My Acknowledgments and Parting Words

I have never intended to write this memoir, so I never kept any records on events that happened or buildings that took shape in Jalan Kampong Cina. I have to depend on my memories and rely on others for information. It became very frustrating when the relevant Government agencies are unable to throw any lights on your enquiries and giving you a wild goose chase by referring you from one section to another. Either the perple in charge are too lazy to search for the records or they are too ignorant. The worst was my enquiry regarding public utility implemented by the Government to Kuala Terengganu Town. I was referred to one senior administration officer who must have overheard of my intention, and before I could reach his desk he arrogantly snap at me. I just turn my back and walked off. This gave a very bad impression of the type of civil servants, even though it is now privatised..

Even the town folks whom I approached (if I don`t know them, I wouldn`t have done so), just gave me an empty stares and passed irritating remarks, as though I was trying to pry and claim their ancestral properties. But there are always someone who are helpful, especially Mr.Tan Kian Pheng who gave me the name and year of the sinking of her grandfather`s cargo ship and also the year of his grandfather`s demise;  and Ah Mek of CHEE SENG sundry shop, who kept a record of the great fire of 1983 and willingly shared with me. I owe them my appreciations.

I must also record my thanks and appreciations to Y. BHG. DATO` WEE CHENG HUAT and MR. GAN YEW CHEW for sharing their life stories with me, and also to MR. TOH HOCK CHIN and MR. TAN TENG CHAW and his brother, TENG HOON for permitting me to include their late fathers` stories in my memoirs.

To know the date of the completion of Pasar Kedai Payang, I had to go round and enquired from the stall owners, such as how long they had being operating, or when they started their business, or whether they are the original stall owners. From all those information, I can roughly deduce the year (though not the month) when the market was completed. So is the same with the constructions of Jalan Kampong Tiong and its glutton square.

Whenever I have the chance, I would stroll down Jalan Kampong Cina early in the morning, looking at the architectural beauties of the old buildings, feeling the cool breeze and calmness of  early morning Chinatown. It rejuvenate me and the feeling I have is beyond descriptions. As age is catching up, my memories might not be able to recall all and might have miss certain events. As all that I wrote are from my own memory and might differ from others. I pray that Kampong Cina will remain as it is for generations to come.  

Lorong Hajil Jamil & Jalan Kampong Tiong

There are a lot of mentions in the records regarding Lorong Haji Jamil. It is actually a back lane for Jalan Kampong Cina. Since the day I started schoolings in 1949, from Ah Hwa Lorong (Tau Kay Wee Sin Hee Lane), I passed through this back lane and came out at Jalan Banggol to go to Chung Hwa Wei Sin School in Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin. This lane connects Jalan Banggol to Jalan Kampong Cina through the side lane of Meng Huat Trading. It was a narrow dirt track then. In  1950`s it was tarred with drains on both sides and this Lorong Haji Jamil is about 15 ft. wide. There are a couple of sharp corners making it difficult for cargo vehicles or busses to negotiate.

In mid 1970`s, a new road was constructed connecting Kampong Cina through the side lane of Meng Huat Trading straight to Jalan Banggol. As it is going to be a proper road, two small brick houses by the side of the Ho Ann Keong and the 2 street stalls selling drinks had to make way for a wider road. Of the two bricks houses, one belonged to a tailor (whose daughter sells local delicacies in the morning and newspaper at No. 203) and another one was that of Ah Phong fried mee; one of the drink stall was that of Sin Bu, father of Bu Wan coffee stall in Kampong Tiong and another one belonged to Ah Pek Lau, father of  Lee Leng Seng of Public Works Department.  Many wooden houses of the village  had to be sacrified. One of the houses was that of Po Mek Lor, a local delicacies maker and seller. Her great-grandson owns one of the 2 ornamented electric lamps shops near Chinese Primary School in Jalan Sultan Mohamad.

