Chapter 6 The Cadet Planters Training Centre

I strongly believe that I was a victim of circumstances beyond my control.Yes a racist rejected me and subjected me to extreme humiliation just simply because he was bias against Chinese planters.I do have my shortcomings I confirmed but that was only momentarily,had I been given the opportunity to recuperate things would have been better.

I was a poor young man with only a school certificate qualification and a few years experiences on Chinese owned plantations who just made it to the big time.With so vast new environment changed,the sudden transformation stunned me into some nervous setbacks.Admittedly I was slow in my response.Had I been able to secure and get hold of myself earlier with confidence I would have survived the onslaught.But never I reeled from mistakes to tragedies with no one to confide in when in troubles,guidance almost nil.Everyone were for themselves.Most care about their own skin.

I also learn that in big companies like that there were cliques,therefore you must be either in team A or B and which group ever made to the top his gang rises with him.When falling they felt together.I being new belong to no one,thus I was knock here and there.That was politics in the plantations.That was the corporate ladder so they told me and should know their game,how it should be played.Being ignorant of all this,thus I found myself on the way out.

The annual meeting of planters of the same group once a year of which I too attended but did not achieve any headway with any one or any team,because I was still on probation.When invited to join the ruby playing planters I made the stupid blunder of not joining them.This was one golden opportunity where I could have made good.Yeah,no use crying over split milk.

I was forced to swallow my pride bitterly and with bow head armed with a tarnished image and reputation,in humiliation I joined the Cadet Training Centre.There were the three cadets which were once under me when I joined the Division and now I had to study with them.The situation was shamefully intolerable but I forced myself to take it in my stride.

The Training Manager,an ex-chief clerk,was bias towards me from the very start.His nose was pointing towards the sky when he faces me and spoke similarly cold.Oh,how I hate his attitude,but I have no choice but to "sir" him from the very beginning.

He was a "Malaiyalee",who walked like a duck,stomach bulging up front ward and with backside jetting backward, moving just like a duck.His likened himself to Adolf Hitler with the same style mustache as former.His duck walk was never fast and never looked into my eyes when talking to me.I tried to be like other "Ball deck" him but to no avail because he had taboo against me.So I noticed I was a marked man there.Seeing my own predicaments I held my ground pretending like a damn fool,buying time and pondering what my eventual steps will be.

Deep within me I knew I can never changed that position I was in,so within three months I studied hard for the ISP examination on Estate Practice (Rubber).I obtained only a pass but actually expected a distinction because I knew all the answers well.Even though I passed that within three months ,to the Training Centre it was no big deal to the Company.With that I knew they just want to keep me there and allowed me to find my own way out without further humiliations.

Therefore when I passed that examination I only received a congratulatory letter from the Personal Manager DE Souza, nothing more.Had I been an Assistant that would mean an increment of salary of $25/= per month but they never gave me that,so I now am sure of my position.So having still no other outlet I stayed on,hoping for the best that was never to be any.

The Training Centre was situated at Sua Betong Estate,Port Dickson.All the cadets studied and resided at that Centre.Food was cooked by a cook including doing our laundries.Our daily routine was going round to nearby plantations for some field work etc.were valuable experiences as we learned as we went round the fields on our own.Before I was admitted to the centre I knew little about surveying and the handling of the dumpy level.Well at that we were given a drain one Plantation to perform our practical work.A drain that had been done over and over again by other batches of cadets.

In reality there was nothing the "duck" could teach us for he himself was lacking in field experience.I would not argue should the subject be accounts,That too he instructed all to read on our own.

The only thing I remember him teaching was the "Catherine Wheel" and the way he drew the wheel my goodness was a large circle with with hair jetting from a centre smaller circle.See,his filthy brain was only thinking of that only.Of course then he was talking about the road system explaining that where ever the roads lead to ,it must ultimately come back to one centre point.Well I must admit that was one big point I learn from him.

It cannot be denied that I learned nothing from that Centre I acquired much which were useful in the years to come.What I experienced in the plantation as a probationary Assistant were most valuable.C.T.Ross really polished me well so much so I was brought down on my knees. With so valuable lessons which I can never ignored all these locked deep in my mind.Well in certain way it turned me into a monstrous planter in the years to come, no one can worked with that easily.I think without a doubt I was more difficult to please than C.T.Ross.0r at least no Assistants ever survived under me.

The Training Manager never set any good examples for us to emulate,maybe that was part of our training if sleeping in his office or sitting like a dummy looking blankly into the air to past time considered as lessons.I observed that he only like to chat with all his kind - the other office clerks at the plantation office.

I was no saint either for knowing my short comings I foolishly indulged in "mahjong' at the Chinese Chief Clerk's residence,a very bad deed indeed and these were I presumed were in my bad report as well.Those poker games at the Assistants bungalows with games into wee hours were also uncalled for as I was only a Cadet Assistant.Such things do not go in well with the marvelous duck.Yes,it was my follies lessons well learned as well.

We had monthly tests all the while,somehow later in the middle of the year we discovered one of the Manager's pet student apparently had a key to all his drawers.This smart Alex we found out was always re-writing all his test papers or he had prior knowledge of all questions set by the Manager.The duplicate key could have been passed down from previous batches of cadets.With this discoveries I now know how prestigious this training Centre and my admiration for it diminished to zero.

However we did not exposed our friend as training was soon be over and let things be.Although we now know the questions of all newer tests it did not have much to help me.In fact I never saw any of those questions as I know myself and can handle those tests without other help.Come to think of it I think the rest of the cadets knew the questions set for the final examinations.

To make matter worst the Assistant from Sungai Raya accused me of stealing the tapping manual of his division,sheer craziness of him,how absurd of him.Ridiculous,I have passed the ISP examination on Estate Practice (Rubber) then and I knew the tapping system of RRIM and that of Good Tree by hard.That was because that was one of the question set in the examinations and I answered that very well explaining both methods in my test papers.For him that was necessity but for me I knew it by hard.Why should I take away something I already knew by hard.Even today I still remember those tapping systems.Besides,the Training Centre had many copies of that tapping system.

This guy thought that passing a year in law and can conversed well in English was hell of a big thing.Yeah,he can sweet talk to the Personal Manager pleasing him as well as the Training Manager.He was half Indian that was why he talked like that.Well he was an excellent poker player and had made some money from me,damn man.He flung Law because of Poker and from him I learn a grave lesson that is never gamble with those from the University they were really good poker players.Believe me and you would not regret it.

I continued to reside at that place going on as normal.The Manager spoke little with me and when that happened he never looked into my eyes.Yeah,I was an eye sore and a big head ache for me.For his instruction were to rid me gently.Accordingly he was never well equipped to teach us,he was still there because he was highly recommended by certain planter.That was why in such company one existence was who you know and not what you know.Knowing and experiences seem unimportant,should your immediate superior says you okay you are right and up you go the ladder.That is a good planter.

For me I learned a lot when going round the various plantations and their divisions.Come month end we were to help to do the c/rolls individually at the plantation's division.To be frank I was not good at it but as months went by I slowly became well versed with it.Of course those conductors were quite helpful as we struggled through those c/rolls.

Opposite our quarters was the quarters of the contractor who gave C.T.Ross and us the lavish dinner plus night clubbing while I was in the first plantation.Of course he knew me and I sometimes chatted with him during my off hours.Apparently he was the main contractor for few plantations around.Just imagine he had to reside in those wretched quarters and yet threw so lavish parties for the plantation Managers,each at a time,mind you,never all at once.See,how corrupted were all those Planters so called Managers,my foot

The hours of reckoning finally arrived and we were to go in for an oral and written examinations.Deep embedded within my soul I knew ,heads I lose and tail I still lose,no matter what? They do not want me that was for sure.I was in fact very well prepared and over anxious about the whole thing.

On the appointed day we reached Kuala Lumpur putting a night at what "Kowloon Hotel"a very cheap hotel.No air conditions except some lousy fans.We could had stayed at a better hotel but one of the Malay cadets wanted that.What a waste of fund residing at a third rated Hotel.That Hotel was full of prostitutes,perhaps he wanted to have one that why we lodged there.

That night I had a an extremely bad sleepless night due to my anxieties over the examinations.That bad environment spoiled my night,the noises from nearby rooms plus the noisy fans did not help me either.I rolled about in bed in suspense.We were supposed to be junior executives staying in a low rated hotel is simply not right.It is simply outrageous.

As if not bad sufficiently I accidentally cut my finger with a pen knife while sharpening a pencil,a bad omen indeed.I panic and was struck by minor nervousness.
My hands shivered and was not obeying my instinct to move as I wrote those test papers.Not that I did not know the answers,sadly it was my unsteady hand in nervousness was shaking so badly I could hardly write properly.Therefore my writing went from bad to worst and hardly readable.My bad writing definitely killed me off.

My thinking was impaired momentarily and I was talking just as badly as I wrote in fact I uttered some nonsense with my invigilators shaking their dump heads in disbelief.Were they dumped, no, only me.I gave myself away with that bad expression of myself.The Personal Manager was smiling broadly at me,of course,deep in his mind,alas he is going off in a nice way- good riddance.This I presume was what they have been waiting for.Served me right is it not so???????????????.

At lunch at the Selangor Club,I again stumbled on another stupid part ordering pork chop.A thing which I should not have done in front of the Muslim friends,a lacking in antics.That made the personal Manager laughed even louder.So I fared badly in my final examinations and did not expect any better results.

However back at the Training Centre,the results finally arriving .The elated Manager without wasting any time told me the result wasting a second the moment he received the phone call.With him announcing the results to me I was devastated and he smiled as he told me you are at liberty to leave any minute now.That was the first time I saw the duck smiled,well he was happy so should not he smiled.

In silence I packed my bag and left without a single friend to say good bye to me.What a sad parting.Yes in disgraced and badly humiliated I left.this was the worst part of my planting career maybe the end of it.The question remained that was it going to be the end of the road for me in planting.Well for one I am still very young and the road is still a long way on.I would not be blogged by just a simple failure at one company but they were not the only one around,as saying goes should be not acceptable in this wretched place surely the world seemingly so vast definitely has a place whereby I be retained.

The whole picture made them looked good but was it the very truth.No,never they never gave half a chance to make amends to improve.They wanted me to go all the while.Should their intention were benevolent they would have given an opportunity for a second chance especially when I passed that Estate Practice (Rubber),an examinations where their senior planters flung.Yes,I am sore of their attitude,no doubt about it.



To be continued when inspired......................................

Chapter 5 My Follies as A Planter

In July 1966 I joined Good Tree Sdn Bhd. as a Probationary Assistant.On the appointed time I reported to the Senior Assistant of Sengkang Estate,Port Dickson.I arrived there at about 2.00 p.m.where I met the Senior Assistant at his office,he was a Chinese man in his thirties,a short guy who put up quite a air with nose snorting upwards and speaking with a European twang.

He introduced himself to me but I could not grasped what his name was.Being new I had to stoop low and spoke like an ant hardly audible."What?"he would retort,"What are you talking about?",he asked back in style.Actually he had been expecting me but talked as if he was surprised.A little while later he called the office boy to request another Assistant's present.

Another Chinese Assistant came in and he was ordered to take me to the division I was supposed to take charged of.Yes,I do recognized this gentleman.He was from the same school where I last studied in but he was a new teacher then.WE always thought he was a graduate from Australia.Somehow he has now landed as Assistant Manager.
We talked a lot as we went to the bungalow I was to stay.

For the very first time I find myself in very different environment and was nervously very raw. I arrived with nothing much accept my clothing in a bag,not what was expected of me.They had anticipated that I would come in with many of my things and to come with solely a bag was what they expected.Nevertheless I have arrived. Mr Leow seeing my lacking was kind enough by equipping me with some necessary cups to go with.

The bungalow was a beautiful building with three rooms a sitting room ,a dining place and a kitchen.Apparently that was his last residence and he had apparently shifted out to made way for me.That evening he even supplied me my dinner.Yes I am very grateful to him forever grateful.

That bungalow was well clean and the garden well maintained.The floor of the bungalow was slightly raised by a foot or so.A luxurious bungalow by any standard.Mr Leow as he was called seeing that I was too raw told me that I should have a maid to look after all my food problems and to maintain the interior of the bungalow, he readily aided me to recruit an old woman for it.The first month I had food at the local plantation shop and at Mr.Leow's house.

With my first salary I purchased many necessities,like cooking utensils ,pots and pans,also plates and cups.I was told that in European plantation it was going to be different because if it pleases the Manager he might even dropped in for a cup of coffee or so.Actually he will not be dropping coincidentally but on purpose just to see how were everything at the bungalow.So one not only has to take care of the plantation but also must kept the bungalow up to date.

A gardener was around to maintain the garden and to run the generator etc..My water??? Oh my goodness111,I was shocked at the shallow well where my water came from.It was a rather dirty well, full of rubber leaves in it and worst of a all a film of rust floating on its surface.That was the water I consumed and bathe.So I had it cleaned.The well was never fenced up nor was the bungalow.Those days robbers were unheard of in plantation.

I was scared stiff initially but nevertheless I endured all those without a hitch,those were the times I was still afraid of ghosts,and I stayed alone away from all human beings at least by a mile.Every morning I went to the muster ground and tried my best at work.There were two cadets planters in my division and there a Senior conductor and a Junior conductor.Somehow because I was seemingly raw and unfamiliar with my new working conditions,I thus acted without much confidence I apparently did not gain much respect from them especially the cadets who were commenting badly behind my back.

My main worry were never them but my Manager and he seeing that I had no transport equipped me with an old huge and heavy motor-cycle.Somehow my no-confidence outlook and the Chinese way I express myself on the first meeting did not impress him one wee bit because after one month I was transferred off to a smaller division a Sungai Raya Division.My previous experiences were with our local Chinese planters whom I had no trouble getting my messages directly to them,but being new to this "kwai Loo"I appeared lost for words, I got nervous and in fear I was humbled.That did not went well with the Manager.

The first Division I was in was Sk. 2 Division fully matured rubber and the new one as per name written.Sungei Raya Div.,was a smaller division which was less than 1000 acres.it had young matured trees newly opened for tapping and young replanting.The Manager had sense that the other division was too easy so transferred me here.The first time he came to the field he was with Mr Leow the other Assistant.The Manager immediately tested me on the botanical name of a weed which I failed to identify.He pointed that to Mr. Leow and he answered "Tetersera Scandens".He waved his hands as if to say there you are,you do not know.

Yes,I was ill prepared for these botanical names,so I spent my time knowing all those names of common grasses.It was my mistake for having not anticipated that type of questions will come so quick so I was slow in my learning.When I have mastered that no more questions of those came my way.Whatever I was further sliding down my position with him.

We had a lot of corrective pruning of the clone RRIM 600 he would come by and never stopped as everything were alright.Then came the supplying of a stump budding into a field and the stumps used for supplying was quite big.I took it lightly when instructing the conductor what to do.I should have made him to supervise that it be planted correctly,failing which I should have gone myself.I for one should seen myself first thing in the morning.

Having perceived that other work in the other fields were more important I went there first,but the worker planted that stump with the Manager arriving there before me, first thing in the morning. That carelessly transplanting at that supply point drove him crazy.In fact in sheer madness he shook and pulled up that stumps up with all his brute strength,shouting abusive languages like a mad fool.

Without a doubt I was to take full responsible of that mistake.Another extremely bad remark against me.A grave mistake indeed but to me a lesson well learned,therefore I never forget that.Instructions were instructions and had to be adhered to with a must supervised first before any other work.Yes- I took it very hard on myself.A very good lesson indeed and I never forgot that-not ever.This lesson brought me a long way from home,it was embedded within for life.Sure it did me a world of good.

I was not even given an opportunity to explain myself.Yes I was given a death sentence without even a trail.Apparently bad things spread like wild fire and I was humiliated a laughing stock all round just because the Manager was maddened so much so he refused to listen nor see me.It was blatantly a tragedy for me,with so much adversity against me,with no one to confide in.Well,of course there was Mr.Leow but what can another Assistant do?.The "old man" or Manager had every right to be so angry and leaving hopelessly speechless.

As if insufficient I was struck by another blow of bad luck as the old motor-cycle bad leakage of oil at the engine, caught fire in the field and was slightly damaged.The pruning workers used up their drinking water to douse off the fire of my motorcycle.The over zealous way I expressed it the Manager,so lacking of confidence and visibly shaken with fear, stunted with annoyance on the old soldier of fortune tremendously.He gazed at me in astonishment and in anger that also spread as a joke by the clerks,putting me in further humiliation and utter shame.I was devastated as this surely would be another bad remark on my report.

Back to square one I had no transport but Mr Leow came my rescue for he loan me his motor cycle,a Suzeki. Under me its absorbers gave way and I have to have it repaired.My motor cycle was in the mean time repaired and I quickly returned Mr.Leow his motor cycle.And I owned him another favour.

Over stacked with so many unintentional mistakes, I tried to work hard but to no avail it was pointless,how hard I worked were immaterial as what little mistakes I made will be magnified by the Manager.Later,even my bungalow was taken over by the Cadet Training Manager and I was forced to reside with another junior Assistant at the main division.The Manager was staying on the hill top while we half way down.

There,I was given a smaller room at that Assistant's bungalow.A room where I can come out anytime without disturbing anyone especially when I leave for muster early in the morning.Mr.Leow was supplying me food but on transferred to the main division's bungalow,I shake my food bills with that other Assistant.

This Assistant was a popular man with the other Managers and Assistant elsewhere of the same company.Well,as for me I was a loner so we had separate night life.Occasionally I do went out with all the other Assistants for night outings in Seremban town and did what all men usually did.Hair cuts by female barbers and of course massages.What other things happened God alone knew.What ever it was all expenses were our own.

There were nights where we played cards,poker I though no harm done.No not really to them no harm but I as a probationary Assistant and not confirmed as yet was another grave mistake on my part.For one of these people was bound to be a spy and have these reported to the Manager.Another bad thing was the gambling lasted till late hours ,all against me a probationary Assistant.Worst thing was I was always the sole loser.

Before the Manager went on three months leave a Contractor threw him a dinner party and all the Assistants of that plantation was to go along.The dinner was held in a restaurant in Seremban.It was a lavish dinner thereafter we were at the night club.Hard liquor and dance hostesses about four of them,all on the contractor.Yes without a doubt this was my first taste of corruption on that plantation,what prestigious company??? A thing I cannot say no but forced to abide with.If this is not corruption then what is?

It seem to me that was a common event given by the plantation's contractor.It is alright for the contractor to throw lavish dinner parties to plantation Managers.Of course the Manager was all smile and smoking his pipe as if he was somebody very great.To me this is worst than all the minor mistakes I made.

The party went on till the early hours and the next morning we still had to work.Work we we must while he went on leave back to United Kingdom for three months.He position was taken over by the Senior Assistant who acted for him for three months. Nothing went a missed during that period because I was made busy doing a censor of a replanting area which was due for opening for tapping.The Acting Manager saw what I did and later the area was put into tapping.

Then the old man or Manager came back from leave.While in my division he instructed me propagate some Triloba cuttings with a single node.I had not planted that before so I asked the rest of the assistants.Their answers were,"Just follow the Manager".Followed him I did,so cutting with one nodes were planted in small polythene bags and shaded.

Triloba,a board leave leguminous plant ought to be propagated with a minimum of two nodes never one.My instruction was to plant with one node but had I known that the cuttings should be two nodes,I still would have planted with one node not two.For instruction from the Boss were instructions to be adhered to and followed even it were wrong.Even today should I put that simple question to any planter I think they will shake their heads in ignorance.Therefore the old man erred in demoting me.Deep within me I had the notion to blast his head off,should I know where his grave is presently,I will definitely go and urinate on it for a week.

Does the name C.T.Ross rings a bell in your mind,let me know,maybe a reward awaits you if you were kind enough to furnish me his present where about,even in his grave.Thanks.

I had anticipated the Manager to be pleased when he saw them.No,he was not he jumped like a crazy cow pulling up the cuttings and shouting.,"I sacked you for these".I was not laughing but many were.I tried to explain but he just simply avoided me,next thing I knew was I received a letter informing me that I was to join the training Centre for Cadets.That devastated me,at a lost of words.and having no where to go in humiliations I joined its cadet Training Centre.

I was a victim of circumstances where the Manager was bias against me as a Chinese planter from a Chinese company.This racist pig thought all Chinese planter were not their equavalent.Maybe he was right but he was no better for he came after serving in the army , he know was how to fire a gun and make a lot of noise.Being white does not make him more superior to us Chinese planter.

I was ill equipped when i first stepped into that company of different environment surely I did made some mistakes,but were those mistakes so serious to the extent that I was to be belittle as knowing nothing.Later in the Training Centre I passed the ISP examination in Estate Practice (rubber) within three months in it,did it make it clear that I was knowledgeable but slight slower to response properly that was all.Estate Practice,which many of their senior planters flung is a good measurement to my experiences, a few silly mistakes does not exhibit that I am a bloody fool as him.That silly English old man.

Without the slightest doubt I had acquired much regardless of the out come,the final gain were that many of these things experienced were never to be repeated ever again and I made sure of that.That was why I know was a very difficult man to work with,any way who liked to work with anyone who always double checked everything.Suicidal,is it not so???.But do not blame me for such shortcomings blamed those who ill treated me,they were the caused.








To be continued.....................

Chapter 4 As A Planter In Pahang

Selama was actually a lovely small town,well a one road cowboy town.The first day I was in town I was fascinated with a young man fishing by the side of town .It was a swamp with a drain flowing in its middle.The young man pulling in with his fishing rod a big "Haruan" or snake head.It amazes me that fish could easily be available with a rod by the side of town and a big one, too.

When I was there rice,sugar and milk were still under the plantation's control.A record of the control items was still in practice.It was so during the emergency but with the surrender of the Communists those were of the past,but our plantation still manages some items which will also be ultimately replaced as lesser and lesser workers wanted to purchase direct from us.

The workers would gladly give us up but our conductors seem not ver keen as I think that deplete them of some extra income.For example when there were ration of supplies to workers there were always excess.Where excess should the measurement of sales be properly measured in fact there should be a deficit because of minor spillage here and there.It seem those extra goes to those in charged so definitely they were not happy to give those up.

It was worst when there was "toddy"being supplied to the workers and more gains for the staffs.Free drinks plus money.During my time no more "Toddy" were available but "Samsu" illegally sold to the poor workers by unscrupulous profiteers.These illicit liquor were cheap,very cheap for workers but these liquor had bad side effects on the workers.

These were illy prepared prepared by moonshiners in the jungle hideouts utilizing dirty utensils or otherwise dirty water.TO acquire better profits all sort of things like dried red chillies and chemicals were added to get a better kick from it. Being cheap many workers consumed them in place of "Toddy". Such liquor were easily available.Many poor workers succumb to this "Samsu" which caused them to fall sick and many a times ultimately their lives.

Transportation out of the plantation was another difficult matter as I was given none.So whenever I wanted to go to town I would have to relied on private cars on the plantation,very often such transport were bone shakers.Those days not many new cars on the road.I usually traveled by the shop keepers old green car and it cost me three ringgit each trip.Food was never a problem as there a cook to cook for us.

While there I met several local planters mostly Chinese planters.Of course they were young men like me so we got along fine,only thing we were never drinkers.One of my planter friend was actually a plantation owner's son.Together we painted the small town red. People knew us well.

While there I was told to purchase some hard wares for the plantation,every things were easily available but what surprises me was the "kick backs" I received though my purchases were on credits.No money paid yet the "kick backs"was in cash.Well,I could not understand it initially but was told it was like that and more amazing were that every plantations were doing it.Like it or not I had to adhere to it,like an honest man I related that incidence to my Boss.

Whatever happened later I did not know for I was transferred out of that plantation to Bentong Estate,Pahang.I arrived at Bentong Estate on Feb.1962 and was given quarters at the second floor of the wooden office.My room faces the entrance road of the plantation.The plantation was solely rubber and the Manager my previous Boss from Hurst Estate made me in charged of its second Division,all matured rubber only small acreages of immature rubber.

Most of the workers were Indians with some Chinese from the nearby new village,Sg Penjuring.Residing here made my daily breakfast easy as the village had two coffee shops.For lunch and dinner the Manager was kind enough to supply me the food.It was a very hilly estate and I was given a motor-cycle for my daily used.That really solved my transport problems.

My Boss was an excellent drinker and he entertained planters and the local officers very much and at times he will tagged me along.Thus I forced myself to drink but to no avail I got drunk easily so I abstained from it.The Boss encouraged me very much as a planter,sending me the Outward Bound School from there.He also enrolled me to be a member of the Incorporated Society of Planters.

The ISP held its monthly meeting at a hut near to a small river in Karak.Very nice and cozy place.Initially there were some European Planters but later the number went down but then we had many Malaysian planters present so meeting went on.Planters whenever they meet they always drink beer and talked and talked,yearning their time away.

The ISP also offered some professional examinations on passing of all the subjects a Certificate will be presented and it seem they claimed to be equivalent to a diploma.
While there I sat for two their subjects and passed.They were Botany and Soil science.

I applied to join Good Tree Sdn. Bhd.,and was called for an interview with them.I went for despite my lacking in confidence.The interview went on very well with a very senior planter interviewing me.To my utter surprised he told a liking for me and I got the job. Within a short time I received a letter of appointment as a probationary assistant manager from them.

In July 1966 I left Bentong Estate to join them at Sengkang Estate,Port Dickson.

Chapter 3 How I Was Drafted Into Planting

My joining planting was an coincidence,see I was holidaying in Kuala Lumpur after my school certificate examinations.While holidaying,I was introduced to a plantation owner from Taiping,Perak.There I was reluctantly pushed into his plantation in Taiping by my Auntie.At that time jobs were scare to come by and the fact that I came from a poor family I had no other choice I grabbed it without a second thought.Continuing my studies never occurred in me actually no way even if I wanted to.

In actual fact I was very eager to work and worked very hard to secure a better future there after returned to capture a heart of a heart I left behind.Some childish dream but after years in working that seem only but a dream can never be materialized.All those fairy tales I read as a child were utter rubbish,their heroes always ended well and good,winning the heart of their love at the ultimate end.Stories were stories no actual truth,now I know.

Anxiously I joined the plantation in early 1960.The first plantation I worked in was Hurst Estate,Ulu Sapetang,Taiping,Perak.The acreages of that plantation was only about 1500 acres.It was a rubber plantation.There I resided with the plantation Manager.The bungalow was a double story building with two large rooms and a smaller room of which I occupied.

At first I always wore long pants while going into the fields,always returning home half wet and the bottom of the pants planted with numerous grass seeds.How do you like it wet shoes,wet socks and wet pants.Fortunately there was a maid to wash for me including preparing our meals.How very fortunate just out to work already got some aids.I am very thankful.As the Chinese saying goes "Just out on the road already there is a good Samaritan".Later I like all other planters like my Manager wore short pants,more like a junior planter.

Initially I always carried a packet of cigarettes whenever I went into the fields,thinking that by smoking will chased away those huge swarm of mosquitoes chasing me.Those days the brand of my cigarettes was "Players Gold leaf" (about fifty cents per packet) the other stronger brand was "Lucky Strike",the cheaper brand being "rough rider"(about thirty cents per packet).

These cigarettes were cheap, I did tried to smoke quite early in life, but somehow I never learn how to smoke correctly,despite being exposed to it all the time.Those were the times when it was fashionable to hold a cigarette ,perhaps more macho so to speak.Was I right,no it was absolutely not so.It never gave me any thrilled in smoking them so later I gave up and endured those mosquitoes.Mind you, a single slapped on those biting my exposed part of body, will definitely smashed at least five to six of them with many of them bloody.What to do got work when poor so no choice.

My first planting Manager was a Chinese Planter,although he had no training in planting he managed the plantation very well.Of course the boss often came into the plantation at least once a week.This Manager sent me for short courses at the Rubber Research Institute,be it conductor;s course or Assistant's course.Such courses were extremely useful to me and I learned a lot from there.In 1962 I was also sent to the Outward Bound School,at Lumut,Perak.This was a leadership course where I met many friends and experienced many more things.

I was in Hurst Estate,Ulu Sapetang,Taiping, Perak for slightly more than two years,and while there I was placed in charged of a small division of tapping.Those were very flat land and I was made to cycle there every morning.My division passed through two other properties.One a division Of Eagle Hurst Estate,guessed what? I met the Manager of Eagle Hurst Estate.Well he driving there in his Land Rover and I greeted him because we had been introduced sometime earlier.

We did not talk much as I was nothing then and he a Manager but I recognized him as the Manager who presided my fighting case in Telok Anson when I was a teenager.Now I knew him as Mr Dobin,an English man.Manager were the Boss around I was nothing so we never meet again,although he was my immediate neighbor.Some what I still knew more than he knew me.

There was an estate supply shop where most European planters used to purchase their chemicals and other hardwares.This shop belonged to a brother-in-law of my Auntie,thereby I became acquainted with it when I first step into planting in Taiping.These European used to spend a lot of time drinking there,well those days they drank nothing less than beer.From there I knew most planters were drinkers.

This Manager Dobin even had a Chinese wife while in Taiping and two daughters.Some how I haerd later that he divorced his wife here and married another from England.Now I also knew what type of planters were some European planters.No he was not the only one misbehaving themselves.Because further down the road to Batu Kurau there was a plantation called Norseman Estate,where the Manager had been supplied with women by the tapping contractor.Young female tappers were always sent to tap around his bungalow on a hill.He being a known womanizer would go near to them and made his advances,without fail every morning.However there were no complaints about him being so romantic.Of course lah,the women were well paid tappers.

Another plantation he Manager took his maid as his wife.This was a familiar case as she the maid was always around town doing shopping so her story was well known to all
Therefore what so great about these European Managers,they are but also human beings thereby subject to numerous temptations.With their position,why not?
Most of them came as bachelors many being soldiers of fortune cannot with stand the inert lust in them so inadvertently had no choice but grabbed whatever were available to satisfy their desire.

Many married those tappers or servants but many were transferred away when they had made some mistakes in making many such women pregnant and left them in a lurch.That was why thee were many half whites hanging around the plantation where they had been.Poor off springs without much education but on most cases the kind management had provided them jobs as artisans.I have seen some of these guys around during my tenure as a planter.But of late the scenario were slightly changed as most of these off springs were black in or half black in color meaning they were off springs of conductors.

In 1962 I was transferred to anther smaller plantation in Selama ,Perak namely Gunong Inas Estate.That plantation was very far from the main road exactly on the border .It had been a communist infested area,and those bandits had just surrendered to our government forces.With that surrender many of the ex-bands of bandits resided in Selama town as restricted residences.In other words they also surviving on government funds but with that limited allowances they still got drunk every evening on hard liquor.Funny a isn't it so?

I was told the bandits they committed a lot of atrocities to many planters with many mercilessly murdered after torturing them.Despite these "orang puteh"planters remained very brave and stayed on in their respective plantations. All the plantations along the road to my plantation of work all the plantation seem very cleaned.The road was also well maintained,only very slippery during rainy seasons.For the first time I learned of food rationing and supplying to all the workers.All food stuffs were controlled items but was relaxing when I step into that plantation accept for rice.It was controlled till the last.

During my tenure peace was already established every where and there were no more military patrols.Even house breaking were unheard off.The small town was very peaceful except for those heavy drinkers making the noise but they never disturbed anyone.Although there was no military patrols the police still maintained some regular checking on the plantations.

European planters were diminishing and their positions being filled with our locals.
Although a short while there I met a couple of these Managers.I did not mixed very much as I am a non-drinker.So they always said being a planter should also know how to drink and drink like a fish,sheer madness,is it not so?.Well I don't was that a set back? Yes in many ways.It would have made the difference should I adhere and joined them drinking.On the contrary it could be worst.

During those I always traveled home to Telok Anson every three month or so..On passing Kuala Kangsar town the taxi drivers will always comment that there were at least an Indian buried under those rubber trees of a certain plantation by the road.
I used to marvel in disbelief but actually no absolutely truth whatsoever.I understand that that plantation had a burial ground by the side of the road,so passing Taxi always though on seeing a funeral in process suspected that the dead were buried under those rubber trees.Therefore no workers were murdered and buried under those rubber trees.

Planters those days were ruthless and rough and shouting at every mistakes made,Of course what do you expect from soldiers.Many a times being drunkard that was why passerby suspected they were just good as murderers.Really they were never that bad as far as I have seen.During the communist days they were the victims of many threats and even killed.An extremely high price to pay working in Malaya not only that they had to endured those Malaria carrying mosquitoes where many also succumbed to it..

Some of them even made good and even constructed a castle like mansion in Ipoh.Of course William Kellie Smith was pioneer planter he made good as a planter as well as a miner.His opportunities were there so opened and direct whereby he got a land concession from full support of his Government about 360 hectares.Accordingly he came to the then Malaya before World War 1.He made his fortune initially on rubber and later invested into tin mining.

Having amassed a huge fortune he planned to built a castle for his beloved wife from Scotland.a childhood sweet heart actually.Together they had a daughter and a son.For the love of his beloved wife, a castle was constructed near to the road (Jalan Gopeng) in Batu Gajah,Ipoh,Perak,rather it was built on his plantation Kellas Estate.The ill fated building was constructed with imported bricks from India,even the workers were imported but unfortunately its progress were procrastinated with the poor workers succumbing to Spainish flu which took a high toll of them

The ill fated castle was further put on hold and left uncompleted with his untimely death in Europe due to pneumonia.In the final course his heart broken wife sold that property away to a known planting company.The uncompleted was left to rot away all these years until it was restored fully in 2000 by our Government.It is now a tourist site and opened to the public.These were the haydays of the rubber planting industry.

While in Hurst Estate,my Manager also introduced me to a black "European" planter of a neighboring plantation.This planter was a cowboy planter for he went about the fields on his horse.Well,he was the one and only one riding a horse rounding his fields.What was his name,let me think.I think it was Peirera.No offense to his off springs,please,.I am writing from memories but that was the truth.




To be continued............................

Chapter 2 My Younger Days

My initial encounter with a planter was when I was a teenager residing in an estate,namely Ratanui Estate,Telok Anson,Perak.As a young man I and my friends knew the estate like the veins of my hand.Hunting for birds with our catapults and catching fishes,fighting fish and "Haruan".

Being a low lying plantation there were systematic drainage every where with plenty of fish to catch.The water of such drains were never deep and the water very clear so much so we can see the fish hiding among the weeds.Catching them with bare hands were almost impossible although water were crystal clear, so we relied on chopping them with a long "parang".That way it yielded us some excellent results,only the poor fish will be in two pieces.

Sometimes we were more lucky as we could ransacked those traps set by some fishermen.Yes, we stole from them (those childish pranks),very often such fish were hell of a big size.At times we were not so lucky because as we put our hands into those traps we might held on to something very queer and shaking vigorously.As we drew up our hands we were caught in surprised a wriggling snake.In fright and in amazement all of us will yelled out aloud,"Wah!!! - "Ular" huh???",discarding it with a fast flung with all our might.Throwing the poor critter away on to the bush of the field.Well,most water snake were poisonous snake fortunately we were never bitten.

Snakes, I was aware do not attack or bite anyone unless we pressed them real hard hurting them then only they attacked.Well those were the my initial days in a plantation.We knew the Manager of the plantation was a European and we never met him in the field as we always played in side the fields where he can never see us.In any case we always avoided him and never dare ventured near to his bungalow although it was never fenced.

Those days the Manager's bungalow were never fenced.It was also a common believe that all the Managers of plantations were fully armed with a shot gun and even a pistol,let alone he had armed watchman rounding his bungalow at all times.Some where in 1959 I had an unfortunate encounter with one,where I was forced to see him,just because a worker reported to him that I assaulted his son.

Having been summoned to the office that afternoon to face him.In reality I was scared stiff - to see a "kwai loo"(white devil) woh!! surely I was frightened.On reaching his wooden office I saw the one I beat up and he was smiling as though I was surely going to be punished.So what I thought I have punched him I must not show that I am scared of him reporting to the Manager.

So I put up a brave front as I knocked on the door of the Manager's office and walked in when called.Politely I wished the Manager,"Good afternoon,Sir".He seem pleased with my gesture.What a stupid looking boy with tattered clothes, with almost unbuttoned shirt,dark,dirty and rugged looking.He was somehow very nice and said to me,"Hey! young man it seem you hit him?am I right?".

"Yes,sir,I punched him well and good",I replied."But why ?you are both friends?"he further asked."No sir,he is not my friend.You do not call such a bad fellow - friend,I have no such friends",I further replied."Now,now young man I don't like that,now you tell me the reason you hit him",he again asked sternly.

"Sir,I and him went to the field at the back of this office to cut firewood.In that field many young rubber trees and many dried old rubber trees.We saw a big branch on a huge dry tree and I decided to cut it down.Seeing my bicycle was having a tiny carriage and his got a bigger carriage,I made an agreement with him,that is I cut down the big branch and he was to provide transport for all the big branches back for me while I carry the smaller branches,and it was agreed that we share the wood as soon as we reached home".

"So I climbed up that huge tree and cut that branch down.As agreed he carried those bigger pieces of the branch back and I carried those smaller branches.On reaching home his sister saw her brother's load showed praises as if her brother was very clever bringing big branches back while I was a disgraced.He felt very proud refusing to share those wood with me ,so getting angry,I threw a couple of punches on him.Yes Sir, I punch him many punches and his swelling face was what I did to him".

"Did he cut down that branch?",he asked the other boy."Yes,but I carried those wood with my bicycle",the other boy replied."Then why did you not share those wood with him?",he again asked."But I carried those wood with my bicycle",the other boy again replied."I again asked you why you did not share the wood with him?",the Manager again asked.Still the same replied came.The Manager got extremely angry turning towards me told me," Hey boy,you did right.Now you can go home - next you punch him add a few on my behalf",he said.That replied put me on cloud No,9.

I thanked the Manager and walked away but as I walked away I heard the Manager scolding the man who made the complaint advising him to take of his son.At home I put on an air as I told my other friends about it."Ya,the Manager now my friend,see complaint against me,Manager liked me "chui mia"".The boy's parents could only banged ............Don't know bang what,your say.

Those days the European Managers were reputed to be ex-soldiers,that was the reason why they do not like dishonest people.Being ex- service men these Managers were often very rough and when angry can yelled at the top of their voice.Another thing they like to be "sir" all the time.

That was the year I think I saw the first Chinese Plantation Manager,being chauffeured driven in into a European owned plantation.Those were the first Chinese planter promoted from the rank and file.Later there were other Indian planters also promoted from the rank of chief clerk,mostly "Malaiyalee".These people monopolized that position throughout all if not most of the agencies.This was so because they always recommended their own kind at these levels to the Managers concerned.

Dunno,but apparently most of these "Kwai Loo" have a closer relationship with them.Many of those Manager depended on them to take care of their accounts,especially most of these planters were never well versed with accounts.It was well known these lot of people really know how to handle the accounts the Manager wanted them to be handled.They being the nearest to the Managers were often the first choice to be successful as plantation manager that should they possessed the ability to please the Manager,and most do.

I should know because I learn many things the hard way through these people should I want to get a long well in the planting world.Besides most of my good friends those days were them,with them I learn the tricks and trade of a planter,especially those left behind in their clerical fields.These

With that later young planters were recruited as cadet planters whereby promising young men were trained to be planters.The most notable Agency was Good trees Sdn.Bhd.Being in a Chinese owned concerned I there looked forward in joining such a prestigious outfit in the near future.At that time the minimum qualification was only a pass in Overseas Cambridge School Certificate Examinations.Anyway that was my initial aspirations.

Chapter 1 The Planter (as I see it)

A noble profession indeed of which I was part of it for nearly half a century.Wah!! yeah,wah!!!!!, no bragging,I was a planter for almost that long.Maybe I was not a good one but still I was one of them and no one can deny me that,nor the Incorporated Society of Planters where I was an ordinary member until I opted out for good.

Having been in it for so long perhaps I should write more about it.Well,maybe this will offend many so called good planters,but who cares.I don't, that is for sure.Those who have read my blogging surely know my story already,nevertheless I will carry on writing until I am satisfied with what I to have say.

Before going further let me describe to all what is a planter.The planter I mean was never the "padi" planter or farmer.Years back planters were Rubber Planters or Rubber Plantation Manager.A very powerful man and very important,too,likened to a small king of a tiny kingdom.In the days British occupation they were masters of huge acreages of land.

They were well respected because they were the Manager who had vast power bestowed on them and secondly because all of them were Europeans,even their Assistant managers were also their kind.The labor force looked up to them these white men with great respect as if they their god worshiping them at times.Each plantation of 5000 acres had a Manager and an Assistant,whereas small properties had one a Manager or an Assistant in charged.

In the colonial days all the plantation workers were of mostly Indian national brought into Malaya by them,They came in, in chains mind you in chains.All chained linked together on their legs,that is to prevent them from running away.When they came in chain their chain were dragged along the concrete floored harbor as they walked, making a clinking sound.That gave rise to the Chinese word "Keling".So that time onwards illiterate Chinese immigrants called those Indian laborers were known as "Keling".

Of course Chinese immigrants were also brought rather themselves as little pigs so they called to slave as laborers in tin mines and later the plantations.They were all called coolies.They fared no better than those Indian counterparts though they were not chained but were housed in kongsi and cannot wander away.Thus work in work place and lived in kongsi,no where,day in day out.Any runaways were severely punished or even murdered.Well those were the days.

Their smarter or tougher guys of the Indians were made the head of a gang of them whom they called "kanganies".Those kanganies were seemingly quite powerful after the conductors.Their main duties were to look after his gang of fellow workers,seeing that they performed their duties as specified and stayed peaceful around the line sites provided.

Chinese workers in plantation were always contract workers.The Contractor supplied the workers for the plantations under head men called "kapalas".Most of these workers were sold over here and having completed their sales contract were free to work for other contractors.Of course many were runaways workers from other mining companies.

Chinese workers days were porn to being bullied by gangsters and many forced to join them,failing which they will be prosecuted by them.So many were forced into force labor by such unscrupulous people.Notable big gangsters those days were Capitan Yap Ah Loy,he bestowed himself "Capitan".A good look at his old photos you can tell for sure he was nothing less than a ruthless gangster and a big bully.Then there were two or three known gangs not worth mentioning,to me they were equally disgraceful lots.

Many of these Chinese immigrants really by hook or by crook made their fortune around Malaya.Well my grandfather for early 1900 was for one who made it during that time.He was a Contractor,and owned a number of businesses in Teluk Intan mostly through collaborating with the British Governor .Many other Chinese Contractor also flourished likewise.

In Telok Intan those the well to do Indians were mostly money lenders or "Chettiars"as they were known,all stationed along Anson Road,where they had their temple.There only one big celebration here here part of the year.As a kid we always enjoyed their processions in the early morning and late in the evening,whereby Indians from all the plantations will come out and joined in the celebrations.

When I was a child living along Anson Road,I already have knowledge that surrounding Telok Intan were numerous plantations all owned by Europeans.Along Changkat Jong Road and straight on to about twelve mile were all plantations,all European owned.
The land across the river,opposite the police station were also plantations all owned by Euopeans.Then after Jalan Sungai Nenbong across the railway track were also fully developed.I know because my mother used to tapped rubber there as we as kids tagged along,supposely cleaning cups.Those days full of mosquitoes.I remember those dark brown water of those outlet fast flowing streams where Malay fishermen used to net fish.

Further down the railway line there was a sign concrete board beside it,denoting the burial ground of a gigantic elephant.Apparently the elephant had stood his ground to face the on coming train head on.Rumors had it that it was protecting its herd of elephants.Utter rubbish I presumed, because male elephants were proud animals and they would not bulged from any intruder or run away without a good fight.That was why it stood against the on coming train.The crushed proves fatal for it -for it was killed instantly.It seem it did not die in vain for it was remembered until today.A hero's death worth remembering.Bravo to a brave elephant.

Those were the days whereby the plantation Planters were all Europeans.Their trade marks were short pants with long stockings with boots,very often carrying a pipe in one hand and the other a walking stick.The pipe is to show that their were the Authorities and the walking sticks to poke about or tapping,pointing at mistakes of workers.Very often yelling on top of his voice at the shivering worker or "kanganies".Many of such "kanganies" were promoted to field conductors should they be good and obedient.

Somehow most their clerks were significantly Indians which Indian?, but "Malaiyalees".
Those days all clerical work apparently were monopolized by them and these people waged powerful influence over their Managers.Can be said they were more or less their assistants.Funny is it not so?.but it the truth.

The Plantation Manager went about the plantation always in a land rover,those huge clumsy monster those days,very often speeding through the plantation as king of the plantation.Jumping out here and there like a huge ape and with those shouting they made, obviously they were like one of them - apes only white apes.Many a time the bigger plantations, Managers had drivers to ferry them round what a big boss.?

One thing that surprises me were the respect bestowed on European Planters,because I noted with interests while I was Manager of St.Andrew Estate,Batang Berjuntai,that is the simplest of all things on seeing a Manager on the same road the on coming worker will get down from his bicycle,stopping to salute the on going Manager.This really was real colonial stuffs.Of course I did not like it one wee bit.Well,I advised them that was not neccessary as we were not the white men.





to be continued..........................

Chapter 21 The Boss Of All The Farms

With his exhibition a roaring success he was now a well known artist and philanthropist- a much sought after artist of course.Assignments began coming in so much so he had to withhold many until further dates.Not only that he now had his own art gallery.

The farm and orchard were all doing very well.In fact he had promoted his "kapala"to be manager of the farm while the orchard was managed by another "kapala",Ah Fong.With the resignation of the Manager of the 5000 acres Oil Palm plantation Ah Keong was promoted its Manager.In place of Ah Keong he employed another,recommended by Ah Keong.
He was now General Manager although he still resided in the farm's bungalow as well as the bungalow at the orchard.In reality he was now Boss of all his wives properties.

Rosie was forever more aggressive businesswoman intends to expand further,only Teddy was delaying them,taking it easy.Well.he still concentrating on his sculptures and paintings.He still maintains the studio in the farm and another larger studio on the top floor of the gallery.Now that he was well known his list of models were even longer.Whatever it was his main models were still his two wives and his mistresses.

He enjoyed staying in the farm's bungalow and stayed most of his time there.One late evening as he slept through a rain stormy night,he had a nightmare.In the dream one of his ex-girl friend came to see him.This girl he met before he was employed in the farm,so it was a long time friend.The attractive gorgeous girl was dressed in light pink - beautifully designed transparent skirt with low cuts,So sexily was she dressed that the low cut nearly reviewed her massive boobs.There was sweet smell of jungle flowers the aroma of which apparently filled every where.

The attractive woman told him that she was coming for him like it or not and seem positively sure of taking him away that night.That really send a shiver down through out his spine.However,in fright he told her "How can I just leave like that because he had responsibilities to look after, his wives and children".Unfortunately that voluptuous dame could not be bothered nor deterred at what he said,by grabbing hold of him and kissing him all over his face an d neck.Yes,he was sexually aroused and responded by kissing back violently.

So tempting and adorable was she,that he just could not resist her advances but engaged with her sexually again and again.It was a long night but when all those ended before the cockerel crew.Further,as she left, she left unwillingly giving him a big,big kiss and a check bearing the figures 6681.00 on it.She just disappeared and no sooner had she left the check also vanished into thin air.Teddy surely remembered those numbers written on it.It was 6681.00.

That morning he woke up in cold sweet,and too disturbed to return to sleep there after,so the rest of the morning he could hardly sleep a wink.Next morning he told his Manager Ah Chan about it.And you know what woman being talkative spread the news of the nightmare around.All the people at the farm and orchard brought that number at Magnum draw that day.Yes it brought a small fortune for all who heard his story but he did not strike,not because he had no money to bet on it.It was because he did not want to die.Apparently he believe that dream and to bet on it and win might meant that he had to forfeit his life in exchange.

Now was that a nightmare???.Nay,never the female ghost did come to him.She wanted to take him away but at the end she left him alone after an evening with him.Teddy consulted a medium who went into a trance.Believe it or not the ghost apparently came up from hell reviewing that she was still madly in love with him but now she could not take him because she was about to be reincarnated.

The farm improved significantly as all the durians were fully matured.His breed of chickens - the cross between wild fowls and local chicks have yielded a breed of better chickens,very demanding in the local markets.All these pleased the wife Rosie very much.The orchard on the other hand was also doing extremely well with all its fruits fully matured.Fruits from both farm and orchard were in high demand because of its qualities.

Teddy now being the General Manager had plenty of time to indulge himself fully in sculpturing,instead of involving in life models he also now do carving of other objects depending on the materials he had in hand.Famous ladies still continue to offer themselves to him as models and the list is forever increasing.All tese works he now do them in his studio at his own art gallery.

Once he did an art work of a famous singer.With the presence of the attractive and popular singer,the surroundings of his studio were often crowded with onlookers and photographers causing much inconvenience.It remained for few days when he was doing his sculpture on her but soon it was over after he completed his work on her.Many had sought to have a glimse of that piece of art but could not because the songtress had it removed back to her home.
To write further when inspired......................thanks.