opening of a Pei Ying Chinese primary school(培英學校), many personalities from KL, Kuantan, and Gambang attended the function.
1917 - Loke Yew died on 24 February 1917 from malaria
1941 - Japanese occupation
1980s - Tine mining declined
1997- MEC city was opened by Dr Mahatir on 17-3-1997. It was the pet project of the former Prime Minister. The project was faced with failure.
2002 - University Malaysia Pahang
2009 - Bukit Gambang Water Park
Bukit Gambang Resort City
Bukit Gambang Resort City is to be the first and largest water park resort city in the East Coast of Malaysia. Bukit Gambang Water Park opens its door on 22 July 2009.
Bukit Gambang Water Park spans across 60 acres offering non-stop fun and exceitment! Amongst the unique and fascinating attractions include a man-made 20-acre lake with breathtaking views and which is also suitable for a wide variety of fun water sports. Check out the 25,000 sq ft wave pool that will surely offer a whale of a time! Not to mention the family river raft rides and a 6-lane racer slides with a timing scoreboard
With the Children Fantasy Island ("penguin island"), special Kidz Zone, the Adventurous Typhoon River as well as a 1 kilometer long man-made sandy beach, neverending fun and merriment awaits for the young and young at heart!
Related websites:
http://www.sentoria.com.my/
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/12/2/southneast/5164339&sec=southneast
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/31/business/18413505&sec=business
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