When Jalan Kampong Tiong was completed in early 1980`s. a glutton square with parking lots was build. There are two rows of stalls, one row for Muslim foods and another row for non-Muslim. Every morning, few shades are put up, by the side of the drain, for the sale of local delicacies. During the week-ends, the travelling businesses vans would put up canopies to display their goods, such as kitchen wares and ladies` clothing. By 11.00 am. this parking lots will be cleared of morning businesses. By the side of the Jalan Kampong Tiong in the parking compound is the over century old famous “Low Tiey” well. Another famous well was the one behind Sultana cinema known as `Hong Guan` well. Many households which did not have wells of their own, especially the 3 rows of wooden houses standing on stilts over the river bed near the bridge, depended on those 2 wells for their daily needs of water.  The individual who carried the water to the household would charge 20 cents for every `pikul`. Each `pikul` consisted of two 4 gallons (16 litres) tin containers filled with water hanging on both ends of 5 foot long pole and carried across the shoulder. Once the supply of pipe water by the Government was implemented in the 1950`s, those 2 wells were no more utilised. `Low Tiey` well is preserved for historical and heritage purpose. The `Hong Guan` well was covered up when Sultana cinema was demolished to turn into The Store parking lots. If I am not mistaken, the parking lots guard house is the spot where the Hong Guan well was. `Low Tiey` well was dig by Low Tiey Lim Keng Hoon (1820-1882) in 1875. `Low Tiey` was actually the title bestowed to the leader of Hokkien community in those days. Nothing much is known of `Hong Guan` well, except that Hong Guan was the name of a very rich individual who owned the land.

The area along Jalan Kampong Tiong 2 was a squatter area. There was a lady known as `Po Chai Sim` with a substantial piece of land which she cultivated `sayour rampai` (a variety of different edible plants), the mixture of their leaves together with mash grill fish are used for cooking porridge – `bubur lambut` or spicy `sayour rampai` soup. Talking of these 2 dishes, I always think of my dear mother. When I was small, I used to accompanied her to `Po Chai Sim`s place to buy `sayour rampai`. My mother always warned me not to touch any plant of this `po`. She was very grumpy and always complained of headache which I think could be the cause leading to her behaviour. Due to obvious reason, she passed her property to her daughter. When Jalan Kampong Tiong 2 was open in early 1980`s, the land of `Po Chai Sim` became a gold mine as the road pass in front of her land. A row of 5 shop houses of 4 stories high was built and the daughter/grand-daughter of the old lady had the share of shop houses. WAN HAI coffee shop and CLINIC KOH are among the occupants of the houses.

The electric supply to the Town was in early 1950`s. In the initial stage, the supply was for 12 hours only during the night.

The Chinese Medicine Shops

There were 3 medicine shops and they were located at the `phor` section. The one nearest the bridge house No. 109, THYE HO, was a very successful Chinese `sinseh` who managed to send all his children, 4 boys and a girl, to further their studies in Australia and all of them are  Australian citizen now. He remarried when his old wife passed away and the only son of the young wife was educated in Australia. The young wife moved to other state where the son is employed after the old `sinseh` passed away.  Few doors away at house No. 117 was another Chinese `sinseh`, THYE ANN, and also a successful one. But in later stage, he became more indulgence in pigeons and neglected his business. The whole shop was full of pigeon droppings and business dropped. He was in poor health before he passed away. One of the daughters married an English teacher, another one was a hospital matron, and few other daughters and a son. They all moved to west coast. Another one was further up the road at house No. 167 was ENG SENG CHAN. When the old `sinseh` passed away, nobody took over his place. The 2 elder sons ran the business, the 3^rd. son went to Singapore to train as Chinese `sinseh` but never came back to the shop. The eldest brother later moved to Tanjong area to open his own Chinese medicine shop. The one at No.167 later fold up and the shop is now occupied by a island resort company. The one near the market POH ANN came into the picture sometime in 1970` or early 1980`s and occupied the ancestral home of Y. BHG. Dato` Teo Eng Joo, next to YONG HWA original shop. POH ANN moved to present shop when the earlier shop was demolished for multi-storey parking lots. Another one is opposite glutton square, LEE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDECINE CENTRE, at the lane leading to The Store parking lots. The shop is not in a very `attractive` place, next to Hokkien/Kuantun funeral parlour.

The Commercial Banks in China Town

Before 1960, there was only on commercial bank in Town, i.c. Mercantile Bank, and is now known as HSBC (Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Corp). In early 1960`s, Malayan Banking and Chartered Bank open their branches in Kuala Terengganu. Both these banks operated from Jalan Kampong Cina, as other parts of the Town were not develop yet for commercial purposes.

THE MALAYAN BANKING opened its branch from a house, No. 162, which was formally Kew Leong Aerated Water Factory. The flavour then was `orange` only. Due to certain circumstances, the building fell into the hand of another person. The factory owner, a very nice old man was broken hearted and passed away soon after. When UMNO building in Jalan Sultan Ismail was completed in late 1960`s, the Bank shifted in until its own building across the road was ready in 1981.

