The Sinkeh In Town

He told me often times that he had to leave his dear mother at the age of 15; a norm in those days to leave home for greener pastures across the South China Sea for that Midas touch. All boys leave home then for the 'Southern Seas' (Nanyang) ; for food was scarce and poverty was reason enough to drive them out of the homeland.

So he bade goodbye to his 'Ah Meh' -mama; and he told me many a time he would wake up from his dreams with the image of her standing on the shores of the Kwangsi River waving with tears in her eyes. She was intuitionally sharp; never would she see her beloved son again. One way ticket. Poverty was so real; you either leave home and survive or you stay back and face a bleak future.

Papa said he had only ten cents in his pocket- given to him by ' Tai Pak ' - 1st Uncle, and in a cargo vessel packed with Sinkehs...a term for the migrants who came to seek fortune... finally landed on the shores of the then Malaya in 1934.

He was 'sold' to a distant relative from the same Hakka village (choon) in China who had come earlier and had apparently made it. We children used to call the relative 'sook kung' - granduncle...a stern old man who finally died of colon cancer in the 60s. Papa proved to be the loyal nephew; for he was the one who chauffeured granduncle up and down the general hospitals of Melaka and Johor Bharu in his most sickly days. The able-bodied young man saw to most of his physical needs and driving the Black Austin with the number plate M3023 , papa was then the jack of all trades and master of everything! Granduncle, I am sure at one point must have been grateful to the young man.

Papa's first duties were similar to that of a peon...he swept the floor, cooked and after finishing his chores, he would sit beside a 'sifu' and learn the art of gold crafting. His passage here was sponsored by the relative and his monthly pay of three dollars finally paid off the debt after 3 years ! Talking about big bullies and slavery.

But papa was a fast learner. He attended night classes and picked up the local language fluently. So very soon he not only became the most aspiring sales negotiator ; making tons of money for the boss, but also a deft goldsmith able to craft good pieces.

His workplace and tools. Papa started as an amateur but ended as a skilled jeweller. This work top has accompanied dear dad for the last 70 years and is still accompanying him. Robert would stand amazed each time we are in town to see papa so good at repairs and crafting articles; but age is taking its toll and papa now hardly crafts but would still help some clients in minor repair works.

That's the grand old man still at the workplace at 89...going to 90. Why are you still at it papa?

He says if he were to stay with any of us here, he would be bored stiff , listless and wasting away life. Two indulgences have kept him alert till today - the Mahjong game and business. He still enjoys engaging himself in little assignments and is still good at his tools. Just last month he was here to remove cataracts and went home grinning away. His eyesight is almost perfect now. Full of grit and facing life with the best practices, he is frugal but generous towards his loved ones. How can we stop work when he is still at it? He is the ultimate yardstick and a good example to the younger generation. We love you papa.

When in town with us he still pines for his Ampang Yong Tau Foo meal. Mind you, he has been on that menu since the early 80s and the dish is never the right concoction unless it is from this particular place:

Papa doesn't get to taste the original authentic Ampang Yong Ta Foo that easily these days cos it's a real challenge to go through the infamous jam . He sometimes has to make do with the version in Subang Jaya and he is not happy with it. So occasionally we still oblige him and go, just as we did before his cataract operation. He commented that he started eating yong tau foo at 15 cents a piece...now it's 80 cents. The old man kept harping at it.

Papa says all his contemporaries who came with him from China are no more here. He told me that while we were enjoying the evening breeze at Muar Tanjung during the Hari Raya break. Having resided here for the past 74 years he also said that Muar never changes...still the same old place except for the foreign workers...so full of them. Then he would repeat the Japanese Occupation story and how he would hide behind buildings when that siren was in the air. Then he recounted how the Japanese made them speak the language and how they were terrified of them. I would nod my head and go hmmmmmmmm.....

Hei, he is not senile. You'd better not challenge him at the abacus...even the calculator doesn't work that fast. And when it comes to interest in the bank, my head is boggled but his is as clear as the blue sky and I would again say hmmmmmmmm. He is right all the time with figures and can account for every cent!

Papa is smart. He attended school for only three years but his command of Mandarin beats an SPM holder flat and was insistent that all his children went to school and spoke English. All his children and grandchildren are grateful to him for what they are today.

Have fun in life kong kong... we love you.