Labang : 1920's Brooke Chinese Bazaar

this is Labang Bazaar with only three shops in operation now. Started in the 1920'sby the then Rajah Brooke, it was a thriving bazaar made up for as many as 18 shops then. Jungle produce like rattan, jelutong, damar and belian came from upriver, brought down by Ibans, Punans, Kayans and other minority races in the 1920's till the Second World War. In fact Bintulu was exporting all these products to Kuching and then Singapore. Bintulu was indeed a major belian exporter in those days. Labang was well known.

During the Second World War Labang was known as the furthest point the Japanese were able to reach. The Ibans from the Kemena valley set up defences with guns provided by the Brooke Government (given before the War) to protect every one, while many of the Chinese hid from the enemies in Sebauh, Padan and Upper Labang and even Tubau.

In the 1980's Labang was a famous timber producing area with lots of sawmills and timber camps. In the 1990's Labang was a pit stop for Bakun engineers and truck drivers. It was also a great supply base.

today with Pan Borneo reaching completion, Labang along the highway has become a sleepy bazaar.

Today Labang is administered by the Sebauh local district.

 

Condensed Milk and Milk Powder in Sibu.

Did you know that the Mongolians invented powdered milk in the 13th century?

Marco Polo was a very observant man and a detailed archivist. I would say, he wrote and reported everything he saw. 

In the book of SER Marco Polo, Book 1, he described the Mongolian Tartar troops carrying sun dried skimmed milk as a kind of paste.

Polo traveled extensively with his family, journeying from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295 and remaining in China for 17 of those years. Around 1292, he left China, acting as consort along the way to a Mongol princess who was being sent to Persia.

It was only 6 centuries later that the Europeans began developing their own milk powder.  Osip Krichevsky in 1802 for example, a Russian doctor developed the process of producing powdered milk.

Russian chemist M. Dirchoff in 1832, organized the commercialisation of powdered milk. 

Before 1940,in Sibu there were records of the American missionary Rev Hoover who liked to have his bread and condensed milk after his office hours in the afternoon. Mrs. Hoover made her own bread and served two slices of bread, with condensed milk. He was a man of habit and he loved condensed milk.

During the Second World War, the American milk powder company, KLIM supplied powdered milk to the Allied Forces, the Red Cross etc.

From British author J. G. Ballard, we learn that Klim Imilk spelt backwards) was included in American relief supplies dropped over Shanghai, China, and the surrounding countryside following the Japanese surrender in August 1945. Ballard was then still a teenager, and had been interned for two years and five months in the Lunghua Civilian Assembly Centre. 

The relief supplies included, cans of powdered milk, along with tinned SPAM, chocolate bars, and cartons of Lucky Strike cigarettes. these are mentioned in Ballard's novel, Empire of the Sun, and 

his autobiography, Miracles of Life.

From the early days of Foochow Settlement till the early 60's, sterilized pure milk in tins and condensed milk in tins were special gifts for Foochows to bring as tokens of respect when they visited each other.  Half a dozen of any of the two would be a most welcomed gift especially by the family with a sick member. Probably a live chicken would be too much of a bother when someone is sick in the family and the mother was stressed.

And in early 1950's Sibu received milk powder donation from WHO. Adults, representing each family queued up at collecting centres like schools to receive what they entitled. I believe this was organized by the local government.

I remember my first taste of milk powder. My father had queued up for handouts at the Methodist Primary School (every family was asked to do so to collect gifts from WHO or rather United Nations) and it was quite a novelty for every Sibu Person. The skimmed milk powder was nice, but it did not quite "melt" in the hot water, as we were later told to make a paste first with cold water and then pour hot water into  the cup.

(According to relatives, queuing was introduced by Rev and Mrs. Hoover to the Sibu Foochows as early as the 1910's. But my father being educated in China did not find queuing troublesome. He thought it was very civilized to queue. First come first served!!)

The taste was not terrific but we drank so that we could have more calcium. My generation and my mother's generation, unfortunately did not have much calcium and most of us ended up with poor dental health. Mum has a whole set of dentures by the time she was 35, and my peers and I acquired dentures when we had front teeth extracted because of bad decay evem before we were in Form Five.

Book Launching in Miri

Nov 2018

One of Heidi Munan's books.

Resort City of Miri saw well-known Sarawak writer Heidi Munan meeting fans and enjoying two days of book signing at Belle’s Bookstore, Pelita Centre.

Many parents and well-wishers came for the two-day event, organised by the manager of the bookstore, Sophia Soo, and enjoyed a 20 per cent discount on sales.

Heidi Munan started gathering a good readership from her early book titled ‘Cultures of the World — Malaysia’ which went on to become one of the most widely read books not only by young people in Malaysia but also those who want to know more about the country.

Fresh Leaves and Dried Leaves in Bintulu

Bubuk for Sale in Bintulu - CASH n CARRY

A photo essay.....

Bubuk or tiny shrimps - only found in Malaysian waters and especially near Bintulu and Miri

Fishermen set up their own stalls...10 kg. already weighted and ready...real CASH and CARRY...

Chinese red rice yeast already pounded finely for the colouring for beleacan

The fresh and lovely bubuk...sometimes it can be RM 30 for 10 kg...sometimes it is only RM10  for 10 kg...but  the best belacan is from Bintulu and you must never argue with any one from Bintulu about this ...5 kg of bubuk makes about 1.5 kg of belacan and it takes a few days to pound and dry in the sun - pound and dry in the sun....the stronger the sun the better the belacan....

Rest and Relax in Bintulu Town

Nang Chong Stories The Merlin of Nang Chong and the Eating of Fish

The eating of fish was part of village life as many Foochows were fishermen who went to sea then using the small "kotak" boats. And many of my uncles were fishermen when the rubber prices were low ..Many even doubled up as wharf labourers when times were bad and the seas were rough literally!! So in many ways they were multi-skilled in their simple ways.

The Rajang is the sister river to the Min River of the Fujian Province of China where the original Foochows came from in 1901.

An uncle of mine (Head Master  Hii Wen Hui-..he was always called Head Master by fellow villagers.)..taught us about fish..He impacted all the students he taught and many more like his associates and his colleagues...

His home was a little inland from my grandmother's house in Nang Chong and he was a great reader besides being a good decision maker. Many would go to see him for advice. I thought he was rather like Merlin in the tales of King Arthur . If only he could cast some spell too. He was my Merlin.

The wisdom from the Merlin of Nang Chong..

He taught us well...and one of the lessons was from eating different kinds of fish.

Bakrik or terubuk is sweet and the cheaper of the fish but the soup is sweet. So don't look down upon it. In the same way...a man might look scrawny and untidy...look into his good heart. Never look down upon a poor man.

We kids loved to eat terubok. Steamed terubuk in those days were very sweet. When we had more cooking oil..we had crunchy and crispy deep fried terubuk..and even the fins tasted good..they lasted longer in our mouth when we chewed them.

The Ngo Ngii or Thread fin is a higher end fish to the Foochows. It is fleshy and round. So according to my uncle..that would be the best fish to cook for an older member of the family. Uncle Hii showed us how to love our parents by example. He loved his parents like no one else in the the Nang Chong village. He was filial and philosophical about parental care and would never cross words with his frail father especially. But what was very impactful was how he treated his mute uncle (Pang Nga Ka ka) with the greatest respect any person could give. Pang Nga Ka ka never drove a car for he cycled until the day he passed away. Uncle Hii never failed to roll out the red carpet for his uncle...today most people would ignore their physically challenged relatives when they are with very important people but not my Uncle Hii. He treated his elders with great respect and especially my maternal grandmother his mother in law. He would call her " Neh " non stop - more than my own uncles!! The Foochows call " Suong nian neh ah riang neh" non -stop calling Neh...And he would buy Ngo Ngii for her when she came to town.

I would never forget how Pang Nga Ka ka cried at my maternal grandmother's coffin. He was inconsolable. He too had loved my grandmother as much as his own nephew. Such was the great bond amongst the Nang Chong Foochows in those days. Because of Uncle Hii we kids learned to accept the physically challenged members of our community with great respect and love.

Uncle Hii taught us about different fish swimming in the sea from young. He taught us another  good lesson : there are hundreds of species in the sea and they have mutual respect for each other. Schools of the same species swim together. Can we do the same? Unfortunately there are lots of sharks around. So we have to be on the look out for each other. I think few of us actually look out for others nowadays. We tend to ignore things and when situations get worse..we say..."I knew it would happen" and then..too late..matters get worst! It is a pity we have too many of such uncaring people around us.


Uncle Hii was an expert in buying of fish. And to this day I would always think of him whenever I see fresh terubok and Ngo Ngii in the market.

But most important of all if you have the skills of a strategist or a analyst...do help out your fellowmen and fellow women..Find your own Merlin.....I am glad we had our Merlin...

He knew I love history of the Foochows. He gave me the whole set of books by Lau Tze Cheng before he passed away. He did say to me once only (he said things once only when I was a naughty teenager- should learn more Chinese and play less hockey ...well as a young and energetic tom boy...I played too much hockey and later too much tennis - and indeed I live to regret it... But I am trying to make it up by learning more Chinese now...)

Yes if only the Merlin of Nang Chong could live forever.

(These photos were taken in Bintulu at the wharf just as fish was being unloaded in the early morning. A very memorable photography day indeed for me)

Bintulu Foochow Women

We are deeply touched by people who appreciate literary works and books.

The book "Tastes and Flavours of the Foochows" is an illustrated book on the origins and nature of the most popular authentic dishes of the Foochows both in China and in Sarawak.

After the launching ceremony on 19th November in conjunction with the Triple or Combined 100 years Celebration of the World(20 years) Malaysia (30 years) and Sarawak (50 years) Foochow Associations in Miri the book was sold to the public at different venues .

We are very encouraged especially by Ling Huong Yian who bought 10 books at first from our stall and then later (we had packed to go back to Sibu) ordered by phone another ten books. She is now the Chairlady of the Literary and Education Committee of the newly elected World Foochow Women's Branch.

Huong Yian is an Alumni of the Methodist Secondary School of Sibu and I am proud to be her English teacher. She graduated from University of Malaya and has been a Chinese language teacher in Bintulu and she also served as a Principal of Kai Dee Secondary School in Bintulu. She is at the moment pursuing a PhD at University of Malaya. Her thesis will be written in English.

The elegant daughter in law of Tan Sri Yek Ming Yik of Bintulu (middle) bought at a single purchase the largest number of the book (1 dozen) to give to friends and relatives as presents. We are all very touched by her spirit and understanding!! The books were not too heavy for her to carry into the grand welcoming dinner at Imperial Hotel!

So thank you Bintulu Foochow ladies for your support!! You are encouraging us to write more.