THE CHARTERED BANK opened its branch in 1961, and was housed in old Kuang Tung Association, just opposite  old Hokkien Huay Kuan building at the entrance of Jalan Kampong Cina. In late 1960`s, it moved to its own building in Jalan Sultan Ismail, but the branch in Kuala Terengganu closed down in 2009. The building is now occupied by Hong Leong Islamic Bank and OSK Investment Bank.

Commercial Hubs

Jalan Kampong China was the commercial hubs of the Town before  Jalan Banggol and Jalan Paya Bunga (now Sultan Ismail) were developed in early 1960`s for commercial use. From the bridge down to the market, `pasat` section, was the textile and daily used products area. During the Holy Month of Ramadhan, when the dry market in Tanjong which opened only during day time, after Isyak we can see sea of people converged to this small section of China Town to do their shopping until midnights. At any other time, it was normal to see shops in this sections of China Town closed at 9 – 10pm. In 1960`s, shops began to come up in Jalan Banggol and Jalan Sultan Ismail, and the opening of a couple of shopping complex, the `pasat` section of Jalan Kampong Cina became a dead town, by 6 in the evening, all shops were already closed  except for a couple of `batik` sellers.

From the bridge up to the `phor` section, was the provisions and pork selling area Only local `Kampong` fowls were available then. So eating chickens was a rare occasion, only during festive seasons or special occasion like `chor kee` (prayer in remembrance to the ancestral deaths). Commercial broiler chickens only appeared in the markets in mid 1960`s. There were 3 Chinese medicine shops which had already close down.. Before the timber booms of 1970`s, that section of Jalan Kampong Cina was very quiet. As for breakfast, there was not much choice. Other than a couple of coffee shops,  there were 2 shops selling `chok` - chicken or pork porridge and one street stall at the Teck Beng Lorong selling `Bakutteh`. During the timber boons of 1970`s, there was an influx of outsiders to Kuala Terengganu. More `bakuteh` shops were open and `mee` soup stalls opened in the existing coffee shops too.

Before 1980`s, there was a glutton square at the `hai kuan phor`, it was on the spot where the end section of Sri Malaysia Hotel is. The square had 2 rows of stalls, total about 12 in number, mostly occupied by Malay food sellers. There were 2 Chinese food stalls at the far end, one an economic food (chap fun) stall and the other a fry mee stall. The middle part of the Hotel was the taxi stands and the parking section of the Hotel was the SHELL petrol/service station – owned by Teck Siang. Those stall owners in that glutton square moved to Kampong Tiong glutton square when it opened in 1982. 

Timber booms did not last very long and the China Town seem to be stagnant until in late 1970`s or early 1980`s, one young man, MR. YAP CHUAN BIN, had a vision to develop Redang Island into tourist playground, because of its scenic  beauties and rich marine habitats for snorkel divers.  He started by setting up camps and organised trips to the Island. News spread of the beauties of the Island and his promotions spread to the West Coast. Later, he set up a partnership with a very rich friend and a contact from West Coast to build a Resort. The business was thriving and soon others followed suit and the whole Island was mushroom with resorts. Since then, from the month of March to October, every week-end and school holidays, early in the mornings, busses load of tourists arrived  in `phor` section of China Town, giving a rousing business to the morning stalls of Kampong Tiong glutton square, before taking a ferry or boat rides to the Island. Some of them in their shorts and inner clothing ready to deep in the crystal clear warm water of Redang Island.

After more than 25 years of going to the Island, Mr. Yap decided to call it a day and passed his resort to his partners and acts as agent and promoter for the Resorts in the Redang Island through his Malaysian and overseas contacts. All the resorts` owners as well as morning food stalls in Jalan Kampong Cina, near the arch, owe him the dues. The Terengganu State Tourism should give Mr. Yap Chuan Bin the credits for spearheading the only industry the State can offer ( other than man-made Kenyir hydro electric dam lake which is only good for anglers, and Sekayu waterfall, only locals go there) The Redang Island generates a lot of revenues for the resort owners and also improved the economy and well-being of all sectors of  Kuala Terengganu folks – from the grocery shops, chicken sellers, vegetable sellers, souvenirs shops  down to fish crackers sellers of Pasar Kedai Payang. But the most important of all is that Mr. Yap has directly or indirectly helped to improve the livelihood of fishing folks of Redang Island. His liaisons with Marine Park personals to conserve this Natural Underwater Heritage make him a role model for others resort owners to follow.  Once this Heritage is destroyed, that would be the end of tourism in Kuala Terengganu.

