Category: Traditional Trades

Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city, Kampung Baru Seri Damansara is adjacent to Section 17, Petaling Jaya. Nestled within this new village is Ling Lam Physical Training and Treatment, founded by Master Ngui Pong since 1979, and has not relocated since. Back then, the spot was quite lively, folks come to learn martial arts and lion dance. In recent years, the focus is on administering Tit Tar (Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopaedics and Traumatology) treatment. Master Ngui has almost 50 years of experience, the reasonable fees he charges and his skilled techniques earned a good reputation. Ling Lam Tit Tar is rather well known in the area. 

Tit Tar is a method to treat injuries that originated from among the populace, based on scientific knowledge such as anatomy and physiotherapy, combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help recuperate, it proves to be effective and therefore commonly accepted. Tit Tar techniques involve using hands to touch and feel the afflicted area, in order to examine the exact location of the injury and its severity. Appropriate force is applied to perform bone realignment, then rub on medicine and bandage the affected area to limit movement. After a couple of days, the patient revisits to change the bandage and receive some physiotherapy. If there is no abnormality, the course of treatment can be ended and let the bones gradually recover. 

Master Ngui was born in Bukit Kepong, Johor. After finishing primary school, he went to work in Batu Pahat as an apprentice. At the age of 17, upon recommendation, he came to SEA Park in Petaling Jaya to learn martial arts, as well as Tit Tar, and sells herbal tea to earn a living. After a few years, his master brought him to Muar to visit his grandmaster, who hailed from LingNan, China. The grandmaster imparted a number of TCM prescriptions to him, from there he learnt to make trauma wine and balms. Master Ngui is grateful for the precious knowledge gained, when he started his own venture, he chose to continue the legacy of the brand “Ling Lam”.

The rented village house in Kampung Baru Seri Damansara originally comprises one small cottage, surrounded by open space, ideal for practicing martial arts and lion dance. Later on, it expanded into the current appearance. It used to be the family house of Master Ngui’s wife, Ng Siew Lian. Here they started their relationship, and subsequently built a family together while working hard to make ends meet, for over 40 years they never left the place. The front part of the house is the Tit Tar clinic, the kitchen for boiling herbal teas sit at the rear end. After their marriage, Madam Ng helps Master Ngui to run both the Tit Tar clinic and the herbal tea stall, and both of them studied TCM courses together to improve their knowledge. 

Master Ngui and Madam Ng each perform their own duties: He focuses on giving Tit Tar treatment while she oversees the operations. Nicknamed the General Affairs Officer, she takes care of everything from procuring, preparing, handling, to selling the medicine. Due to regular manufacturing homemade trauma wine, balms, and pills, Madam Ng knows all the recipes by heart. At the same time, she insists on using the traditional way, which is to grind medicinal herbs into fine powder form, instead of buying patent medicine. 

The Tit Tar clinic is jointly managed by Master Ngui’s family, his children also chose to continue his legacy. They learned the basics of TCM, and practises Tit Tar under their father’s guidance. The eldest son, Ngui Kok Feng, has 20 years of experience, and recently branched out at Berjaya Times Square to expand customer reach while offering more comprehensive forms of treatment. Two younger sons are still working at the old site, and the eldest daughter comes back to help from time to time, lending their parents a helping hand.

Over the decades, Master Ngui persists to administer treatment with integrity and kindness, helping patients to recover, and maintaining the musculoskeletal health of the local community.

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【About Tit Tar】

The place name “LingNan” came into being since the Tang Dynasty, and was one of the ten prefectures, which encompassed the modern regions of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan. Throughout history, several instances of mass migration occurred, as well as foreign invasions, therefore it is common practice to learn martial arts for self-defense and to protect the family. In olden times, the founder of a martial arts school would need to be proficient in three skills, namely martial arts, lion dance, and Tit Tar – due to people practising martial arts are prone to musculoskeletal injuries, they developed methods and remedies for treating such injuries.

