Category: Traditional Trades

Ko Hou Kam herbal tea, the first sip fills the mouth with bitterness, yet yields a lingering sweetness once it slips down the throat, hence its name meaning sweetness after consumption. A nationwide popular beverage back in the 90s, Ko Hou Kam advertisements were aired on various television stations, and even distributed abroad. With a superfluity of health drinks available nowadays, Ko Hou Kam eventually diminishes, and can only be found at certain traditional Chinese medicine store or its place of origin – Mambau.

Mambau is a small town on the outskirts of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. At the beginning of the 20th century, as the rubber industry flourished, large-scale plantations were developed in Mambau. The village was established in the 50s, the majority of the 200 households were rubber tappers. Due to its strategic geographical location, the rail freight route from Port Dickson pass through the border of Mambau village (now demolished), and so does the Federal Route 53 linking Seremban and Port Dickson. Before the construction of Seremban–Port Dickson Highway, Federal Route 53 is the main road leading to Port Dickson, tourists usually stop by Mambau for rest and refreshments.

Located just off the main road, Mambau Khek Yong Tau Fu may have a shabby appearance, however it is the birthplace of Ko Hou Kam herbal tea. The founder, the late Mr Kum Loong Poh, used to work in the construction industry. However, business failure due to the global economic recession of the early 1980s caused him to seek new opportunities in the food and beverages industry. In order to finance the household, Mr Kum worked long hours till the point that he suffered from health complications. After consuming a herbal tea prepared according to a prescription which his ancestors brought over from China, his condition improved. Since the herbal tea has proven health benefits, Mr Kum decided to promote it so that others can enjoy improved health too.

The original herbal brew has a bitter aftertaste, therefore the late Mr Kum Loong Poh researched and developed an ideal herbal tea formula suitable for general consumption as well as offering a lingering sweetness. The main ingredients of Ko Hou Kam herbal tea are camellia, silver needle, and chrysanthemum. Silver needle tea leaves are subjected to processing in order to neutralise acidity: sun-dried after being harvested, stems removed, and the tea leaves are then fermented for 100 days. Ko Hou Kam herbal tea comes in individually sealed tea bags for ease of consumption.

Ko Hou Kam herbal tea was initially sold in Mambau Khek Yong Tau Fu as well as a friend’s coffee-shop. Back then, the health drink market just started to grow, imported health drinks were expensive, and there were barely any local manufacturers. Mr Kum Loong Poh’s savviness in launching Ko Hou Kam herbal tea at an affordable price instantly gained market popularity, hitting the shelves of medical stores as well as being distributed nationwide. As manual packaging became inefficient due to increasing demands, he set up a small factory and invested in an automated packaging system to ease operations and storage.

After the passing of the late Mr Kum Loong Poh, his sons Kum Han Soon and Kum Han Loong took over the operations of Mambau Khek Yong Tau Fu and Ko Hou Kam, thus prevented disappointing regular customers. However, intensifying market competition led to business decline, structural market changes dealt another severe blow – younger generations prefer to consume unhealthy beverages such as bubble milk tea, only a few would appreciate herbal tea. Even so, Kum Han Loong did not give up, but turned to taking phone orders and online marketing to explore new opportunities.

The Kum brothers are born and bred in Mambau, plus Ko Hou Kam was founded by their late father in this small town, tight bonds flourish within the local community, therefore they chose to stay in their hometown to carry on the family business. Nevertheless, herbal tea is not some magical remedy. Kum Han Loong gently reminds everyone not to simply rely on herbal tea for health benefits, but to combine with regular exercise, maintain a daily routine, and eat a balanced diet, living a healthy lifestyle to keep the mind and body fit.

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang / Michael Lerk
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen

COPYRIGHTS 2022 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

Rubber trees stand tall and straight in neat rows, bright rays of the morning sun shine through the leaves. Madam Chong Sew Cheen stoops slightly to score a rubber tree with the pull-type rubber tapping knife in her hands, milky-white latex sap flow downward the diagonal cut. Madam Chong inserts a metal spout to allow the latex to drip into a collection cup held in place by a galvanized wire.

In the 20th century, there was a massive boom in rubber trade, Malaya became the world’s largest producer of natural rubber, which attracted swarms of British capitalist investors. As Malaya gained independence from British rule, plantations were divided and sold upon British capitalists leaving the country, several locals spent their hard-earned money to buy over and became smallholders. Mambau, where Madam Chong resides, was mainly consisted of rubber plantations. At eleven years old, she followed in her mother’s footsteps to tap rubber at a British-owned plantation. Over the next six decades, she moved around to work under different smallholders. 