Many articles had been written about Chinese community of China Town, some dated as far back as 15^th. Century. They came mostly as traders from Fujian in Southern China. Some ventured up the Terengganu and settled in Kampong Tirok and across the river in Kampong Pulau Bahagia (formerly Kg. Pulau Babi}.  Up the Terengganu River tributary, Sungai Nerus, is the famous Sam Poh Kong Temple. It is said that the Temple was built in memory of the spot where Admiral Cheng Ho landed. To the Hokkien, the place is popularly known as `Sam Poh Kan` (Sam Poh River). In the days gone by, the `Peranakan` Hokkien devotees from China Town used to travel up by boats to pay homage there. Now the place is accessible by road.

The Hokkien of China Town, Kampong Tirok, Kampong Pulau Bahagia and Batu Nam(6),whose ancesters were here 2 or 3 centuries ago are so well assimilated with the locals that their features and ways of life are akin to that of the Malays. The old generations Hokkien are more comfortable in `sarong`. To them, the food would taste better if taken with `gulai ikan`, sambal belacan` or budu`. Even their dialect has trace of Malay words in them. They could be termed as `PERANAKAN` of Kuala Terengganu. They are involved in trading.

According to the records, after 1900, more Hokkien of Chin Chiang clan came to Kuala Terengganu. Their ways of life are entirely different from those of `peranakan`. When I was small, they were normally referred to as `TEAN SUA LAN` (China people), older generation were `TEAN SUA APEK` (China uncle) and `TEAN SUA ACHIM` (China auntie). They are involved in sundry shops.

There were a few of them whom I can remember. Klinik Leong was the original sundry shop of `TUA TIAW PEK`. The shop closed down when the old man passed away. Later the wife and his 2 sons moved to west coast. Another one was `GOH CHIN SENG` whose shop, near the market, was one of the row of houses demolished to make way for the multi-stories car park. The 2 children are still around in town. The shop where the Phua Brothers Household Products is, was formerly that of HENG LEE CHAN which dealt in local salted fish and exported to Singapore. One of the children of its employee, Tan Kian Chai, who stayed next to the house of Mdm. Tan Kim Eng`s (roti paun) paternal grand-parents, was Public Works Department`s mechanic. I do not know where the family moved to. House No. 27, Jalan Kampong Cina, by the side of entrance to Pasar Kedai Payang was that of HENG SOON CHAN, a grocery shop selling all imported food stuffs, such as frozen bacon, ham, chicken and imported eggs from Australia and many others, catering for the needs of European customers. The father of Mr. Lee Mar Choy, `Pek Chai` (also of Chin Chiang clan), was the manager there. Prior to 1960`s, there were no layer or broiler farms in Terengganu (I do not know about other States}. When I was less than 10 years old, once in a while, my mother asked my late 2<sup>nd</sup>. sister and myself to buy frozen chicken or imported eggs from the shop. On our way home, I would proudly tell those whom we encountered, `o chew kay` or `o chew nuar`. The descendent of great philanthropist, Mr. Tay Wee Jin, of HONG BEE TOBACCO, did not carry on with the trade, because of Government policy. The descendents of Chin Chiang clan of Jalan Kampong Cina, who are still in business are that of Y>Bhg. Dato` Seri Dato` Toh Chwee Biow of Chin Guan INDUSTRY, CHEE SENG sundry shop, KIAN SENG sundry shop and SIN CHUAN HONG hardware shop.

The Great Fire of China Town

In late 1970`s, when the Capitol cinema stopped operation, its wooden building was left neglected. It became a smoking den for drug addicts and the building went up on fire which spread to wooden upper floor of old Kuan Tung Association which was later replaced by 4 stories building. That was the end of Capitol cinema building.

