The positive impetus which caused the rapid development of the area was:
1. The land was granted by the Rajah who agreed that it was time for the expanding Foochow population to move out of their original land in the vicinity of Sibu. With this official recognition the Foochow settlers was guarranteed security and peace from the surrounding indigenous people. Besides the presence of Rev James Hoover as a "protector of the Foochows in their development endeavours" and a "voice to help them" were very important success factors. The Reverend James Hoover had indeed the "ear" of the Rajah.
2. Besides starting a farming area they also contributed money to build a Methodist Church called Poh Hie Church and a primary school called Kai Hua Primary School. The presence of a Methodist Church and a Methodist based school also promoted social well being and a God fearing community. The farmers settled down to good work while the children were able to grow in wholesome environment like in any rural part of the United States of America or England. Honesty and accountability (and I think at that time transparency was apparent even though the word was not in mode then) were important factors which contributed to a successful management.
3. The group of Foochow men who formed the company were kindred spirits who maintained relationships akined to that of blood brothers in the traiditional Chinese culture. They were neighbourly and God fearing. They shared their wealth and advised each other in investment. Their families looked out for each other in ev ery sense of the word. In fact many of the younger generation spoke of these elders as "elders who helped them reach the shores of prosperity" (Keng shurn nyiang) . The following names are the original homestead owners of this area by 1950 numbering 63 . Their houses were still standing in 1970 but after that period most of the houses were abandoned.
4. An outstanding feature of the area was the Godly presence which the group upheld. The Church Poh Hie Tong and the school Kai Hua Primary School were the first buildings to be seen whenever any one alighted from a motor launch at the jetty. The homesteads were all built along the road behind the church and other smaller roads which branch out from the main road.
5. Rubber was an excellent crop selected at the right time and at the right place. Without rubber as a cash crop this area would not have prospered so miraculously.
6. Welfare and well being for all - together moving forward with all their hardwork put together in spite of their initial suffering. Their ability to meet changes and challenges helped them prosper. Their future oriented outlook and their Foochow energy were really their mainstay in their visionary effort. It was the will of these Foochow families which helped them prosper in the long run. At first it was definitely difficult and up hill in clearing of the mosquito infested land with flooding every day. But towards the end of three years they saw their rubber trees growing and they were filled with gratitude and satisfaction that God had indeed been with them.
Lee Chung Tiong
Lee Chung Kwong
Wong Sieng Sui
Lee Tiu Huat
Hii Puo Hoh
Yek Chew Ching
Tiong Chiong Hook
Hii Puo Kiong
Hii Puo Chiong
Hii Chai Sieng
Hii Kah Hii
Hii Yii Tiing
Hii King Chuong
Lee Tiew Lieng
others
End Notes:
Kai Hua Primary School was started in 1937 after the founders (Yuan Chiang Wei- Wong Too Liang- Hii Teng Shii- Hii Kah Chow -Hii Kah Piew Lee- Choong Kwong and Hii Kah Kai and others) raised enough money. Wong Too Liang was the first Headmaster and pastor in charge. Before 1937 the children from this area had to row their sampans to stdy in Tung Kwong Primary School. Hii Kah Piew the father of Datuk Hii Yii Peng was the first Chairman of the School board. In 1939 Lee Chung Tiong becamse the Chairman of the School Board.
The last Headmaster of the school was Ling Kwong Hee who arrived in May 1979 and left at the end of 1984. He stayed at the school boarding house which had not electricity and water supply. He cooked for himself and taught only 12 students. At that time only four or five families remained. All the rest had moved away.
The school had to close and that concluded the special era of a corporate farm in the Rajang which spanned 75 years!!
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Notes : a. My sincere apologies to all the elders whose names in English might have been wrongly spelt by me. I do hope that one day I will get all the names spelt according to their birth certificates or obtain the correct spelling from their descendants.
On a further note we must realise that names in Chinese are spelt in different ways according to dialects. A Kutien man whose name is Ling Berng Hui may be called Ling Bang Hooi in Hokkien. My father's Ming Ching name Tiong Poh King was Teong Por Keing in Putien.
So there is a lot of confusion in spelling and the registrars of births in Sarawak often have trouble when they have to record births.
b. Even thoujgh Rajang Basin and many of us can easily draw our conclusions why a beautiful area like this can be abandoned in the 70's. But who knows if there is such as thing as hope against hope 16 Company can be rejuvenated ?
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