The rapid economic growth since Malaysia’s formation led to urban sprawl, property developers acquired plantations in Mambau and surrounding areas to build new townships such as Seremban 2 and Bandar Sri Sendayan. In order to sustain a livelihood, Madam Chong had to work at remote Malay reserved lands, making daily trips alone via motorcycle for about twenty minutes, passing by residential and commercial properties which used to be rubber plantations, to reach her current workplace. 

The switching of workplace brought on changes to Madam’s Chong working mode, where she now rents rubber trees from the landowner for a fixed monthly fee, and she is free to arrange her own working hours and workload.  Due to the amount of latex sap produced by rubber trees being limited, she divided the six-acre plot into two patches to be tapped alternately, the downscaled working area means that she no longer need to rush to work before dawn, as it can be completed throughout the morning.

Around seven in the morning, Madam Chong arrives at the rubber plantation on her motorcycle, ties on her apron and headscarf, lights a mosquito coil to hang upon her waist, then goes around the rubber trees with her bucket of tools. A regularly used tapping knife, a spare one, some metal spouts, a parang to collect firewood, and spare spark plugs in case her motorcycle misfires. After completing her work around noon, she goes home to have lunch and rest, later in the evening she sharpens the tapping knives and gets ready for the next day’s toil.

Mambau’s rubber industry dwindled in line with weakening global demand, smallholders converted to palm or durian plantations. Local rubber tappers either change their jobs or retire, only a handful remain persistent lke Madam Chong. Big cities offer more opportunities, younger generations rather flock to urban areas than tap rubber. Nowadays rubber plantations face workers shortage, even in hiring foreign labour. Local Chinese rubber tappers are becoming increasingly rare. 

Septuagenarian Madam Chong has been working as a rubber tapper for the majority of her life. Although she occasionally suffer leg pain from walking on slopes, she remains jovial and have no plans to retire yet, as she may pass time and exercise through her work. Despite the decline of the rubber industry, Madam Chong still manage to make a living.

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang / Michael Lerk
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen

COPYRIGHTS 2022 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

Tear open the white packaging with red printing of a horse standing amid the glow, nibble on the soft vanilla cream bun, it brings back sweet childhood memories. Golden Horse Bakery in Semenyih has been producing handmade traditional breads and buns since 1981, feeding generations of the local population. The most popular item is cream bun, followed by coconut bun and oven-dried bread (roti kok). The breads are not only sold in the bakery itself, but also supplied to nearby grocery stores and traditional coffee shops, a familiar favourite of those born and bred in Semenyih.

40 years flew by, Semenyih has developed from agricultural plantations into a township, yet Golden Horse Bakery retained its original facade. Upon opening the cream-colored folding shutters, breads and buns filled the wooden racks and shelves in sight. In the other part of the shop sits a large wooden workbench, on which countless bread were made and decorated. A shared space for both production and retail was the idea of the founders, who made the wooden furniture with their own hands. The original packaging and recipes are also passed down, including how to make the cream bun fillings and coconut bun fillings.

The current proprietor of Golden Horse Bakery, Lee Boon Kit, is born into a family of bakers. His grandfather ran a bakery in Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, and most of their relatives are also bakers. In 1980, his aunt got married in Semenyih and invited her brothers (Lee’s parents and uncle) to establish a joint venture, hence Golden Horse Bakery came into being. As Lee’s uncle and aunt pulled out of the business, his parents considered closing for good. Having just graduated from high school, Lee decided to take over the business. With his sisters lend a helping hand every now and then, the family managed to keep the bakery in operation.

Since childhood, Lee Boon Kit observed his family members at work, and fully understood the onerous nature of producing handmade bread. Daily working hours range from 12 to 15 hours, with meagre earnings and very little free time. The family members work as a team, sharing the workload from measuring ingredients, mixing and rolling the dough, bread shaping, moulding and fermenting, to baking. For Lee, getting his face flushed red upon removing bread from the hot oven is just another ordinary aspect of his work. There are no hired workers, the family are quite happy to do everything themselves despite the tedium.

In earlier years, Golden Horse Bakery offered certain types of classic bread, recently increased to over a dozen varieties due to market demand. Apart from serving long-term regular customers, tourists, and foodies looking for traditional taste, they also supply Hainanese bread loaves to coffee shops. As all the bread are made by hand, Lee keeps a tight constraint on each day’s production quantities to avoid compromising the food quality. If necessary, he liaises with the customer to complete large orders in two days instead of one. 