One night in 1981, a big fire razed a row of 6 double stories wooden houses near the Ho Ann Keong Temple. The houses belong to Mdm. Poh Ai Choo who is a news vendor in front of The Store, a sundry shop of Ang Nyeow So (mother or Mrs. Chin Kong Nam nee Wee Siew Bee), a small bicycle repair shop where in the morning the wife would sell deep-fried `chai kuey` (a type of carrot cake of 3 inch square and ¼” thick), Ah Meng kopitiam, Phua rattan chair shop (formally Hai Thean `char mee`) and lastly, house of `Po` Kiam Khuan, whose husband, Hai Pin, used to slaughter and sell exotic meat, such as fresh water soft-shell turtles (terrapin), python and iguana. Ho Ann Keong Temple was spared but to be destroyed on the night of 22.2.2010. Three of the razed houses were rebuilt except for the 2 houses next to the Temple. As for the small bicycle shop, the landlord took advantage of the walls of 2 new buildings by putting up only the roof and rents it out to pork seller. The only house belonged to a Malay man was that of Phua rattan chair shop. The land of the Malay man was bought by Terengganu Hokkien Association, the trustee of Ho Ann Keong Temple. When the Temple was burn down in 2010, a temporary temple was built on this site until restoration works on the razed Temple was completed at the end of 2011. The narrow piece of land next to the Temple belongs to many owners and the Association was in the midst of acquiring it (Annual Meeting 2011)

Another great fire occurred on the night of 27.11.1983. A row of 7 double stories wooden houses and 3 semi-concrete ones near the bridge, on the `ua sua` side of the road went up in flame. Seven of which, nearest to the bridge, were built on stilts were completely burned down. There was a tragic loss of life – a young son of photographic shop owner. That was a unique row of houses occupied by all main dialects of Chinese community – Dato` Tan Eng Ann motor cycle/motor car shop (Hokkien lan), Mr. Toh Teck Tee`s resident (Hokkien lan), Ma Chee Seng grocery shop (Hokkien lan), 2 houses of Ah Hong kopitiam (Hainaness), Lee Hong Tai denture maker (Shanghainess), Ah Nua goldsmith (Cantoness), Melong photography (Hakka), Tong Hai Ang toy shop (Teochew) and next to the bridge, Yeo kah (shake legs) ( Hokkien `lan) The 7 houses on stilts were on Government land under TOL (Temporary Occupation of Land) and the Authority had reclaimed the land for future use.

The Entertainment

There were no televisions prior to early 1970`s. The only form of entertainment at homes was that of radios. There were 2 cinema theatres at the beginning of China Town – Capitol Theatre and Sultana Theatre. The pictures shown at that time were the productions of Paramount, Columbia, 20<sup>th</sup>. Centuary Fox and MGM. Musicals which I remember  were `Seven Brides For Seven Brothers` acted by Howard Keel, `Oklahoma` and some others acted by Doris Day; many western movies, the actor I remember well was John Wayne with his style of walking. Sword fighting and pirate movies acted by Errol Flynn and agile Buck Lancaster were very common. Of course there were romantic pictures too, I do not know much, except for one popular actor, Clark Gable  with his razor-thin moustache and `chikky` grin acted in the famous `Gone With The Wind`. Another heart-throb actor was Rock Hudson and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. Later on Capitol Theatre showed a lot of Malay pictures produced by Shaw Brothers of Singapore. Though Indian community was very small in the Town, Hindustani pictures were very popular, because of the beautiful actors and actress, songs and sceneries, they appealed more for Malays and some Chinese ladies. The cinemas also showed Chinese movies from Hong Kong. Once in a while, a Chinese travelling performing troupes of varieties shows would stop by either in one of those cinemas to perform. There was a Hokkien opera troupe which was disbanded in Kuala Terengganu. A brother and sister members, including another member of the troupe and their families decided the start a new life in Kuala Terengganu. The sister, Yap Cheng Cheng started a coffee shop named `Cheng Cheng Teh Tiam` which is still in operation next to The Store parking lots and is run by her son. The brother, Yap Cheng Hai hawk his home-made ice cream and later `rojak putih` around China Town. He had passed away and one of his children is still in town.. Their friend, Ah Chai end up hawking fried mee on tricycle carrier around town. In any functions, especially the processions for His Royal Highness The Sultan`s birthdays or Chinese lantern festivals (Tongchew), the 2 comedian pair of Yap Cheng Hai and Ah Chai would lend their support by having comical make-up and walking and running on 6 feet high stilts along with the processions.