Before healthcare facilities became widely available, people suffering injuries from a fall, a sprain, or bone dislocation would seek Tit Tar treatment. Nowadays modern medical facilities are everywhere, but not everybody want to wear a plaster cast or undergo surgery, hence the demand for Tit Tar.

Trauma wine consists of dozens of medicinal herbs soaked in distilled white wine with high alcohol content, and fermented over several months. Balms are made of medicinal herbs ground into fine powder form, and appropriate medium is added to cook into a paste. 

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【Martial Arts originating from LingNan】

The system belong to Hung Gar, which is prevalent in southern China, forms include “Taming of the Tiger in Gung Pattern” (Gung Gee Fook Fu Kuen) and “Tiger Crane Double-Form Fist” (Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen)

Tracing the master-disciple lineage:

Master Wong Fei Hung
A martial artist under Hung Gar system, renowned lion dance master, and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
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Master Lam Sai Wing
One of Wong Fei Hung’s most successful and influential disciples, he is proficient in both Hung Gar martial arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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Master Sung Siew Poh
One of Lam Sai Wing’s most prodigious disciples, he not only learned Hung Gar martial arts, but also mastered Traditional Chinese Medicine skills. In the 1950s, he moved to Malaysia and established the “Ling Lam Martial Arts and Fitness Academy” in Muar, Johor.
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Master Chow Tin Sang
Born in Yong Peng, he is among the first disciples of “Ling Lam Martial Arts and Fitness Academy” under Master Sung Siew Poh. Master Ngui Pong is his disciple. 
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Master Ngui Pong
Born in 1956, he is full of passion for Chinese martial arts and sports since a young age. In 1979, he founded “Ling Lam Physical Training and Treatment”, and also serves as medical consultant to numerous organizations both local and overseas. 

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

COPYRIGHTS 2025 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

Laid out on makeshift tables lining the five-foot walkway of Chai Huat Hin Trading at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee are cartons of dry goods such as garlic, onion, and ginger; tubs of dried marine products such as dried shrimp and anchovies; and a wide array of nuts, beans, and grains. Pre-packed dried fish maw with hues ranging from pale yellow to golden mustard suspend from the retractable awning rail, while bags of dried bean curd skin, shiitake mushrooms, black moss, and other ingredients hang above the entrance. Even though situated far away from the sea, Chai Huat Hin supply the city with marine products.

Practiced since centuries ago, drying has proved to be an effective way to preserve and extend the shelf life of various types of marine products, as well as make them more convenient for storage and transportation. In everyday Chinese cooking, intensely-flavoured and less expensive ingredients such as dried shrimp and anchovies are typically used to lend a rich umami taste to dishes. Exotic dried seafood such as fish maw, sea cucumber, and abalone, can be soaked to rehydrate before being incorporated into a wide range of exquisite dishes carrying auspicious meanings.

As Chinese New Year approaches, the last couple of dried seafood stores standing in Petaling Street are bustling as customers flock in to stock their pantry in preparation for reunion dinner. Chai Huat Hin is exceptionally busy, as customers return repeatedly over decades, even though some of them might have moved to other neighbourhoods or migrated overseas. Many younger family members accompany their elders to learn how to identify and choose the ingredients. Friendly and knowledgeable staff members are on hand to assist, offering suggestions and tips on adding texture, flavour, and nutrition to their dishes.

Chai Huat Hin offers an extensive assortment of products, with wild fungi and game from natural origins and premium dried seafood such as abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, oyster, and scallops. Another staple at Chai Huat Hin is the wide range of dry cured meats, including cured pork belly, Chinese sausages, liver sausages, duck gizzards, and the increasingly rare golden-silver liver sausage, which consists of pork liver stuffed with fatty pork. The store also sells sauces, seasonings, canned foods, dried fruits, and other items, making it a well-established one-stop shop for food ingredients.

The founder, Mr Lim Boon Peng, was originally a delivery driver, constantly on the go. After he got married, his loving wife, Mdm Tan Siew Keng, could not bear to see his always being exhausted. She pawned her dowry as capital, and got help from her father who ran a dried seafood store to introduce her husband to potential partners. Thus, Chai Huat Hin was founded in 1972. When the partnership dissolved 17-18 years ago, he was reluctant to retire despite being 60 years old, therefore he established his own trading at the current premises, maintaining the brand name Chai Huat Hin.