Rapid urbanization caused a shift from traditional handmade food to mass production for increased efficiency and output volume, as well as the usage of food additives to extend shelf life and taste enhancement. As a youngster, Lee Boon Kit keeps up the practice of handmaking breads and is strongly against food additives, maintaining the rustic texture and the simple yet familiar taste.

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang / Michael Lerk
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen

COPYRIGHTS 2022 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

At eight o’clock in the morning, trees and leaves are swaying in the gentle breeze. Hale and hearty nonagenarian Mr Ho Teck Yin steps out from his wooden cottage and walks to have breakfast at a traditional coffee shop on the main street. After his meal, he reads the newspaper which he bought along the way. When the clock strikes nine, he gets to his feet again, walking towards Teck Joo textile shop located on the ground floor of Tampin Hokkien Association building to start his day’s work.

Tampin is a uniquely positioned small town, with its main street cutting across the states of Negri Sembilan and Melaka, the borderline being a lane decorated with colorful murals. Mere steps away, business and social activities are governed by different municipalities, local residents are used to making multiple cross-state trips on a daily basis. Among them is Mr Ho, who resides in Pulau Sebang of Melaka yet his shop is in Tampin.

Teck Joo textile shop is managed by Mr Ho and his wife Madam Liew Ah Chan @ Liew Kok Moi, comprising half a shoplot filled with various textiles. The shop appearance is somewhat bleak, with the peeling paint on the signboard making it unclear. Arriving on foot, Mr Ho opens the metal shutters and lets down the wooden blinds to prevent direct sunlight exposure fading textile colors. Madam Liew, who suffers from reduced mobility thus requiring a lift from a friend, comes in later accompanied by her daughter. The old couple takes care of the shop together, chatting and joking happily, until five o’clock when they go home to rest. Such is their daily routine, enjoying old age in peace.

Mr Ho is born in Seremban, but moved to Tampin with his parents at five years old. During his youth, he worked in Singapore, where he met his wife, and decided to settle down in Tampin after getting married. Mr Ho co-founded a textile shop with a few friends, however they parted ways soon after, and he set up his own shop since 1958. Mr Ho’s father named the shop “Teck Joo”, implying ethical and fortune respectively. The early days of their start up were difficult, Mr Ho and wife had to tighten their belts to bring up eight children. During the great inflation in the 70’s, they toiled hard from dawn till night, thus managing to save up some money and lead a better life.

Teck Joo offers a range of common fabrics: plain cloth in red, white, and yellow for traditional rituals; batik for traditional Malay clothing such as baju kurung and sarung; premium suit fabrics are sought after by tailor shops. As large chain stores which offer more options at cheaper prices are established, and ready-made garments take over the clothing market, traditional textile shops in Tampin all closed down, except for Teck Joo.

Mr Ho and wife are happy-go-lucky, content to be running a small shop instead of building a business empire. Now that their children are self-sufficient, their means of making ends meet has turned into a pastime. All inventory payments are cleared, hence they are not too worried about the declining sales. The old couple even planned to donate the fabrics to the needy after their retirement, as suggested by their son.

Over time, sweet and bitter moments in life are brewed into a cozy cup of tea. Apart from good health, Mr Ho and Madam Liew have nothing to ask for in their advanced age.

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang / Michael Lerk
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Michael Lerk
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen
Music : 《The Home》 《Just A Little Hope》

COPYRIGHTS 2021 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

The pre-war shophouses along Jalan Raya Timur, a stone’s throw from Klang KTM Komuter Station, used to be a glorious business district on the south bank of Klang River. Several decades later, most businesses either moved out or closed down, among the few surviving is gunny sack dealer Yeo Hup Kee. The natural scent of jute permeates the immediate vicinity of the shop.

Yeo Hup Kee was founded during the golden era of Jalan Raya Timur in the 1940-50’s, during which the shophouses were fully occupied and businesses were flourishing, in stark contrast to recent years. Cracks and splinters are visible on the wooden plaque, the faded walls are laid bare by the wide-open collapsible gates, the high ceiling makes the interior appear spacious, the iron ventilation grille allows light and air to flow through. Glancing in through the unobstructed facade, orderly stacks of gunny sacks, jute rope, and jute cloth take up almost half the shop.

Gunny sacks are made from natural plant fibres, the intertwined strands give out a warm golden glow, and has a slightly coarse texture. They are reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable, which renders them eco-friendly. Gunny sacks absorb moisture, have good ventilation, and are durable, therefore widely used in agriculture and construction industries. Crops stored in gunny sacks stay fresh longer; wrapping plant roots in gunny sacks during transplanting helps conserve soil moisture, and the sacks will decompose into fertilizer; in construction, the base of column are wrapped with gunny sacks in the process of concrete curing.

Yeo Hup Kee deals with bulk purchase of used gunny sacks, which they clean, sort, and then export. The gunny sacks are mostly sourced from local cocoa processing facilities. The acquired sacks are shaken upside down to remove dust and debris. Holes need to be sewn up with jute rope. Sorting is carried out according to thickness, density, and size. The sacks are then tied up into bundles and stored away neatly.

The company’s late founder, Mr Yeo Cheng Swee, started from scratch upon emigrating to Malaya. At the beginning of his career as a second-hand goods dealer, he always travelled around on a bicycle. As the business grows, he acquired a shophouse on Jalan Raya Timur and registered a company named “Yeo Hup Kee”. Out of the 10 children brought up in the shophouse, Mr Yeo Kim Chong is the only one who succeeded his father in the business. Five decades have since passed, and with it he witnessed the ups and downs of gunny sack trading.

In the past, gunny sacks were highly sought after by grocery stores, rice wholesalers, rice millers, and the National Rice Corporation (BERNAS). Through experience, Mr Yeo Kim Chong could easily ascertain a gunny sack’s quality with just a touch. Since the 80’s, polypropylene (PP) woven bags and plastic bags gradually replaced the costlier and heftier gunny sacks as common packaging materials, currently only a handful of merchants remain in the trade. Due to the change in demands, Mr Yeo brought in PP woven bags and ton bags, adopting new strategies to build resilience.

With a flexible mindset, Mr Yeo developed his family enterprise towards a global scale by exporting gunny sacks to various countries, for instance India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Seeing that Mr Yeo has his hands full, his second daughter and son quitted their own jobs several years ago in order to help him manage the family business. Miss Yeo Yee Sim propels Yeo Hup Kee onto online platforms, broadening market reach. Cafes acquire used empty coffee bags as decoration, florists wrap bouquets in jute cloth for a rustic feel, while craftspersons weave jute ropes into baskets, rugs, and even chairs.

Due to space limitations, Mr Yeo set up a warehouse nearby for processing and storing large quantities of gunny sacks. Even so, he insisted on operating the old shophouse. Although it is tiring having to cover both sites, the shophouse is the legacy of his father, and full of fond childhood memories. Most importantly, old customers may be reassured that this store will always be around, at the same spot.

Gunny sacks pile on top of one another, Yeo Hup Kee transfers from one generation to the next, remaining at the dilapidated Jalan Raya Timur, waiting patiently for old and new friends to visit.

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang / Michael Lerk
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen
Music : 《Beautiful & Inspiring Piano with Strings》

COPYRIGHTS 2021 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

“Red, yellow, and green longevity bowls. In the past, they are commonly seen in every household.” Mr Wong Gia Loke gives a run through as he walks among tall shelving units laden with ceramic ware. One must be extremely careful when navigating the narrow aisles, to prevent shattering piles of ceramic ware.” There are plenty of designs, that is a noir mille fleur, as well as landscape.” Famille rose ceramic ware have elaborate decorative patterns, which may look identical, yet each stroke is hand-painted by skilled craftsmen. What once was ordinary tableware back in the 1940’s-60’s, has now become highly sought-after collectibles, only available in century-old stores.

Yat Hang Trading, occupying a three-storey building on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee at Kuala Lumpur, has been in operation for more than 100 years. The building recessed beyond the five-foot walkway, giving it an unusual appearance compared with neighbouring double-storey shophouses. The extended space is utilised by employing mobile shelving units to display goods during business hours, while the vibrant graffiti walls on both sides add funky vibes. Fusion of old and new not only occurs on the shop exterior, but also the merchandise they stock: apart from traditional ceramic ware of all shapes and sizes, there are modern kitchen utensils, crockery, and cutlery.

Produced since the Eastern Han Dynasty, ceramic ware became widespread over the globe, generally used as food vessels, or appreciated as an art piece. The most in-demand being white ceramic bowls adorned with red rooster, banana leaves, and a pink peony, symbolizing diligence, success, and prosperity respectively. Rooster bowls gained popularity in Southeast Asia due to mass migration, where Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand soon started local productions. Common sizes range from five inches to eight inches in diameter. 