Between the 2 cinemas, there was a coffee shop known as ~Ah Chew` (Asia) and a popular well behind Sultana Theatre. Behind those 2 theatres were the residences of Mr. How Kok Meng of HSBC and that of Chartered Bank`s Toh Swee Choo whose mother produced Chinese noodles (Mee) for sale in the market. There was the house of Mr. Lau Kong Ming who got lost overnight in the jungle of Pulau Kapas, a popular picnic spot among the seniors. The news of his mishap spread very fast in town and the people were worried for him as he was a very bright boy. He was one of the local bright boys sent to Kirby/Brinsford Lodge in England to attend teaching course. The original Tien Kee Restorant was around that area too. The extension at the back of Capitol cinema was a billiard saloon. I used to follow my late good buddy, Wee Seng Lim, who was 2 years my senior, I was then 13 years old, to that saloon to watch him competed with couples of adults. He was tall for his age and looked mature. He had a faithful trishaw man, named Khalid, to take him around liked big boss. He was very clean and health conscious, never drink or smoke until his unfortunate death in his 60`s.  With the constructions of Cathay and Rex cinemas, the 2 wooden cinemas, Capitol and Sultana, became obsolete  -  Capitol  was later destroyed in the fire and a new shopping complex was built which was later taken over by ` The Store Supermarket` and Sultana theatre was demolished and  becomes the parking lots for The Store.

Before the construction of Jalan Kampong Tiong, the present parting spot and glutton stalls was an empty open space. A couple of circus came to perform there. One of the circus was Tai Tien Kew whose main attractions was the performance of few blind-folded motor cyclist riding inside a big steel globe. Another circus advertised its main attraction was a man wrestling a gorilla. It turned out that the man was actually wrestling a tame and friendly orang utan. Like all circus they would not be completed without trapeze performers and caged big cats with trainer having a whip in one hand and a chair in another.

Another attractions in Cina Town when we were small were `Pak Koon Bay Koe Yoke`. They were actually performances by Chinese medicine men to attract potential customers. The venue was always at an empty space beside Meng Huat Trading popularly known as Teck Beng Lorong. They would do their trades at night with 2 or 3 harricant lamps The styles those medicine men used were almost  all the same except for their products and their acts. They would put on loose long pants with a piece of cloths wrapped around their waists, without any shirts. With forceful voice, the men would shout in a short sentence, the sidekicks would repeat the last few words followed by the banging of cymbals twice. To show his might, one would use a 8 feet long ¼ inch iron bar and asked a volunteer to poke and pushed the iron rod against his throat until the iron bar band. In another performance, the man would use a 3 feet long 2 inches wide metal bar of 1/8 inch thick and asked a burly man from the public to hit his chest with the iron bar until it bend. Really pity those medicine men, had to endure so much pain to sell their products. The businesses were always good as the Kuala Terengganu town did not have much choice of Chinese medicines in the shop at that time.. One of those medicine men whom I still remember was the great Lim Tai Soon, with his barrel size chest and hair like that of Johnny Weissmuller – the Tarzan.

Another form of old entertainments were `selap mata` and snake charmer by Indian men and their assistants who were mostly young boys. They were always held at `sua pek` between 2 rows of buildings in the afternoon. They did not sell anything. After the shows, the young assistants would go round asking for donation from the audences who were very sporting and willingly contributed.

Once a year, during the Sultan`s birthday, there will be shows at Istana Maziah. Stages would be put up for `mayong`, wayang kulit, `joget` where an intended dancers from the floor would buy tickets and presented them to the `joget` dancers on the stage and had a chance to dance. The Chinese `wayang` were always held on the other side of the Padang Maziah, at the present Shah Bandar parking lots,  as the performers were always very noisy. Those Chinese wayang were sponsored by Chinese businessmen to make the celebrations into a more festive mood. People from all parts of town crowded at the Padang to see the shows while the royalties were entertaining the distinguished guests in the fenced Palace. Private transportations were rare and `Honda Cub` motors were never in the drawing board yet. The faithful subjects of the Sultan from Pulau Kambing areas and as far as Cabang Tiga would walk all the way, passing in front of our house in China Town, making a bee line (or ant line) to the Padang to watch a once a year affair entertainments. Normally, the performances would last for a few nights and in one of those nights His Royal Highness would come down to the Padang and walked around in appreciations of the efforts put up by performers as well as donors.

With the introduction of television in early 1970`s, all those travelling shows just died off, even cinema theatres had to close down. There were no more celebrations at the Padang Maziah to mark the big occasions.