Running a dried seafood store is very challenging, with the greatest difficulty being the wide variety of products, which requires careful selection, quality control, and inventory management. The key lies in good coordination to ensure a steady supply without overstocking. The second-generation owners, Lim Bee Bee and her husband Mark, took over the reins after Mr Lim’s passing in 2016. With the support of veteran staff, Uncle Leng, who is like a walking encyclopedia, they are able to manage the business effectively and efficiently.

Traditional shops in Petaling Street offer customers ingredients they can see, smell, and touch, which is different from modern supermarkets and hypermarkets, giving those who are particular about quality peace of mind. Sincere communication and friendly service also provide customers with an enjoyable shopping experience while ensuring they get the right ingredients.

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

COPYRIGHTS 2024 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

Kien Fatt Medical Store is the most long-standing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) store in Petaling Street, established for well over 80 years, houses a Chinese herbal apothecary, a TCM clinic, and a pharmacy selling over-the-counter Western medicine all under one roof. Over the years, Kien Fatt Medical Store offers affordable TCM treatment and prescriptions for the public to help maintain their overall bodily health.

Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Petaling Street was a central hub for Chinese immigrants who came to Malaya to seek a living. It is where they eventually settled down and businesses sprung up to satisfy their daily needs. Back then, those who ran medical stores were typically well-educated and knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine. When Kien Fatt first opened its doors in 1942, a scholar was hired to manage the shop, who also doubled as an in-house TCM practitioner. Most of the Chinese labourers would come to seek help when they encountered health issues or needed someone to write letters home.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated in ancient China and has evolved over thousands of years, using herbs, acupuncture, and other methods to treat a wide range of conditions. Chinese herbal medicines are mainly plant based, but some preparations include minerals or animal products. They can be packaged as powders, pastes, lotions or tablets, depending on the herb and its intended use. The work in a Chinese herbal apothecary requires tremendous effort, the most challenging part involves memorizing hundreds of classic herbal medicine formulas, understanding the pharmacological and toxicological properties of each herb as well as multi-herb correlation to prevent undesirable side effects. For a start, one needs to learn to identify all kinds of herbs, and how to classify and store them. One then gets familiar with the Baizi cabinet (literally translates as 100 cabinets), eventually knowing the contents of each drawer by heart. Out of a large number of apprentices, only a handful persevered to become herbalists.

Generations of the Ng family have been traditional herbal medicine sellers, the first generation to immigrate to Malaya set up store in Rasa. The second generation, Ng Kien Poon and Ng Fatt Poon, sought work at Kuala Lumpur, amassed enough capital, and co-founded Kien Fatt Medical Store in Petaling Street, selling both Chinese herbs and Western medicines. In the 1980s, due to government regulations, they had to stop selling Western medicine. Instead they focused on herbal products wholesale and supply, becoming the exclusive distributor of Axe brand medicated oil. During the peak phase, their business expanded across Malaysia, and they have their own fleet of delivery trucks.

In the 1990s, the third generation heir, Ng Chee Yat, returned to Malaysia after having graduated from the UK, and took over the business. business. With his accredited qualifications as a pharmaceutical chemist, he set up a pharmacy at a corner of the shop. He then attained professional qualification as a TCM practitioner, and invited fellow TCM practitioners to set up a clinic together at the rear end of Kien Fatt’s premises. Realising the value and potential of TCM, they founded the KL Academy of Chinese Medical Practice, educationally collaborated with the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine in China, to provide training and further education opportunities, provide alternative career paths for ordinary people, as well as raise public awareness and acceptance of TCM.

It is increasingly difficult for traditional trades to survive in Petaling Street, and Chinese medicine stores are no exception. Kien Fatt Medical Store still holds true to its core belief, offering effective healthcare solutions to the public without costing a bomb, which is truly remarkable.

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

COPYRIGHTS 2024 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD