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.