The founders of Yat Hang Trading were three brothers hailing from Xinhui, Guangdong in China. In the early 20th century, they arrived in Kuala Lumpur carrying bamboo baskets full of ceramic ware. Pooling resources together with relatives and friends, Yat Hang was initially established in a small shoplot near today’s Kotaraya Complex. Having operated for over 80 years, as the partners gradually retired, the company was voluntarily wound up. The next generation, Mr Wong’s father decided to reinstate the family business, thus acquiring the current premises about 30 years ago. Mr Wong and his elder sisters would help out at the shop after school, hence developing a fervent interest in ceramic ware and the underlying cultural significance.

Taking over the reins upon completing studies till now, the three Wong siblings dedicated their youth to Yat Hang, working together in handling various duties from cleaning, customer service, to accounting. The sweet fruit of their success is the expansion from merely a retail shop to include a warehouse on the second storey and a showroom on the third storey of the same building. Apart from wholesaling, Yat Hang also caters for housewarming, weddings, and elderly birthday celebrations. A complete set of traditional Chinese diningware comprises 96 pieces decorated with the same motif, including bowls, plates, chopsticks, spoons, toothpick holder, and stew pot. Whereas a Chinese tea set is made up of teapot, teacups, and a tray.

Decal transfers gradually replaced hand-painted ceramic ware since the 80’s, reducing costs while enabling mass production, however the essence of handicraft is lost. The famille rose making technique in Guangdong, with a rich history of over 300 years, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Formerly exported in large quantities, famille rose ceramic ware is now highly sought-after by collectors. Each piece is one of its kind, nevertheless imitation pieces are manufactured in the retro style.

The key highlight of Yat Hang is not limited to trading, but also in spreading knowledge. The eldest, Miss Wong Pooi Man, learned on the job about how customers from different cultural backgrounds have varying requirements regarding diningware, as well as playing an active part in promoting Malaysia’s multiculturalism to foreigners. She shares recipes with customers while recommending cookware, and gives them tips on proper usage and maintenance of the products. Customers are happy to gain such information, some even bring their successful dishes to share with Miss Wong, which makes her feel glad.

Dining habits change with the times, traditional ceramic ware may cease in everyday use, the underlying cultural significance may gradually be forgotten. However, at a corner of Petaling Street, the three Wong siblings keep up the family legacy, continuing to pass on traditional Chinese dining culture through Yat Hang. 

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang / Michael Lerk
Video Editor : Amelia Lim
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen
Music : 《Romantic Piano Inspiration》

COPYRIGHTS 2021 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

Dexon Button Shop is located on the ground floor of an old shophouse in Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur. Numerous stalls in front of the five-foot way formed a barrier in which the shop is tucked away. Going through the narrow passageway leading to Dexon Button Shop, the sunlight rays which fall on the front of the shop radiates a special charm. Another captivating sight is the neat and compact wooden cabinets and the dazzling array of buttons on display inside the shop. A myriad of metallic buttons, shell buttons, wooden buttons, plastic and increasingly rare fabric buttons are procured both locally and internationally.

Apart from offering a multitude of buttons, Dexon is also a haberdashery, selling zippers, needles and thread, scissors etc. At the same time, Dexon is one of the few shops in Petaling Street which is family-run by Chinese owners to date, a 40-year-old establishment still in business today. The signboard hanging above the shop entrance became faded over the years, contrasting with the semi-circular column aside which retains bright scarlet letters. The two antique machines——a manual riveting machine and a fabric button machine, are not commonly found among haberdasheries.

The founder of Dexon Button Shop, Mr Chai Chang Nam, hails from Kuala Kangsar, Perak. During his youth, he worked at a tailor shop in Kuala Lumpur. When the shop ceased operations, he started his own haberdashery business at a corner on Jalan Tun H.S. Lee. After a fire incident, Mr Chai shifted to a half shop at No.37 Petaling Street. Later on, the property owner sold the shoplot to a hotel operator, he had no choice but to relocate. Fortunately another shop is available a stone’s throw away, thus he occupied the current premises at No.45 Petaling Street in 1992. The grand reopening was a major event, congratulatory flower stands from his peers almost filled the entire five-foot way. Mr Chai’s second daughter Villy vividly recalls the shop was as if a florist, a fun and exciting childhood memory.

Now that Mr Chai is growing old, he considered retirement during the Movement Control Order (MCO). As Villy took over the reins, he assumed an advisory role. Villy has often helped out since a young age, and is familiar with the shop’s operation. With the help of staff who have up to twenty years’ experience, she has no trouble with the transition. Everybody perform their own duties, covering basic tailor services besides selling sewing supplies, such as stitching buttons, alterations, seaming and zipper repairs.

Chinese knotted buttons are staple goods of the shop, all handmade by Villy and her mother. Colourful fabric strips are weaved into floral patterns, holding the collar in place by a knot and a loop. Usually found on traditional garments such as cheongsam, knotted buttons date back many centuries, with rich cultural heritage. The skills are passed down from Villy’s grandmother to her mother, and then her as the third generation. As knotted buttons fell out of style, this traditional skill may soon be forgotten.

Petaling Street and its surrounding areas, including Jalan Tun H.S. Lee and Jalan Sultan, is the main Chinese settlement during the early days of Kuala Lumpur, with 140 years of history. During her childhood, Villy would be at the shop after school, waiting for her parents to go home together. The staff would let her play around, and witnessed her growing up. Petaling Street is a bustling and friendly neighbourhood to Villy. Almost all shops in the area were previously run by Chinese merchants, there were many textile and clothing shops, as well as traditional herbal shops, hardware shops and food stalls. Some shops ceased operations due to lack of successors, while others rented their premises to foreigners, hence the Chinese cultural features in Petaling Street dwindled. Last year, Villy returned to this intimate shop and community, embarking on a new journey after being laid off.

A button may be tiny, but it is practical in fastening garments or as an accessory. Even though Petaling Street may have altered from the past, Dexon Button Shop remains low-key, holding on thanks to regular customers and craft hobbyists, forming intricate bonds in the same way buttons hold clothes together.

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang / Michael Lerk
Video Editor : Amelia Lim
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen
Music : 《Soft Piano》

COPYRIGHTS 2021 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

There are six keys on a metal-clad Braille typewriter (Brailler), each corresponding to a Braille dot. When keys are pressed, the stylus within the embossing head makes neat indentations on the paper. Braille is formatted in two parallel vertical lines of three dots each, roughly the size of human fingertips. Different dot combinations represent each alphabet and number, as well as equivalents for music, mathematical, and scientific symbols. This internationally used tactile text format is developed by French educator —— Louis Braille, and gained international recognition in mid-19th century.

In the workshop, Mr Raj Kumar s/o Subramaniam is engaged in repairing 20 Braillers from a special school for the blind in Johor. As the second-generation Brailler technician, he took over duties previously carried out by his father, Mr Subramaniam a/l Sengamalai, at the very same workshop, and even the same workbench, located in Malaysian Association of the Blind (MAB) complex. This is the only place throughout Malaysia which offers Brailler repairs, as well as providing training in repairs.

MAB is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951. Its quarters are located in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Also known as “Little India”, Brickfields houses the largest vision-impaired community in Malaysia, with thousands currently residing in the area. Therefore tactile paving sidewalks and acoustic traffic signals are among the accessible facilities on civic streets. MAB is the first-established blind associations among several in Brickfields. Over the past seven decades, it provides the blind with education programmes, vocational training, and career opportunities in order for them to be self-sufficient.

There are three visual classifications recognized internationally: B1 (total blindness), B2 (partial vision of shadows and movement), and B3 (severe low vision/tunnel vision). With the aid of magnifiers or telescopic devices, those with B3 are able to read and study just like normal people. However those with B1 and B2 rely on Braille to read and write using the sense of touch. The Perkins Brailler® is popular and commonly used worldwide. Invented in the 1950s by the Perkins school for the blind in the United States, it is a typewriting instrument with precise design, portability, and durability.

In the 1960s, MAB received authorization from Perkins for Brailler sales and repairs. Back then, Mr Maniam, who initially joined MAB as printer and binder, had the opportunity to attend a month-long repair training workshop conducted by Perkins personnel, and obtained a good Brailler technician qualification. Throughout the past 50 years, he diligently handled nationwide Brailler maintenance and repair works, amounting to over 10,000 machines. On the other hand, Mr Maniam was invited to conduct Braille repairing workshop both locally and internationally, having been to Pakistan, Bangkok, and Bangladesh.

The main layout of a Brailler are paper levers, paper rollers, a carriage which moves the embossing head, and nine keys which stand for six Braille dots, spacebar, line spacing, and backspace. There are several tiny components within the Brailler, which may be damaged by improper usage or a fall. The most common problems are wear and tear, minor incidents such as broken springs will require replacement; major incidents such as a cracked roller will require the Brailler to be dismantled in order to identify the problem and perform repairs. General maintenance help to keep the Brailler clean and prevent difficulties, just by taking out the cover, brush away dust and cobwebs, and then lubricate.

Upon Mr Maniam’s retirement eight years ago, Mr Raj decided to succeed him. Mr Raj often followed his father to work, and sparked an interest in mechanical repairs. He took over after having attended a two-week workshop organized by Perkins. Mr Raj enjoys overcoming the challenges encountered in Brailler repairs. Occasionally he helps to repair guiding sticks in his spare time. Besides that, he operates a thermoform machine to make tactile graphics for blind textbooks.

Both Mr Maniam and Mr Raj take pride in servicing the blind community, and the blinds are familiar with the corner workshop on the second floor of MAB complex. Braille opened the doors of knowledge to all those who cannot see. Even though advanced technology may offer convenience for the vision-impaired, Braille could not be replaced as the main channel of communication. The click-clack sound of Braillers will still resound in MAB.

Malaysian Association for the Blind
03-2272 2677
www.mab.org.my
www.facebook.com/mabmalaysia
www.facebook.com/mablind.page
www.instagram.com/malaysianassoc.fortheblind/

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Music : 《Simple Melody Piano》

COPYRIGHTS 2021 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

A golden cylinder with circular coil-shaped curves similar to a helical spring, “spring bread” is thus nicknamed. After cutting into ½inch-thick slices, its fluffy white texture is revealed, along with mouthwatering aroma. The mouthfeel of “spring bread” is cotton-soft, delicious just on its own or paired with fillings such as butter and kaya, eggs, ice-cream, or even made into hamburgers.

Located at Jalan Pudu in Kuala Lumpur, Southern Bakery is established for over 60 years, the only long-standing bakery in Pudu area, containing many locals’ unforgettable memories linked to childhood favourite foods. While baking, the bread aroma flows throughout the shop, attracting the attention of passer-bys. Regular customers would linger around the shop in advance, so that they could purchase the bread freshly out of the oven. As “spring bread” is rarely seen nowadays, most customers forgotten about its existence. Some customers come across it by chance and bought a few due to indulging in reminiscence.

The unique appearance of “spring bread” brought upon various nicknames: pillow bread, lantern bread, or bamboo-shaped bread, thanks to the customized cast-iron tins. The tins were purchased during the British colonization era by the founder Mr Han Chok Toon, extremely durable considering their daily usage for decades. The shaped bread dough is inserted into the two-cavity bread tin, then covered and bolted to bake. After that, the tin is unbolted and gently tapped on the workbench to release the bread. The handful of such tins in Southern Bakery are rare and precious, bearing witness to the past while continuing the legacy of “spring bread”.

The current second-generation owner Auntie Han Jee Nee is born into a family of bakers. Her grandfather ran a bakery in Singapore, and her parents used to help in the family business until mid-1950’s, when they moved to Pudu and founded Southern Bakery at Jalan Pasar together with two partners. Apart from “spring bread” made in cast-iron tins, the bakery also offers down-to-earth Hainanese bread, fist-sized plain buns, and French baguette etc. Their widely popular signature coconut bun is filled with freshly desiccated coconut, without any trace of palm sugar, a secret recipe passed on by Auntie Han’s mother.

In the earlier days, due to the bakery’s close proximity to Star cinema, Metropole cinema, and Majestic cinema, when movie showtimes are over, the bakery was crowded by people buying bread for their next day’s breakfast. At its prime during the 1960’s-70’s, there were 12 staff rotating through morning and night shifts to produce freshly made bread, which were not only sold in the bakery, but also through food trucks and hawkers, and supply to hotels and restaurants. In 1993, Auntie Han and her husband Uncle Law Hong Cheng took over the reins from her ageing father, who passed away the following year.

As more chain bakeries entered the scene in Kuala Lumpur, customers are attracted by fancy gimmicks, packaging and designs. Even so, Auntie Han and Uncle Law did not choose to take a radical approach. Instead, they focus on maintaining the quality of their breads, persisting in producing true authentic flavours. Initially the bakery only offers a few types of bread, until the addition of red bean buns, butter buns, chicken floss buns, and peanut buns in recent years due to customer demands. Currently they work on a small scale, only baking once per day, therefore the quantity of bread produced is very limited, especially “spring bread”.

Auntie Han and Uncle Law took scrupulous care of Southern Bakery for decades, although their business model is getting outdated, they remain calm despite the challenges. Business expansion is not easy, requiring experience, labour, and sufficient capital. Taking things easy, they keep their selling prices low and affordable, hence customers in the neighbourhood continually support them. When they relocated from Jalan Pasar to Jalan Pudu in 2015 due to rental issues, regular customers have no trouble tracing their whereabouts.

Nestled in a busy city, fast-paced lifestyle and immense social pressure did not cause negative impact to Southern Bakery. Auntie Han and Uncle Law tranquilly enjoy a slow-paced lifestyle, and keep on producing simple handmade traditional breads. Focus on the good, and stay happy.

Southern Bakery
03-9221 5781
No. 393, Jalan Pudu, 55200 Kuala Lumpur

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Music : Atmospheric Inspiring Piano

COPYRIGHTS 2020 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

At the left of the sewing head on the wooden tabletop, the needle shaft moves up and down in accordance with the pulley wheel and foot pedal. The loop-taker cooperates with the needle to sew or bind fabric using slender thread, leaving a neat row of stitches.

Sewing is a practical life skill even before the invention of sewing machines, as per the poem “thread held by a loving mother, made clothes for her wandering son”. Due to the virtuous practice of frugality, almost all housewives sew or alter clothes for their family. When the sewing machine was first launched, it was a luxurious item only the wealthy could afford. Around the mid-20th century, sewing machines indicated a well-to-do family’s wedding gift or dowry, in combination with bicycle, watch, and radio.

Sewing machines eased the tedious task of sewing by improving efficiency. During Malaysia’s economic boost in the 70s-80s, sewing machines became a household item. However the emergence of fast fashion deemed homemade clothing unstylish, sewing machines became eradicated, being used by only a few families and hobbyists. In the event of malfunctioning, it is difficult to send the sewing machine for repair due to its bulk and weight, hence the demand for on-site repair and service.

A call away, Uncle J.S. Lim departs from Port Dickson in his red minivan to the customer’s site. Carrying a blue toolbox, along with over 40 years of experience in machinery repairs, he proficiently fixes faulty sewing machines. He generally services and adjusts the loop timing, the latter being most crucial. The loop-taker seizes thread from the ascending needle, performing a retrograde movement to ensure stitch formation. Difference by a hair’s breadth may cause the shuttle hook and needle to be out of sync, resulting in skipping stitches, therefore the timing should be precise. From old-fashioned hand crank sewing machines, foot pedalled sewing machines, to modern motorized sewing machines, all restored by Uncle Lim’s skillful hands.

In his teens, Uncle Lim was apprenticed to a shop selling bicycles and sewing machines, learning to repair sewing machines from the shopowner’s daughter who was a tailor. His quick wits enabled him to apply the fundamental principles he mastered to other devices such as chainsaws, lawnmowers, electric generators etc. At 32-33 years old, he set up his own shop, only going into semi-retirement two years ago due to lack of customers. During CMCO this May, Uncle Lim’s daughters suggested him to create a Facebook page offering on-site sewing machine maintenance and repair.

“Uncle Lim Repair Shop” was thus created on Facebook, receiving countless enquiries. Starting from small neighbourhoods within Negeri Sembilan, Uncle Lim carries out on-site repairs, catering to mostly ladies and elderly persons from any racial background. His honest conduct and diligence won praises, his customer base grew. Mrs Lim tags along wherever he goes, chatting with customers while taking videos or photos of the service process and the customers’ satisfaction. These files are then uploaded onto Facebook with touching remarks, attracting more likes and followers.

The Facebook page has created far more job opportunities for Uncle Lim, his services expanded across districts and even across states since RMCO in June. Provided the accumulation of a few malfunctioning sewing machines within the same vicinity is enough to offset his travel expenses, he will proceed to schedule appointments. Uncle Lim and wife both have a happy-go-lucky attitude, treating outstation jobs as domestic travels to destinations such as Bidor, Ipoh, and Kampar. Warm reception from customers relieves them of fatigue, local delicacies delightful to savour. The furthest they went was 400km away to Gerik, where they stayed a few days and repaired over 30 sewing machines.

Besides maintenance and repair services, Uncle Lim promotes the practical usage of sewing machines in daily living, sharing beginner tips and tutorials on his Facebook page. He hopes to encourage more people to use sewing machines, or to regain this skill. Moreover, sewing machines are durable, old-fashioned ones still in use throughout several rural areas. Uncle Lim once serviced a hand crank sewing machine more than 150 years old, a precious family inheritance over three generations.

Though sewing machine repair is a declining industry, the skill is still valuable. Repair smiths like Uncle Lim who are willing to provide on-site services extend the usability of sewing machines, issues faced by perplexed customers resolved, thus escaping the sad fate of being sold as scrap metal. Utilizing modern technology such as social media not only unlocked a new chapter in Uncle Lim’s career, but also the rebirth of sewing machines.

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Video Editor : Amelia Lim
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Music : Valentines Day Romantic Piano

COPYRIGHTS 2020 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD