UNINESS

The Story of Kampung Baru Sungai Nipah

Cease to struggle and you cease to live.

20 years ago, a merciless virus brought upon a disaster to Chuah area, reaping over a hundred lives, crumpling the swine farming industry in Bukit Pelandok, which used to be the largest swine farm in Southeast Asia, and the neighbouring Kampung Baru Sungai Nipah. The Nipah virus outbreak caused a massive shock, and the whole nation was thrown into panic. The government then declared curfews, evacuated villagers from the stricken region, as well as began the greatest pigs culling movement in order to contain the disease. This rewrote the future plans of almost 80% of Kampung Baru Sungai Nipah villagers who relied on swine farming to make a living, as they lost their source of income, dealing with a heavy blow.

20 years later, the virus outbreak may have changed the appearance of Kampung Baru Sungai Nipah, however it did not break the tenacious wrestling spirits of the villagers, who are unyielding, eventually transforming the village to develop in other industries such as plantation and tourism. Under the cooperation from the village committee and villagers, sprouting new vitality into the rustic village of Kampung Baru Sungai Nipah, for instance winning runner-up in the national most beautifully decorated new village contest, and the first village in Malaysia to name its roads in Chinese characters after local fruits, and the establishment of Sungai Nipah Time Tunnel Museum, recording the building history of Kampung Baru Sungai Nipah as well as the Nipah virus outbreak.

A calamity which destroyed a peaceful and prosperous village, and caused the villagers to suffer both physically and mentally where bystanders would not be able to comprehend. Even so, being optimistic, and having faith that the sun will shine after the rain, the skies remain blue, and a rainbow will appear across the sky, a multicoloured arc.

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Music : Piano Ambient – Ashmaluev from Youtube

COPYRIGHTS 2019 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

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Bǎi Jí Joss Stick Maker

During deity birthday celebrations or when praying for blessings, brightly coloured joss sticks could be seen, sizes range from 4 ft up to 20 ft or even 30 ft. Besides being an offering to deities, joss sticks are also a form of traditional folk art. Especially pure handiwork joss sticks made by craftsmen, the intricate skills involved and the strenuous procedures, are admirable.

Not far away from the main street of Bukit Pelandok, following the expanse of a side road named “100 Acres” along the Sepang river, there is a handcrafted joss stick factory. The person-in-charge Mr Ong Sze Hong (transliteration) named the factory as Bǎi Jí Joss Stick Maker. Mr Ong mocks himself as being inexperienced, as joss stick manufacturing is not his career, he has been helping in his elder brother’s joss stick manufacturing factory when he was young, alas the factory closed down after a few years. At present, he inherited this skill under fortunate circumstances.

The procedures of manufacturing handcrafted joss sticks put patience to the test, and is not to be rushed. From the materials, style, size, coating, dragon head, moulding, dragon body, pinching and pressing, painting, to packaging, it takes at least two months, even up to a year, depending on the size of the joss stick. The most time-consuming procedure is the layer by layer coating of wood bran, once a layer is thoroughly dried, only can the next layer be coated. Meanwhile in the drying process, the joss stick should not be exposed to sunlight to prevent cracking, and weather changes affect the progress rate of natural drying.

Even though there is a steady market demand for joss sticks, a chasm has appeared in the manufacturing of traditional handcrafted joss sticks, rarely any of the younger generations inherit the legacy. Under the challenges imposed by limited manpower and mechanization, despite bearing cultural essence, the traditional joss stick manufacturing industry faces difficulties in operations and inheritance.

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Video Editor : Michael Lerk
Music : Another Day To Remember from Felt Music

COPYRIGHTS 2019 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

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Belacan in Bagan Parit Baru

Wafts of salty prawn odour are sent along with the ocean breeze. On the wooden platform just in front of the house, plain brown belacan are spread out neatly to be sun dried, some already pressed into bricks, some minced and unprocessed. This family-run belacan factory is operated by the second generation successor, Mr Kee Bok Wah (transliteration) and his family, being one out of the two belacan factories in Bagan Parit Baru which is sparsely populated by only 300 people.

Similar to other fishing villages, Mr Kee’s house is built along the estuary, the river flowing towards the sea, easing the passage of small fishing boats. Building a wooden platform as well as a small harbour in front of the house is convenient for their own fishing boat to unload fresh fish and prawns, also enabling immediate sorting and handling. At the same time, Mr Kee built a small scale factory opposite his house with a larger surface area, mainly for marinating and fermenting procedures.

Belacan is made up of small prawns (Acete Chinensis) and salt, after mixing, marination, and sun drying, belacan is loaded into casks for a month-long fermentation to absorb flavours. Afterwards, processing is carried out according to different demands, and frequent sun drying, then only packaged. The entire process takes months, having complicated procedures, the quality and quantity easily affected by factors such as weather, season, saltiness of the water etc.

Even though manufacturing belacan may be a tough task, the Kee family continue to use the traditional way of manufacturing. Under the cooperation of the whole family, Mr Kee’s children also adhere to their duties, inheriting the family business, maintaining the legacy.

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

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

COPYRIGHTS 2019 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

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