Chapter 21 Replanting Of Tavy & Semanbu

Chapter 20 The Police Raids

Chapter 19 My relationship with The Mill and My Staffs

Chapter 18 The Work Force and Harvesting

The ravines roads constructed during my long stay in that plantation served us well as most of the ravine crops were harvest and collected back to the Mill.When these roads were newly opened up the sight by the lakes' sides were horribly disgusting, littered with rotten crop every where.The Boss saw them and was extremely mad at my predecessor.

Only shortcomings here was that I did not have the time to construct some of its side drains,thus with the natural flowing of water every deep pot holes were every where.Tractors were bogged down here. We were having only one backhoe.I had a hand full of jobs for it,the sole backhoe.I failed to convince the Boss to purchase another,despite the heavy jobs load..Naturally there were other options to have those side drains constructed but the Boss was not willing to spent more on them.Therefore I had to give top priority to other jobs in hand first with over worked backhoe.

As our palms were old and quite tall,we had to join two alluminium poles to reach the fruits.There were times that the poles were further extended to another ten feet or so.Previously it was easy to obtain workers to harvest those tall palms but trained workers were getting scared as the the labor force overturn were quite fast.

With old workers leaving for home after two to three years ,new workers were recruited.Such workers had to be trained and training seemingly hard.The number of absconding were high.The red tape existing for recruiting laborers made it difficult to recruit them even though we were willing to pay for them, their permits were not easily obtainable.

Plenty of money were spent to recruit them.I was twice swindled by unscrupulous Agents.Once to a small timer in Kuantan whom I caught personally.I had wanted to give him a trashing had not been the people around who knew my plight stopped me from it.That was a Chinese conman.

Another who ripped us off about forty thousands ringgit from us was an old Malay man.He was an unlike conman yet he was,and able to convince me that he being a religious man with a white cap could help us secured the required work permits.My Boss saw him too and so we agreed to allow him to apply the work permits on our behalf,but he absconded with our money,It would have been more had he able to cash the cheque which was in favour of The Immigration.

A Police report was filed and when the Police went to his purported office he had already packed off.Later they found him alright but the old man was already in a very pathetic state so much so they just let him be.What can I say???.I was fortunate as the Boss did not held me responsible for he too had a hand in wanting the old timer to apply those permits on our behalf.

Planters were also human - so to err is human,to forgive divine.
Easier said than done.At least we learned a lesson and be more cautious the next time around.next time around we went for established companies to recruit our workers.The law required the proprietors to apply for those work permits etc.,but how far true were that as I still workers' agent going around at the Immigration.

For the application of permits we had to make supply the Immigration with many details in booklet forms.When approved only did we employed an agent to recruit the foreign workers for us.As such we were in directly getting all the workers thus this leave the contractors nothing to do.

This being the case the harvesting contractors were thus retrenched,leaving me more jobs in hand.By now I had also to train these new workers to become harvesters.
There were little doubts that my assistants and conductors wee incapable or not up to standard.Instead of depending on them,I promoted some good workers to be mandols to trained all those new workers and it worked.

Of course not all the new recruits can be trained to be harvesters,those not good were taken out and worked in the fields.Then there those who were to be absconded from us,we were actually left with a little more than half able body as harvesters.
Thus actually the recruiting of harvester were expensive.


Manager hated by all dirty job
the big hole planting
Tavy estate replanting and semambu estate
the assistants to be

Chapter 17 .Initial Maintainence Of the Plantation

It was definitely one huge surprised when I first stepped into those fields of the plantation.Those fields although fully matured,their condition could only be termed as fair.

From the road side.all the fruits were clean almost clear of weeds,but it gradually became bad to worst as one rolled down its ravines.There were no linked roads to the far bottom end.Whilst the palms were young all harvested FFB could be carried to the middle road.Of course when the palms became older,the bunches of fruits were automatically increased in its sizes,making it difficult to carry uphill.

Talking about roads there were some existing road whereby most were old timber tracks.Timber tracks do not suit in the harvesting pattern.Timber tracks served loggers well but not the harvesting of FFB,worst still should the palms be older.

So with this how can I not served the Company well,as everything seemingly handed to me on plate.Immediately I put my experienced in to full used.The ravine roads were constructed.With that all crop were not only harvested but removed back to the Mill,even those that had fallen into the lake sides.

Spraying of weeds could reached every where,the contractors now had larger track of land to cover with those old spraying rates remaining the same.The contractor could not make any profit with this,yet they stayed on.The only person happy appeared to be the Boss for now he could go directly into those bottom fields to see things for himself.

When making the roads at those ravines all existing thick bamboo grooves were cleared.Clearing them manually was impossible but the bull-dozer handy there were no problems.All along people for reasons beyond my comprehension had refused to pushed all those bamboo grooves into the nearby lakes.

In reality my dumping all those bamboo grooves into the lakes encouraged the fish populations to increased tremendously,providing them with ample food supply and hiding places from bigger fish and reptiles.This plantation has many natural lakes,one huge lake and many smaller lakes.

All these lakes provided good fishing grounds for people living nearby.They were kampong folks who relied on the lakes for a livelihood.There are also many lakes within the jungles nearby which also provided the same.

Anglers from as far as Kuala Lumpur came here to fish during weekends in the plantation's lakes as as well as the numerous lakes in the nearby jungle.This plantation as well as its adjacent jungles were also hunting paradise for hunters.The jungle were hunted until most of the wild animals within were extinct.The amount of "rela" guns given around the new village and "kampongs"helped to deplete the jungle of those wild animals.

Tigers and "seladang" were not spared either.Of course those wild elephants being a pest of the plantation were also eliminated for good.Those plantations around could not help them and all the planters had jobs to do that were to established their new plantings of Oil Palm without any damages from those pests.

With the new ravines roads done,I continued to construct further roads in the middle of most of the fields.Only adversity within these were that we do not have laterites suitable re-surfacing of all roads.Whatever it was top priority was to have the main road strong and secure for heavy vehicles as the main road leads to the Mill.

It was,therefore utmost important that there was no let down here and had to be maintained with laterites and stones from outside sources.Once I had this main road to the Mill from town and all other main field roads re-surfaced with mining stones from the Gold mine in Luit.

Resurfacing the other field road could be extremely expensive.Whatever it was this being a hilly plantation,transporting all harvested back to the Mill was extremely difficult especially during the rainy weather.Fortunately we had the bull-dozer around to help us tolled up from the ravines to the main plantation roads.

When topping up the main road we also make various attempts to re-surfaced those steep roads but to no avail,for those will easily removed as the tractor making attempts to climb those steep slopes dug into the roads.Very often very deep tracks were cut into those roads.The service of the bull-dozer was thus invaluable.

Initially we had on old Caterpillar D4,later we acquired another larger model D 6.We brought it second hand at a really cheap price.We also brought another "white elephant",a second hand D 10(D 10???,yeah I have forgotten,sorry),though a write off piece of metal,worth its cost in iron materials but it could still served us in time of need.My Boss apparently is a collector of old bull-dozers.

My wish was if only he could further equipped me with another backhoe it never came by.So my plans to have side drains for all our field roads was never accomplished.My other backhoe was used to dig bigger planting holes for my replanting.

I had initially made bigger planting hole for my supplies of oil palm seedlings into part of a field where laterites had been removed for road works.The flatten areas seemingly barren,the soil was hard so hard even grasses refused to grow there.So I had big holes 10 feet by 10 feet,with depth about two feet,then had them filled with top soil from elsewhere.

The Oil palm seedlings planted there grew up very fast and within two years we had some harvesting.This method had been tried out in a plantation in Malacca by a Chinese plantation owner and he claimed to have better growths and yield in his fields.

My Boss knew about it and sent me there to observed what had been done there.When I reported my findings to him he encouraged me to do the same with our replanting.That was how I got involved in this big holes replanting.Ours was low budget replanting as we only poisoned our palms in stages.

With linnning done the proposed replanting area was terraced and big holes dug in.The poisoned palms died slowly and its fronds dropped gradually,only thing we had to clear all dried leaves on young palms every now and then.Spraying of weeds were slightly hindered.

My Boss always interested in new crops or any other alternatives to Oil Palm planting.Someone told him about Jati (teak) and without hesitation he placed orders for them.We of course had ti listen to him,so a nursery for them was set up.

He had no intention of really planting them as a crop,just simply planting them out of curiosity.An agent from Kedah supplied us with the germinated seedlings.It grew well im the nursery but in the field it was totally different.I was instructed to have them planted in the inter-rows of the new replanting.

Their growths thus varies from locality to locality.Down the ravines sides they grew well and fast but not so on the hill sides.Unlike rubber its shoots were plentiful so to maintain a straight stem were almost impossible of the ways they branches about.The best I could acquired were about slightly more than ten feet of straight stem no more.I had experienced of them for only three years or so.

Another crop we tried on was Jojoba and I too attended a seminar on it in Penang but to no avail the crop was a big flop.A batch of seeds ordered by our supplier did pass the nursery stage.The seeds germinated and grew well in the polythene bags,but once they have depleted the food in the seeds they just withered off.That was never a crop to be for Malaysia.


to be continued

Chapter 16 The New Bungalow

Within a short period of two months within that Company I had the full permission of the Boss to shift into the new bungalow built some five years ago but left alone without any residence.The Boss had refused to allow that predecessor of mine to move in.Well.I was able to convince him to allow me to shift in,much to the utter surprise of many who had plotted to frighten me off.

It was easy as I showed my stuffs to the Boss.My first impressions were never gopod to anyone but given the time and space to prove myself I managed to convince the Boss that I was make for that position.Of course with mu experiences I was able to handle the Boss with eased.My predecessor had not the quality nor experience to do so.No bragging I was able to read the Boss mind.

To begin with,I first found out why my predecessor was not given the permission to move in.He had bravely requested for a separate generator for his bungalow which the Boss refused flatly without confirming it.On this I cut that short by informing the Boss that the generator had to strength to cover all the staffs' and Manager's bungalows.I also took the liberty to reduce the running hours of the generator by at least seven hours daily thus saving precious fuel and repairs.

When you performed to cut down all costs always for the Boss's favor, one cannot go wrong.Should it back fired so what?,that should be respected as a good try.My experiences were telling.With the cut back of the generator set ,the breakdown were simultaneously reduced if not none except for the regular servicing which were unavoidable.All running time of generators and water-pump were trimmed down.All the above seemingly handed to me on a plate.

My actions pleased the Boss tremendously but not the others especially my Assistants and the staffs.Well,they were nothing only the Boss matters to me so hang them high up there.

The bungalow was situated at the three way junction and not fenced but that was no big deal because within the next three months I was granted the permission to erect a six foot high fencing around that whole plot of land.The bungalow as I moved in was infested with bats in its roofings but not doing any damages as yet.There were also a family of barn owls residing with that roof.

When night falls those rats ,bats and barn owls will be crawling around giving the atmosphere as the place was seemingly spooky if not haunted.For any new planter that should put him in fright but for me such things were common in bungalows especially those old colonial bungalows.Later I found out that those barn owls were residing in both bungalows,the one I lived in and the other the Enginneer's bungalow on a hill a short distance away.

Within months of my shifting into that bungalow I requested permission to have six foot wire netting fencing around it together with all existing land around it.With that erection completed I planted many fruit trees within that compound.Within a short period my bungalow was producing a large variety of fruits.Many types of flowers were also planted and I had a gardener taking care of all.

With those sucesses the Boss gave further instruction foen another plot of orchards directly behind my bungalow of which I planted a large variety of clonal durains.Here I was similarly a sucess as me durian soon bore fruits within three years.To the surprised of many my durians fruited within three years of planting.

Of course there was a technique to my planting method.Many do not agree but I had the fields to prove it with the trees that bore fruits within three years and these were other areas to confirm them.The methods of planting did played an important role which brought about the early maturity of those durians but also the clones of the durian involved.Certain clones like D 24 only bore fruits after at least six years in planting.

I established about ten acres at the back of my bungalow as an Orchard plots planting mostly durians and other fruits.As the those durians grew,I had a bard wired fencing erected around it.Fencing poles were sawn hard wood which littered all round the fields or at jungle edges.

These heavy hard wood were discarded in the fields during logging because these had no commercial values because the trunk had huge holes in its middle.Somehow burning them away were also difficult and thereafter left to rot by it selves in the fields.Seeing so many of them lying around I had them sawn into suitable sizes for fencing poles.I think this was a common features in all other plantations in Pahang.With that I saved something for the Boss for we need not purchased those durable fencing poles.

My bungalow was another show piece for the Boss because I had planted a lot of flowers all around the garden of my bungalow.Established within were many other fruit trees such as Durians,rambutan,oranges,pamaloes,star fruits,guavas,coconuts and chikus.The fencing of house were creepers blooming with radiant purple flowers,even over my gates.It was so attractive that the Boss brought his wife to have a view of it.

So attractive was my house yet it was seemingly spooky especially when in the late evening,when the bats come a flying in the open.With squeaking sound they made really makes on to wonder what were installed at the attic.The barn owls never help despite the fact that they were feeding on those bats and rats.Bats carried with them the dreadful bed bugs which consumned human blood. I always had my floors extra well sprayed with insectixcides.

THe barn owls were residing in both bungalows,mine and the engineer's which was situated on a hill.The family of barn owls therefore plied from one bungalow to the other,but stll I think it were the same family.When they gave chased to the bats and rats in the attic it really send frightening feelings to any new comer to my bungalow,while dweller like myself this was already a common thing.

As I resided there alone,I placed a guard in my sitting room.Yes, a guard with a shot gun,just an old timer with a gun.By such I can sleep in peace at night.You can really take chances in such an environments.Those noises from the attic certainly meant nothing by now.I was protecting myself from any intruders if any.In a plantation where the workers were mostly foreigners one cannot be careless.

The night life in the plantation were seemingly peaceful with the lovely evening breeze blowing most of the time.The sweet smelling of wild flowers were in the air in late,late evening.With wild flowers flowing in wildly signifying the presence of ghostly thing around.True?To me,yes it is true,female ghosts were around when the breezes brought in sweet smelling wild flowers.

I have met them so to say to tell the stories of my encounters with them.Believe it or not once one beautiful ghost offered four numbers ,and it came up in Magnum.I was greedy because I valued my life very much.That was why I banged hard in Toto not Magnum which was out of the way.I could easily had struck fifty thousand ringgit but my life was worth more than that.
Because should I strike the four digits with those numbers,my winning should not be less than five hundred thousand.

Most the bungalows I had dwelt in were huanted especially those colonial type of old bungalows.I had come a crossed them in the past.Initially during my earlier I was damn scared of them ghosts but having met them on numerous occasions the fear went off.Yes I even made friend s with them.Who says "Ghosts cannot be friends".








to be continued soon when inspired.

Chapter 15 Sri Jaya - Here I Come

In early 1986,I attended an interview with the Director of Sri Jaya Oil Palm Estate.At the interview I gave a good impression of myself to him and almost immediately was offered a job.I was not employed immediately because I was misdirected to another executive of that company.In fact that was a slight blunder on my part for I was not aware of the Company's set up, thereby directed to the wrong guy.

I was actually requested to see another Director and thus the mistake took place. However,there was another appointment for me to see the Director- to report for duty.This time I also did not repeat the same mistake and saw the one I was supposed to see.Yes,the old "Dato" saw me but I was told he was never impressed at the sight of me,fortunately the deciding force of the former put me through.

The following week,I went early to the plantation to met my appointment.I was to wait at the town main coffee shop for an executive from the main office to take me into the plantation.However, the coffee shop was not yet opened for business when I arrived .So,I got to stand there at its front to wait,just imagine a total strangers in shorts waiting alone in front of the coffee shop and with a large bag by his side.Not long later the shop began its operation.With that,at least now I got a place to sit down,relaxing with a cup of coffee.

Waiting for people was always a long and tedious wait,can be very tiresome.The appointed time soon came and gone with no sign of the executive I was supposed to meet.An hour or so past,finally that executive dropped by,murmuring silly excuses which were quite inaudible.But then who cares he was here already and that was all that matters.He joined me for drink before he drove me straight into the plantation.

Little did I expect there were plenty of surprises awaiting my arrival.He drove me for quite a distance before arriving at the plantation office.All along the laterite road were lined with old Oil palms,I could not make out where I was.I was filled with exxcitment over my new appointment.Finally we crossed a small river towards a fenced area and there it was a wooden old building which he called my office.

What a dreadful sight indeed to behold.Just imagine my office an old collapsable building? Bad at first sight,no doubt I was taken aback,but nevertheless my job was to manage that plantation whatever the circumstances.The office was there fore immaterial,the job was.I was formerly introduced to the staffs,a skeleton force,but never really impressive.I was than an experienced planter such problem can never be my problem.

There was the Assistant Manager with a "Jack Palance" style of face which can never smile.Surely without a doubt he could not smiled at my appointment because as my predecessor left he was not duly promoted,instead the Boss chose to recruit some one else,that was me.That showed that the Boss lacking in comfidence in him.

The atmosphere seemingly hostile towards me, as I seem not welcome at all by all present,but to me who cares.I am going to work for the Boss not for them,whereas they had to work under me or resigned,whether they like me or not therefore immaterial as well.Of course I was not the type to rid them even should their peformances be below par.In any case it was too early access them.maybe in due course I can make things better for all.

The plantation was fully mature Oil Palm and all harvesting pf FFB were by Contractors.I was not introduced to them immediately.They met me only the following morning,and my God,what a shock ,as all the workers were illegal workers.They did scared me a bit as raids by Police and Immigration were quite common and frequent.So much so most of the harvesters were housed in the remote fields where it be difficult for them to be located by the Police.

This issue really drove the guts of me.nevertheless i decided to carry on despite all these set backs.Meanwhile more surprises were installed for me as there after I was shown the Manager's bungalow.It was an old semi-detached bungalow with the Assistant residing next to me.It was a raised wooden old building with three rooms and a sitting room.The kitchen was on the ground floor at the back with bath room next to it.

When I put on the pipe,my goodness the water draining from it were brownish.what a pleasant surprised in deed.There were no furniture or what you could called furniture around.No sofa whatsoever in the sitting room and in the rooms were wooden beds with not a single mattresses.In the kitchen there was a meat safe an old one and no water filter.

Initially I did not suspect foul play,but later through my own findings I was pretty sure all usable furniture had been switched or remove to the Assistant Manager' side,before I came in.No doubt the bungalow was just cleaned.With all these I believe many had anticipated that I would leave immediately the moment I stepped into it.These things were nothing especially when you needed the job to survive or shall I say I had a responsibility towards my family kept me from doing anything drastic,so I gripped my teeth and stayed on.

I also have reason to believe that that bungalow was formerly the residence of the Assistant Manager's,he had made a switch after my predecessor left.Since every one had expected me to leave I purposely stayed on to prove them wrong and that I was there to stay.There was no worry about food extra as there was a motor-cycle and and an old green Dahatsu jeep parked in front of the bungalow,so I just drove straight into town to have my food extra.

That solved my problem for that evening.That evening I learned that electricity
from a nearby generator set and surprisingly it ran the whole night through.That night I had a sleepless night on the hard wooden bed with the sitting room fan running through out the night.Alas,sleeping on the wooden bed is surely nothing to yell about,for I have been in worst condition before.Yes,at the Outward Bound School,Lumut,we had experienced sleeping on the ground in leeches infested areas,so what is this man????.

As usual I could hardly slept a wink that evening because of the new envirolment and also the noise made by the generator which was unnecessary running throughout the night.Not only was it making of noise but the smoke emmitted by the diesel engine was also spoling the good clean air of the plantation.Nevertheless I passed the night with tring myself that night despite the sleeplessness.

Early the following morning I called the head office to inform the executive of the predicaments and placed orders for immediate requirements.I did not have to wait long before those necessary items were duly delivered to me that very same day.My staying back stunned many I know,for now that I am there to work nothing else and most important I am there to stay.

Initially the first two days I made the Assistant to show me the fields,thereafter I went round on my own,noting what were to be done in my days to come as I went around.5,000 acres of Oil Palm was really quite a big area to cover but being an experienced planter these were simply too minor to cause any problems me.

I did not take any action to rectify any thing but the first month,but adverse reports went round having it that I was unsystematic when compared to the Mill Manager who was a University graduate.That of course did not deter me from proceeding with my work.Well,I just had to ignored those awful remarks.

Having recorded what I was to do the second month I began to take action but before I did any thing I held a meeting with the Boss first.I surprised him with my intentions to clear all existing bamboo grooves within the interior fields and next important was to construct more ravine roads in most of the fields.

It was very simple as we had the necessary equipments to deal with these problems without incurring extra cost.Clearing of bamboo grooves could not be done cheaply with human force but with our bulldozer the story were entirely different.All I had to do was to instruct the driver to bull dozed all those awful bamboo grooves into all the existing lakes and ponds.

Prior to this,the driver was not willing to push all those bamboo grooves into the lake because that would had destroyed their fishing areas.What a selfish attitude and the Manager then did not force him to do it.Of course my predecessor was an inexperienced planter,joining the Company as soon as he returned from Taiwan.

I then construct some ravine roads near to such areas.That step pleased the Boss very much as he could see very well what was down the ravines and the clearing of the bamboo grooves made all those fields very clear.My main problem were only the harvesting because my harvesters were harvesting excessive number of under ripe crop.

The Mill Manager was forever merciless after our crop and making lengthy reports to the Boss.The hilly and slippery terrains did not help either because during rainy season bring back crop from such fields were almost impossible.Many a times the bull dozer was sent in to toll the tractors up hill to the main road.What ever it was we tried our best.

Of course such bad weather bringing out the crop from the fields were difficult.I had a tractor force of about fourteen tractors ,all no less than thirteen years old ,except for two four wheeled drives,one new and the other older.One thiong good was that all the tractors were of one single brand,namely Ford,so spares were easily avalable.Buying direct from the main dealer was exoensuive so we adhere t purcahsing second hand parts which were equally good.

My previous experiences was telling here as I could fully utilized all I knew here without any hitch.My keeping the Boss inform weekly also helped me through.There was no doubt the Boss was now having full confidence in me,for within a stay of two months I was allowed to shift into the new bungalow which had been constructed at least five years ago but no Manager was allowed to move in.

Yes,I have came a long way to achieved those with eased.As I came in there was so much I could do to improve the plantation although at a very limited cost.You know Chinese owned plantation do not follow any estimates,with or without there was no question of over spending as the Boss himself were versed with European cost of running a plantation.Of course I too have my own guide lines and never over do it.

Take for example the weeding cost.the spraying of weeds in matured fields were three rounds per year,that was the standard practice here all along.That had went on and on like this over the years.The cost per acre were applicable to go with selective weeding and clearing of spot lallang.

The spraying contractors had all managed to earn a comfortable living but with my introduction of new ravine roads all those suddenly changed just simply because the contractors had larger areas to cover.Their costing suddenly became higher and they were all losing.They managed to linger on because we were purchasing the weedicides for them,this purchases were to have a control over their weedicides used.

With the Boss refusing to make any improve adjustment to their spraying rates I was forced to slowly retrench all of them and perform those spraying ourselves.Another reason was that since we were taking the risks in recruiting of all foreign workers,leaving with nothing to hold on to,so they without any responsibilities meant nothing to us unless they be our supervisors which they failed miserably.I took the initiative to have them removed and with their debts written off.

Similarly,the harvesting were all the plantation's workers,the assistance of the contractors did not arise,we therefore terminated their contract as well.With that all the foreign workers were duly legalized.What ever it was our biggest headache were the them,because they kept on absconding by and by.No amount of intimidation or policing could stpped these slow flow of workers running away.

That was no easy tasks as I admittedly too had my foes,my foes staffs of the Company with the Mill working against me.Much were critical of my approarches towards all,but what I did was always adhering to what the Boss required.Much of what I did were always with the Boss's knowledge as I had to see him weekly at his office.

With the field to take off there was also the Mill who gave me many problems.Well,it was their right to scrutinize our crop sent in daily and made the necessary comments,we accept those as I always did and never tried to argue back.My soft approach struck them on the spot,of corse they had expected me to behave like my predecessor.No way,why should I defend my staffs and contractors like him.This was so because I cannot changed the bad crop harvested and tried to argue my way out.

Quarreling my way out only caused more tensions,just except our failures and try to make adjustments in future,that please the Boss
but not the Mill's Engineers and later the so -call accountant.Of course I was behaving like a an extremely experienced planter and that I knew turned the table against all,who later had forced to change their attitude towards me.How can I ever be possibly wrong when everything I did were in the Boss favors,Boss first others second.

The comment that I was not systematic were no more on the lips of people in the head office as I was confirmed within three months of my employment with a hefty increment which never happened to any of my predecessors.I was already well respected.Most important no adverse reports against me from the Boss.Even his pet spy could not shake me and respected that I was indeed a force to reckon with.

With that I was further placed in charged of two other plantations namely Tavy Estate,Gambang and Semanbu Estate,Kuantan.Almost single handed I cleared up those neglected fields in those plantations to boost up its productivity bringing more profits with the establishment of Oil Palm in them without involving high capital cost.Yes,there was the bull- dozer at my disposal to ease down my load and made it extremely easy.

Much of the ravines in the main estate had similarly neglected pieces lying throughout the plantations plus thus land along the jungle fringes were also cleared by the bull-dozer as it rolled passed to built those ravine roads.By extending those ravines roads I not only had all those crops harvested and most of all collected back to the Mill,which have been written off as lost in the lakes below those years before I came in.

With those new roads, weeding areas were thus extended tremendously and the cleared areas supplied with young Oil palms seedlings.The Boss was extremely impressed as he could now traveled in his land rover to all those low lying fields.With those awful patches of bamboo grooves cleared at the same time ,he could viewed everything himself.What can he asked more from me.That was why my personal increments year after year were always very satisfying but very sad to say never for anyone else.That was the saddest part but there was nothing I could do.

There little doubt my staffs were poorly paid and the Boss refused to increase their pay accordingly.Yes,admittedly they standard of performance were below par when compared with other companies but they had been faithfully serving the Company,therefore definitely deserving more than a mere twenty to thirty ringgit increment at the mercy of the Boss.

Despite their short comings in their performances I gave them some encouragements through overtime,which by right they could claimed none.That little I could do not spur them to work harder,what a sad pathetic situation for they still do not realized what I have done.In the end after I left they even accused me of victimizing them with low pay,but when the reality came to the knowledge of the younger Boss what I had done,those overtime payments were duly withdrawn.Well served them right,cutting off their own hand.

So much of those ungrateful staffs,to them I say "May you rot with that small payments you received monthly",then you know who "Mr.Cheah" is.




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

Chapter 14 My Busineses

Having been in planting for so long guessed I better take a look beyond to see what was installed for me?On papers every thing seem so wonderfully and profitable.Working for others I had reaped profits which could never be mine.it was timely I do something on my own,for myself?Should I not try it out in the business world I would never know the truth.Should I be at fault, no one else to blame accept myself.

So I drove straight into business without a second thought,bad judgment maybe.Should had thought over it carefully.Instead I ventured straight into it without much knowledge nor experience in it,head on.The crashed was fatal but there was a lesson learned- never indulged myself in any ventures which I myself was not familiar or ever experienced.Paper works can be misleading but business was real,once involved you wet you whole head and disaster struck.The lost was immensely enormous,money lost can earned back by working and experienced gained valuable but the image, sincerity slightly dented,with confidence shattered.

Sometimes it was difficult to say but I found out the hard way that businessmen were born not made.Of course when you were successful all sort of rubbish can be claimed as most successful businessmen do,and one will dared disclaimed them or ignored them,they have already made it,no need to prove it.

So I left planting to venture into business.Rubber wood sawing was slowly becoming more lucrative.When we went into it, it was the beginning of that industry for used in furniture manufacturing.The future was promising with obstacles all the way initially.We were so eager so much so we overlooked many things.

Authorities controlling timber trade were indifferent and treated rubber wood sawing as as ordinary saw milling which brought us to the ground.There were problems whether to distinguish rubber wood with timber from the jungle.Nothing were concrete and each forestry officers had their own interpretation of the law.With that we were thrown about from one corner to another with no one claiming responsibilities.Some even claimed that were not under their jurisdictions.

I was starborn when I first ventured into business because I firmly believe that should I be able to run a plantation profitably for others I should be able to do it for myself.Well,how wrong I was,but when the blood was hot on its trail no one can stopped me.So with the little capital I had I joined ventured with friends into rubber wood milling.

That was a grave mistake on my part,a most regretable mistake.I also learned the hard way never to indulge in any business with anyone with just any one.The friend involved should be trustworthy and sincere.The allotment of shares should be fair and should have the final say in any operation,otherwise forget it.

With so many contradictions around we nevertheless operated three mini- band saws.Our operations went on very well for sometime then as things were beginning to run smoothly the relevant Authorities stepped in to chain up our band saw claiming that we should have a licence to operate those band saws.Thus began our second rounding like a merry go round we went from one department to the other trying to locate who were responsible.

We went about for several months,therefore wasted much money in traveling plus other expenses.At the same time we shifted our operations to the plantations thinking that the machinery people would not disturb us there but sad to say they did,usually when our running were smooth.They can lock our band saws but we broke them every time they stopped us and moved around making it difficult for them to locate us.

Moving around could solved our problems temporarily but moving cost us plenty of money,thus we lost heavily on this,As if this was insufficient our problems did not just end there.Our sawn timber were initially sold to a private buyer but unfortunately there was no payments due or told to wait on.We were small operator therefore had no funds to hold on long without payments as payments to sawers had to be paid weekly.

With no funds coming we found another buyer,the big furniture company in Temerloh,Pahang.Their payments were similarly not so prompt and we had to traveled there to collect them.That was not all,because they were very strict in their purchase of our timber.There was unfortunately deduction every where from spilt timber,black pigments and nodes were all deducted,thus our shipments were further cut down.

As that was not enough there were further of not well treated timber,for mould for insufficiently air dried timber etc.Timber had also to be whitened as well as treated with insecticides to prevent borers from attacking the timber. Even those were not ours were filed into our lots and thus we were forced to retreat all at the factory site..We sold them air dried timber it was up to them to air dry them further in their kilns as soon as possible but their weaknesses were piled on us.That was business and they could not careless who they write off as long as it were never them.

Amassed with so many problems we subsequently dipeleted of our profits and funds on accounting , we lost heavily.We were in debts and had no finances to continue our business so we forced to close shop thereon.

Simultaneously while operating the mini saw- mill we were also doing some trading in estate supplies.Imagining that while I as a planter had met with many friends and had expected them to lend us some support.How unfortunate I soon found how dreadfully wrong I was,those expected support never came forth with.

True enough there was some support but those were so mnimium.Supplies were short of estimate but the expences enormous as I soon found out most planters were corrupted as can be so even among so call friends,what friends there were none if at all very few geninune friends.Only when involved fully in business that I soon found out slightly too late.

The support I did get was small comparatively and at extremely low prices with little or no profits,but when business were alloted to me,the planters involved expected plenty of cash returns from us.Small profit for business given but in return for the small business got to bride those involved with cash,thus business was no business.When having wet our head ad to adhere to continue but it did not lasted long before we called it a day with again magnified lost.

I had tried to made it worked by doing all the management and labor jobs myself but to no avail,it never worked,no matter how hard I tried.Through hard work we had some support from the small holders and vegetables farmers.Many of them made purchases on credit terms .Initially they were good paymasters but when the prices of commodities dropped tgheir payments were extended.When we call it a day many could even pay us,tyhus we have many creditors around not much.

In any case our lost in saw milling was great and there was not much funds left to prolong the business,too.In the end I ended up with huge debts and losses,I was forced out of business.To-day some so call friends still owed us some money which could not be collected.So they say ,no more business around so goes the debts,to forego just like that.What frends do I have?All but a group of corrupted .............. .

In the end I was jobless for a couple of months.There was no savings left in the coffer and there fore forced to do manual work in my in-laws plantation.Actually no work around in fact and left in a lurch.Times were hard,with us going to do tapping in their small holding for survival.There was no choice as the children were school going but we survived.

Fortunately,the Lord above surely has a way out for me,for within months I secured a job as Manager of Sri Jaya Oil Palm Estate,Kg.Sri Jaya,Pahang.The salary was only so,so but nevertheless I got employment.Irrespective of its pay I took the job just to be employed.Payments can improve should I be able to prove my worth.I was determined to perform well no matter whatever the circumstances how adversed it be.


To be continued.

Chaptyer 13 My Neighbors

When as Assistant the chances of me getting well acquainted with our neighbors were slimmed,because most neighboring plantations' Managers only knew the Manager,Assistants were frowned at or of no significance.When as an Assistant the chances of one getting assaulted were limited at the muster ground,mostly the aggrieved workers would aimed at the Manager and the Senior conductors such as in Hurst Estate,Taiping,Perak.

I was in a rubber plantation for only few months during which I knew corruption was every where in planting.For example purchasing of materials from hardware shop etc.,I was caught with surprised at the kick backs even my orders were very less.These should have been more careful whom they wanted to corrupt,it was not every one were so greedy.Honesty surely goes a long way.No doubt honest people only end up penniless,thus making honesty does not pays.

I was informed early during the days of emergency when food were sold to workers on ration basis the gains by those in charged were extremely high,Should there be "toddy" sold their earnings almost doubled.This was so because "Toddy" can be adulterated with water or the measurement reduced in sized.With the ending of emergency ration was no more compulsory and workers can freely purchased their own food else where.

Only here did I managed to meet some young planters from over the other side of town.AS usual at week ends either they came to me or I went over to see them.With my transfer away those friends lost contact with me.

In Pahang, Bentong estate,the kind Manager will at times tagged me along while he entertained his friends and the Police officers.I was not a drinker so could not matched them in all respect.Most plantation Managers can drink like a fish especially those "Orang puteh".

In Good Tree it was worst because most Managers had their noses in the air,Assistants and worst Cadet Assistant were nothing to them.Nothing could be learned or achieved accept playing cards game with them,Even going out with them ,it was everyone for himself.One thing I do learned from all the Assistants were how to enjoy our selves while in town,Seremban,painting it red.

To me most of the Planter were corrupted to the fullest.Every now and then those contractors had to take them out for dinner and womanizing who knows what else??? I am pretty sure there were more.In Chinese owned plantation such nonscence cannot be tolerated.Honesrty was the word but being honest can be extremely bad for the straight forward,for there is a Chinese sayiong being straight forward and honesty gathers no gold only leave who ever concerned penniless at the end of the day.That does mean that honesty pays.

Coming to St.Andrew Estate,Batang Berjuntai,Selangor,my immediate neighbors were the small holders.It was a plantation but brought by a Chinese "Towkay" and had it fragmented into small holdings with him holding the the land titles.They had some connections with us their main drainage drain flowed through near the front of our plantation.

Through an unwritten agreement they had to pay us cost for the maintenance of it.Somehow the new owners refused to honor that agreement,thus failing to pay us its maintenance cost.
This angered my Boss who instructed me to block up that huge out let drain.I,thus put up a concrete blockage and the flow of water were terminated.Blocking that drain was aginst the law but orders were orders I had to adhered to.With the water level within those fracmented estate rose,flooding most of the fields concerned.

Immediately that Old "Towkay" rushed to my bungalow in his mercedes,but why my bungalow? Yes,it was lunch time,he came out of his car shouting in "Hokkien","I will shoot you for blocking that drain.Now tell me will you knock down that blockage?".I looking at him in amazement said,"No.never,why should I?"."I will shoot you for that",he again yelled.
" Anyway who ordered you to block my drain???",he yelled."Oh!My Boss,you can always see him",I said,"Should he tell me to dismantle that blockage,I will do it".

With that the angry old man left me alone.Apparently he saw my Boss who later instructed me to dismantle that blockage but not fully.So as per instruction I broke down only half the blockage untl he paid up fully.Well,he collected and paid up but the half blockage remained,as I have no instruction to knock them off thereafter.Water flooding their fields did go down but their fields remained socgy. Surprising that old man never came back to me,partly I was told he was fedup with some of the small holders who refused to pay him their shares of the maintainence.

However their problems were over sometime later as the drainage department opened up a boundary drain along it,thus serving to drain the water from those smaller holders into it.With that they do not have to depend on that drain crossing our plantation to drain their acess water from their fields.Further to this there were no problems from them ever again.

My other neighbor was Java Selangor Estate,as its tail end of their plantation was adjacent to middle of our plantation.Its Manager was a good friend of mine and we visited each other quite often.When ever he requires my aid I was always there to help,becuase he too had some nasty workers with him.To gether we had plans to tackle them just in case of need.

The plantaion sharing a common boundary with us ,right from the front till the end was Sungai Rambai Estate,under Socfin & Company.This was a division of one of their plantations,so they do not have a Manager there,only a Superintendent,somewhat of a Senior Assistant.My long attachment to St Andrew I have known at least three of their Superintendents

The first one I only knew by sight nothing more.Rumors had it that he was the type that he belted his poor half naked wife tied to a post in his garden.No big deal actually,it was common knowledge on most people's lips.The next in line was an Indian name Roberts who talked like a European.

Then following was a Chinese from Ipoh,he and wife plus daughter ,there only three of them.I knew them slightly better because their daughter was in the same kinder-garden as mine.He was about for about two years or so before being transferred off.In placed of him was a newly married planter,unfortunately his wife left him after the birth of his child,because he had a new loved.So the poor guy was left in a lurch holding the baby,the poor soul finally left the baby with his sister,a well known personality's wife.

There after I met another who eventually became a good friend and family.The couple has two sons all grown up by now.This couple got around fine with most people and they threw barbeque party of roasted lamp once in a while and I and my wife were invited.Very lovely of them.These people from the Agencies surely know how to enjoy life.

I was all the time very closed to the Manager of Java Selangor Estate and the Manager of Stratmore Estate.Stratmore Estate was of course on the other side of town,a plantation of five hundred acres.There was good relation with me all the while but it is when it really matters that you know their real identities.Twice these so called friends failed me,though it was nothing really of any significance.

What ever it was still worth mentioning,so these two gentlemen failed me as a friend twice.While being Managers of the Batang Berjuntai Group Hospital were automatically Directors of the Hospital.When I first came to St.Andrew Estate,they should have supported me to be the Managing Director as we were the biggest subscriber of the Hospital.Perhaps I was new or rather young they did not support me as I too did not know them well enogh.Dato H.O.B.Trail the smallerst subscriber was elected as its Managing Director.I never envy that post anyway.

Then with the untimely death of Dato Trail,these two so called friends boycotted me in place they selected Dass the Manager of Java Selangor Estate,one of the two,I was definitely disappointed and had thought of withdrawing from the Hospital but on second thoght I relented and allowed it be as both were still my friends.Despite every thing I maintained a good relationship with them without recviewing my disappointment.

Of these two Manager I never like the Manager of Stratmore Estate.When I left St.Andrew for business I left two outstation dogs with him as his hut got the space for them to run.Secondly he was a dog lover so I thought he would care for my dogs properly.Instead I learned that he gave one of my dogs to a labourer who later killed it mercilessly.What a cruel thing to do.Thereafter I never heard from him again.

One more fling at them.Were they corrupted??? Well,to me a big Yes.They were corrupted from heads to toes.I should know because I supplied herbicides to them when doing business and was never paid in full.What do I still called them="friends"????????

Dato Trail was a well respected planter in Batang Berjuntai areas.When I was in trouble with a local politician who vowed to take stern action against me for stopping him from campaigning in the plantation.The politician accused me of being a Communist and anti-government.This scared the wits out off me.Actually I was just performing my duties as I disallowed him ,because should I allowed him to canvas within the plantation I should also allowed the opposition to do so,then that would be inviting troubles.To prevent any untoward incidence I thus stopped him from canvassing within the plantation that was all.

To call me an anti-government subject was therefore uncalled for and a communist,worst still.I was worried so I wanted to turn to known people for advised.I listed down many but those cannot do much.The most influential being Dato H,O,B,Trail and he being a planter should be able to give sound advised.So I called him and he kind enough to grant an appointment at his bungalow.

I met him at his small bungalow which was constructed on the steep slope towards the river.The land was apparently given to him by Sime Darby on his retirement.He was very friendly,and patient listening to my problems,but could offered nothing to help just asked me to remain quiet and patient,just wait and see what action will be undertaken against me.Thereafter I left and waited but nothing happened,I think that politician was only throwing his weight around that was all.

To me most planters of old were dirty womanizers,mostly involving their maid servants.
Many married locals and left them in a lurch to return their homeland to marry their own kind.Easily I could named a few.Local young planters were not far lacking behind in seducing their maids,some even married them,so why they still had the thick skin to show their faces around.Here I too would not name them but forced to I will,so don't press me.

I remember where there were some white artisans or black Chinese workers scattered about
some interior plantations.How come you may asked of me.These were the dirt the European and Indian planters.Of course Chinese and Malay Planters also wholly involved only their colors can easily be integrated with the local work force so only small traces and rumours of them.











To continue when inspired.

Chapter 12 Other Plantations Under My Control

Initially I had only one main plantation under my control,it was not a huge plantation and solely rubber but after I took over I began to show my stuffs and with those success I was allowed to replant other low yielding fields especially those low yielding clonal seedling PBIG fields.All converted to Oil Palm.

I do not know whose luck it was,mine or the Boss's because the palm Oil prices kept on rising.Even our young crop were fetching in profits or at least better those profits brought in by rubber.Encouraged by such outcome the Boss ordered more areas to be replanted into Oil Palm.So all the low yielding fields were to be replanted from then on.

With that I was requested to take over Paradise Estate with the retirement of the Conductor in charged,a Chinese man.I place of him I promoted a junior conductor who was under him but it was to no avail as the young man being ambitious had other plans of his own and thus applied for other more prospective jobs.With him leaving I send in another junior conductor from my plantation.

He was an Indian and a son of a worker so the Boss at first doubted his abilities.Nevertheless he allowed my judgment be.After a year he accepted I was right beside he being a junior conductor he need not be highly paid as a Senior conductor,after all the plantation was only about 300 acres. Newly trained junior we soon found out had no tricks up their sleeves.That of pleased the Boss.Most important to me was he was a hard worker,obedient and honest.

With his presence there,I was instructed to replant all the areas into Oil Palm,with St.Andrew Estate preparing the nursery.With a short stretch of five years the whole plantation was under Oil Palm.There was little trouble as we slowly retrenched the tappers concerned.The Union made hell of a noise but what can they do???.So long as we were able to offer them other jobs in the fields which they refused to accept,they just had to go.

As Paradise Estate was extremely near to the town the workers off springs worked in town.The parents continued working for us so as to secure housing from us.With their refusal to accept jobs offered as we replant they had to go,no brute used and this was easily done.My conductor was able to tell them so.So bit by bit all the workers were retrenched without any hitch.

The plantation was situated adjacent to the road.The plantation proper on one side of the road,the office and smoke house and stores on the other together with the old labor quarters.The conductor's house was only a stone throw away further up the road.

When due for harvesting,the harvesting were initially on estate payroll.but later converted to contract rates.With oil palm there were lesser workers to control.The smoke house and small factory were converted into stores to store my Boss's things.

That plantation was prime land,and the prospect of it turning into a huge housing was very promising,and I think it did.Actually I had little knowledge of it because I had left the Company by then.

There were two other smaller properties under my wings,both were in Kerling,Selangor.THe bigger of the two ,one was inside the interiors of Kerling Estate.There was a government passing by the side of Kerling Estate,I can either go through this road to that plantation or come by a shorter way throngh Minyak Estate,then Nigel Gadner Estate,both under Socfin.Passing through these plantation I had to stop by to pay courtesy calls on the plamters there.Ignoring them will be impolite,don't you think so?

By passing through them I too learned a lot especially their tapping systems and out of curiosity stopped by to have a view.When I does that I kept their Manager informed,that man instead of being grateful I kept him inform.his reply really stuck me stunned.He said,"Next time you better informed me first".Okay,next time I don't tell him to save all troubles.No doubt that was their road but the public had been using it from time unknown.

That plantation road leads into the jungle reserved where there was a road leading to the Kerling Estate road,but only that later road was trarred and stones.They had a gate at that crossing into the jungle reserved and would be closed by six in the evening.So there when using that road had to adhere to its timing.Going from the main road will be more than two hours but through here it was nearly an hour,saving of an hour.

The estate under me was about one hundred and fifty acres.All matured rubber being tapped on contract basis.The tappers here had to coagulate the latex into sheets and smoke in the estate smoke house.The smoke house watchman takes care of the smoke house as well as acting as jaga of the plantation.Cured sheets were sold to a local rubber dealer,so when rubber were sold I must be present there.

Then there was another fifty acres plot with matured rubber as well and tapped on contract as the other,Similarly rubber were also smoked by a small smoke house.Rubber similarly sold to the same rubber dealer.Kerling was a one main road town surrounded by a tiny new village.
Nothing much in this town and I never stop in any other shop here accept the rubber dealer's shop.

Funny with small town guy,he was buying rubber from both small plantations and the Boss kept him as his spy around.He was to act as eyes for him,reporting anythings to him.He tried to bride me a few times but I did not accept his baits as I knew that he was in the payroll of my Boss.He needed both plantations' rubber to survive.Of late, I passed by his shop seemed to be vanished with times.

Chapter 11 The Union And the Workers

All Planters were versed with labor laws if not better than most lawyers in this field.When as Assistant I was not at all well versed with them but as Manager there were no lacking behind.I read a lot on this subject when I was Manager.Failing which Planters will be white washed by the Ministry of Labor and out played by the NUPW or National Union Of Plantation Workers.

Indians being the main work force in rubber plantation in the sixties and seventies.They were represented the the union on all cases,but actual fact of the Indians only.In the early sixties workers union was never so active that was why some workers resorted to brute force to settle disputes if any.Perhaps the union ill advised them so to say.Initially only daring workers dared to be union officials for they do not want to be victimized by the Manager.

Those European Manager were ruthless,so should any be against them they sent to tap in far away fields where their earnings will be depleted desperately low or sacked for bad work or worst insubordination.Workers were too scared to openly support them then but that soon changed after "Merdeka" or independence,especially when many of the plantations were taken over by Malaysians.

Union thereafter moved in at great length strengthened themselves with better officials at all levels from the plantations onwards until they were a force to reckon with.When as an Assistant I had not much contact with these people .Those days at Division levels we dealt with only the local Union committees.It was only as Manager of St.Andrew Estate,Batang Berjuntai that I had direct contacts with them at all levels.My experienced in handling them was therefore enormous.

One important lesson I first learned was,when you have one Indian you have an orator the type that talked rubbish,when two of them you have a company and three of them you already had a Union.True?,but that was how the Union was formed.Don't believe ask P.P. when you see him in.................

Initially should there be any problems I dealt with them at this office levels.Funny though it be these wretched workers when given the chance to speak up,spoke a lot of utter nonsense,bring up grandmother's stories.Well,I had learned by now to keep my cool and patient and listened to them.Allow them to talk away and I pretend to be attentive noted those being said down.Those which I can deal with immediately I gave them and answer but those which were difficult to accept I just pushed them away ,telling them I had to wait for my reference with the Boss etc..Mostly these were a delaying tactics.

All these would be delayed after delayed,after sometime maybe forgotten,but some they were referred to their head quarters.Those officials from the head quarters will then write in for appointments.So appointments after appointments with many last minute postponements we at last met.The Union officials had dirty habits of being not puncyual for any appointments,so I too eventually adhered to such tactics,tit for tat.You showed no due respects I on the other hand does the same to you.Later,I learned that in the old days those European seldom entertained them if all they were often late to the office.

I dare say not many problems were solved either this way,they cannot do anything else and when they had sufficient of my medicine they referred to the Labor office.Initially the mentioned of Labor office really scared the balls out of me but not when I knew those officers better and most important the Labor Laws.With that another "ding dong" waged on and on,with no remedy on sight or ever.

Then the case were opened to the arbitrations and the red tapes went on.When I feel like not attending I just report that I was on medical leave that really put their wits at end.After going through many the whole thing seem so staled.In it they brought in their witnesses and I brought in mine.The poor officer had to weigh the pros and cons and finally finalized to his own whimsy and fancy , the case could be half for them half for me.Well,the losers will still be the poor laborers for numerous trips traveling up and down to Rawang.Had they won their cost was already very high.

Of course,there were easier ways out,like for example should the local official be trying to funny there were other softer approach to finish him or her up.Give her good treatments such as giving good tapping tasks to him and wife.This I admit was the dirtiest of all tricks because by giving him and his wife and at all times speak nicely to him in front of all the workers.These will aroused the envy of many workers to be suspicious of him.Come next local election he might survived one more round but I am not sure of other rounds.Believe me I had administered this on some nasty local officials and it worked.Those wretched guys will not realized what hit them-a missle from outer space???


The Labor officers visited the plantation at least once a year where they looked into any labor grouses if any,the living conditions especially the labor quarters and the water supply.Of course initially they will checked into our monthly wages to workers,a very routined checkup.
Relationship with them were always good no matter what,planters had a lot to depend on them for advices and others.Therefore a planter should also be an excellent public relation officer,an easy job no doubt because we have the means to entertain all should the circumstances arises.

Talking about good relationship but there were times you just got to show these people that respects given expect the same in returned.There was also an occasion where I gave a labor officer hell of a bombardment.That happened in Sri Jaya Oil Palm Estate,well I was already on top the world you just could not careless who he is who??? Right?.

We had an appointment and I replied that I would fetch him from the local super market at the appointed time.So I waited for him like a bloody fool for more than two hours,I ahd waited because out of kind gestures I thought he might have been delayed.With him failing to turn up I went back to my office.To my utter surprised,I was astonished to see him already at my office.That made real mad so I yelled at him and my Assistant,either one should had kept me informed.But none,that really drove me mad.

Apparently he came through the back way at the courtesy of my neighboring plantation Manager.Should that be his arrangement he should have kept me posted.Failing which will mean that he had no common courtesy to keep me inform,I find that very rude.Due respects had been given to him as an Officer from the Ministry of Labor but should that be not respected I too can be as rude.He can write me the worst report I could not care less.Like I say when you were already on top of the world who cares about his complaints if any."Sub Sub Chui"lah.Anyway he was quick to apologise to me and that was forgotten.

There were cases which were referred to the Industrial courts.Well admittedly that was something very new to me.It was a case where I retrenched two "kanganies" for insubordination and they claiming only re- instatements.I was to defend the plantation in refusing them.The Union Secretary Letchumanian was representing them.The first meeting at the Industrial Court was just a mention of the case.I seemingly anxious about that case arrived early and waited for the other party to arrive.An hour later he had the nerved to call up to say that he would be slightly late and coming because he was held up at the office.Within ten minutes he was in,what game was he up to???.

Now that I knew his tricks at the next meeting I played the same trick on them as I called up that court an hour later to say that I was not medically fit to attend,so the case was again postponed.By now he knew I was giving him back his own medicine.Two weeks later came the next appointment,this time he was punctual and I about the same time.As the case went on we all had to state our stories.And so blah,blah with cross examinations etc. and with me seemingly un-corporative the whole picture was twisted here and there confusing the officer recording,then the case was postponed again.

What a waste of time for everyone traveling up and down,from the plantation to Kuala Lunpur.For me it does not matter should we have to take them back.We all knew the outcome only I was dragging that case extending the time period of re-employment.In the end the Officer suggested that I take them back ,they tried to get payments lost during those periods of unemployment which I flatly refused.Finally they accepted my terms for re-instatement without back payments.

So in the final episode who were the losers ,definitely not me.Of course they were the losers although I had to allow them back but those time and bus fares up and down cost them some money.They were happy to be re-instated.For me if withoput them I still had to employ "kanagies",so taking them back does not worry me one wee bit,because they still have to work to get payments.The result had ben anticipated so I do not feel sad about it.

Many times we seek advice from known labor officer who helped me a lot on how to tackle these Union officials.One of our main adviser was an ex-labor officer Mr.Rajadorai,the ex -Secretary of the ISP.Yes, his invaluable advice helped us a lot.That was why I knew him quite well.There were also other senior labor officers as well, plus there were spies from the Union aiding us. Thus I had very good relationship with quite a number of people involved with labor cases.

Our wages were not caaalculated based as per NUPW/MAPA agreements and we paid them our own agreements as long as we do not diverged or strayed away from the Labor Ordinace.There was no problems until the NUPW bulged in and demanded tthat we follow that Agreement but we flatly refused them.

So they arranged for me to meet them.Initially the talks was held in my office but due to reasons beyond my comprehension they wanted me to meet them in their headquarters.So on the advised of the Boss I held talks with them.Those with in accordance to the labor law we agreed but they cannot diagee.Whenever I was in doubt I push the matter to my Boss.They had no alternaltives but had to wait for me to refer to my Boss until the next appointed day.

The next meeting came,but my result was not fianlized as my Boss were away so we got to wait for his return.When the Boss finally gave a negative reply they again talked and talked with no firm confirmations.They tried to induce the Boss to see them but to no avail,the Boss was never free.So the old payments dragged on.So long we do not pay the workers a very low payments they cannot do anything.Our payment to workers were slightly lower than their Agreement with MAPA,but our following the law with other payments caused them to be struck.

That dragged on and on with no break through even until the moment I resigned from that plantation.Yes,all the time we were misleading them giving them false hope.Well,nothing to do with me,of course I was then performing my duties as a Planter.I took only instructions from my Boss,he said play "Tai Chi" with them, I just do like wise as instructed.Like it or not I am an expert in it.

Same thing with the house owner scheme.In the late seventies there were a lot of talks with house ownership for the workers.Well,I was instructed to attend all those meetings .Subsequently many plans were drawn up ,we even went to the extend of employing the services of a valuer to draw and planned out the whole project ,thus giving a lot of hope for the success of the project.

In the end when the Boss heard that he was to finance the whole project he disagree to construct the houses for the workers.What can I do he was the Boss,I just inform the meeting that my Boss objected to the financing of the project.That stunted the President of the Whole Project but he kept quiet.My planner laughed as though I was joking.What a ridiculous man he was???.There after several more meeting s were held,but I had left the Company then so I do not know what transpired thereafter,

As I passed that plantation today I can see only a row of shop houses built.Lobor quarters I was told that only a few were built and sold to selected few workers only,many other quarters built were not taken up.Thus the project was a complete failure.

When I first joined that plantation the housing at at its worst state.The old labor quarters built by the colonial planters were still in existence.Those double floors wooden linked houses.
With ground floor which were also partly kitchen and upstairs single room.The wooden frame works of those houses were of heavy wood such "chengal"while the partition were of soft wooden planks which rots easily or attacked by white ants or termites.All pre-war quarters and definitely out dated.The roofings were of zinc,those thick zinc sheets,very hardy and which do not corrode easily.

With my joining them I managed to convince the Directors to erect new lines for the workers.Naturally there were also pressure from the labor office to do so.With those completed and allotted to some workers along with promises to construct sufficient in the days to come to replace all existing old quarters.That delayed further new construction
Then came the house ownership project which aided us to push new housing progames further and further away.

In Sri Jaya Oil Palm Plantation,there was no union to face me for right from the beginning all the workers were foreign workers.Their stay with us was at the most three to five years.though the Union tried to get to them but failed miserably.The situation of foreign workers ,(almost 100%-Indonesians) were totally different from plantations elsewhere where the workers were mainly Indians. Our neighbors futher interiors had Indian work force and partly foreign workers,the Indians had been recruited by their Agencies concerned .

When I frist arrived at Sri Jaya my whole labor force were almost one hudred percent illegal workers supplied by the harvesting contractors.So long these contractors had a strong labor force serving they were given contracts.This went on for some time with Police raiding the plantation almost most of the time.Well,those were the days we advised the contractors to house their illegal workers in the remote fields where raiding parties were almost impossible to reach .

Not that we do not want to legalize them but legalization were most of the time not opened. Those days to apply work permits for these illegals were difficult for there were so many red tapes not that we cannot afford to pay for their permits etc..,the situation did not allowed us.Countless of application forms were filled which came to nothingm or even rejected.

Those were also the days where these illegal workers would very often abscond from one planantation to another or to the other sector.Such being the case contractors concerned lose heavily in the recruiting and buying of workers from "tTai kongs..In certain cases high handed methods were used to apprehend those running away with the beating up of those "tai kongs" who were the main culprits for the vast turn over of illegal workers.Despite these,the trend were just the same all over.

Later when permits were available to apply,we re-submitted many forms for the illegals.With our trying,the Police were still on our backs to an extend whereby the planters had to run away from the plantations to escvape being arrested for hiring illegals.Many unfortunate ones were arrest and hancuffed and man handed.I and my friend escaped the arrest and stayed away until the wind blowing us were over.For those planters arrested they were put in the Police lockups among criminals.Poor chaps had to endured those warm temperatures in the same cells and sleeping on bed full of bed bugs.That was the worst humiliation any planteer could accept,and for performong our duties as Planters.

They were shamefully brought about the Police station in their under wears,walking about bare footed.When they were finally charged in court they were given their clothing but without shoes and forced to attend court like common criminals in hand cuffs.I escaped those tormentious moments and stayed away in hiding for three weeks.

Within that period of escapade I went to the ISP,the Selangor Planters Association and even to the MCA,and none could do much to save those in custody.The worst reply was from the MCA,that Michael??.Like to know what he said,"You people committed a crime so you deserved that"." I shouted back,"My Dato had been supporting the MCA with donations etc.,is this the reply you give us???" and I left.

However,I went back to face the music after three weeks.Immediately reported at the Police headquarters to answer various questions and giving my statement.No charges were levied on me and I was free to go back to the plantation.My application for work permits for all my foreign workers went on smoothly.Having been beaten once we applied for extra workers,more than our requirements.The extras were passed on to friends who could not get them.That was just to full fill our quotas.

For plantation where there were tall palms for harvesting the rest of foreign workers were found to be useless or cannot adapt to carrying long alluminium poles.Yes it is true we found that only the Indonesian workers were found to be more efficient and obedient.But unfortunately the more we have them,it appeared that we were only providing trainig for such harvesters and in the end these workers will remained back in their own country to harvest their own plantations' crop.The more people they send in for the Oil palm Industry , at the end of the day this will ultimately benefit them in the future,as they already had extensive hacterages of Oil Palm.






to continue............................................................

Chapter 10 The Police And My staffs

A planter not only manages the plantation,he ought to be a Jack of all trades and master of none.For example he had to run the plantation's factory,those days mostly Rubber Smoked Sheet factories and also the smokehouses.He also had to know about the vehicles in the plantation especially the agricultural tractors that I tell you were engineering though never in vivid details.I have known of a European planters at least one who even soiled his hands repairing tractors this of course was a matter of individual interests.A planter must also well versed in housing i.e. about labor quarters etc.and reasonable knowledge of road repairs.Planters were also expert in labor laws,bet you labor wise I think I am or any planters were as good as any lawyers if not better.

Security wise planters also depended heavily on the police's protection and their corporation to maintain its peace and security.In this I agree that the colonial days the planters were better off for they had the full support of the Police and received full protection without even asking.Their bungalows were never fenced unlike ours no fencing meant that you were asking for troubles. Further they were also well armed.Weapons such as pistols and guns were readily available to them,
and their guards.

We ,local I dare say were never so fortunate for one to apply for arms there were that so many red tapes to adhere to,besides filling tons of forms,police interviews etc..As for the Police we had to be friendly to obtain from them full corporations.In a tiny town like Batang Berjuntai I had to know all members of the police directly from the lowest ranking to the Sergeant in charged although no necessary.An Inspector from Kuala Selangor in charged comes in at least once a week.For me I too knew of many Inspectors from Kuala Selangor.

In many ways I had quite an excellent labor force though they very much relied on their Union (NUPW) to attend to all their problems.There were no rowdy laborers around accept for certain young individuals who did not belonged to us.They worked in the nearby tin mines while their parents were our employees.

We have no strike whatsoever,unlike the first plantation where I was in.The unrully labor force attacked the conductors and the Manager on the muster ground with "kandal sticks"on one unfaithful occasion.Fortunately none were seriously hurt accept some bruises.The culprits were apprehended and prosecuted.It all began with a small mistake of the Senior conductor.I was on leave then so was never involved.My friend who was on the spot escaped unhurt as he ran away from the spot by running side ways,a survival tactics I too learned,never to escape by running on the normal path of escape.

There was no bad incidence of thefts on the plantation accept for on one occasion where our water pump was stolen.Apparently the sons of a 'Kangany" who were never in our employment stole it.A Police report was made,with apparently those culprits panic and reviewed the spots where theu hide the water pump plus its Lister engines.With that recovery no Police action were under taken though the Police were informed of our find.From that day on wards those few behaved themselves as they knew they were on the Police marked list.

Rubber thefts were common especially from the neighboring plantation,where cup lumps were often stolen.We also had some shares of them when we applied Ethrel (yield stimulent) to our trees.The late drippings of latex prduced alot of cup lumps tempting petty thieves to pilfer them.On numerous occasion some were caught red handed abnd taken to the Police.

On one occasion a thief was a minor and his family members pleaded with me for leniency but I struck to rules having the poor boy arrested.It was a matter of principle as such thefts were getting rampant.From my experiences in Good Tree I knew from the hard way it doers not pay to be merciful and I have my responsibility.

There was also an unfortunate incident where the thief was mercilessly shot dead,no report was made and the body was discovered only when some went near to the canal ti investigate a bad stuanch from it.The body was found floating in the boundar drain wth a bag of rubber cup lumps.Though no one claimed responsibility we all knew who shot him,poor guy,definitely never us as my daidy guards in the afternoons were never armed with a gun.

Fortunately those day we do not have foreign workers,it was not a trend then.There was no shortage of workers as they easily available.Tappers had to be interviewed and scrutinized before full employment.Unlike nowadays.Yes those days we do have Indonesian workers from Java but they all had red identical cards.They came from the nearby kampongs,residing with relatives locally.
All I had to do was to get my "Mandol" to recruit tem mostly for temporary work.
These youngsters offered no problems if any it will be nipped on the spot by my 'Mandol".

My staffs.........Oh my staffs.What a pathetic state of affair,no valuable staffs to assist me right from the beginning.I may have been badly schorned by Good Tree those memorable moments of tortorments really roughened and toughened me.An individual planter that could with stood all pressure whatever they be, to survive without capable staffs to assist me.No big deal really.I was capable of handling all those jobs myself.Therefore in certain waysI am grateful to them but they turned me into a montrous of a planter.

Afterall what were jobs in a 1500 acres plantation?????? "Sud,Sud,Seow" ain't it not so???.No bragging,directly from muster to full payments of all workers.All planters should know what I do and were capable as I,if not then go hom,e plant padi.I was no super human being but only one that had learned things the hard,hard way.I was no bully either but the training and experiences I attained had taught me never to neglect the smallest of all details in my job.

When I first took over of St.Andrew Estate,I had a Senior Conductor who was the son of a Director,the type that moved only when instructed to that also at his own leisure time like his grandfather.There was no way I could picked on him but allowed him be.Sad situation is it not so??? Even he do not how to do the monthly check roll for payments.Well to me no problem,I had good practices before.Had he moved it would have been for his own good.His only good job was weighing latex and rubber,so I was forced to allow him to do just that.

The rest were "Kanganies" or head men and I devided them into their own respective fields.I had five of them,four for the tapping areas and one to the weeding.They could be useful and reliable accept the fact they were union members making them obviously in- sincere towards me.However as long as they performed there were no problems otherwise I have them removed.

Later I began to recruit junior staffs to be exact junior conductors,expecting them to cut down my work load as I was visiting other plantations (very much smaller acreages) of the same company.The Boss had preferred me to recruit Chinese junior conductors but they never seem to be able to stay on.There was one who stayed longer for a while,he ideas of running away to better positions all the time.Not fitting as a junior conductor I heard he had the guts to apply for Assistant position using me as a reference.Well little did he knew that name stink in the European Agency.

Then I switched on to recruit Indians as junior conductors,The problem with these young men were forever thinking that plantation conductors were easy jobs just going around and tackling female workers in the fields and plenty of outside income.Easy job,no way under me no way he could relaxed and loitered around.My constant presence in the field kept them on their toes all the time.The past had taught never to trust any of them and should checked and re-checked their work.

Even when I ventured out to other plantations not one of them were informed.One did stayed on for about two years before absconding to Pahang without settling full payments of his motor-cycle.Following I recruit another as jumior conductor.Initially he was well behaved but after a few months under me he turned psycho behaving oddly,apparently the poor fellow could not take the pressure I bestowed on him.

His family came and took him home but he still wanted to come back to work for me but his condition did not allow him.In place of him came his younger brother,another well behaved young man,similarly very obedient.He proved to be a better staff than his brother.Unlike his elder brother he was a man of prayer,a struct Hindu.

In the drier months we encountered water problems as our well soon ran out of water for both factory used and for the workers.So water from the nearby canals were pumped up for factory used.For the workers we supply them with government water.Both had to be transported by tractor with water tank attached.Only snap was water for human consumption had to be transported frm the government stand pipe situated at the entrance of the plantation (some three mile away from the line sites.

This usually happened in the afternoon when the workers were back at the lines sites to receive the water so distributed ,house by house.Unfortunately at times the tractor was slightly slower because it has to be load at that standpipe which flowed directly into the tank.Government supply also be slowed down because of water shortages.The breaking down of the tractor also slowed down the deliveries of water to the workers.

That junior conductor heard the grouses of the poor laborers,day in day out,until he broke down and acted like a "samie",Indian priest.With bare body and powdered forehead and attired with a pure white sari from waist downwards carrying a bowl and incenses he began chanting Hindu prayers.With the completion of his prayers he loudly accused the Manager of having plenty of water at his disposal while the poor wretched workers had none.

Subsequently a big crowd gathered in support of him.Encouraged with the built up he marched to my bungalow with intention to storm it.I was at home that evening,on seeing that I kept my cool and allowed him and the crowd to inspect my water collection tank just behind the bungalow.There only an inch of water.At that I got angry and yelled at him,"Where is my water???".

Seeing none he kept his silence broke down and cried like a baby with the workers cursing him.My tractor driver who was present said to them,"I told you all that there was no water.The Manager only get his share late at night,maybe tonight twelve o'clock,only after you all.Now you see,listening to a mad man".With bowed head that insane staff walked forlornly away without any one to console him,only curses.

Did I really had no water???.No in the reserve water tank but there was water in my storage tank situated at the attic of the roofing.There was water in the morning but was already pumped up to the storage tank every morning when electricity was available.That bump was right I did had water that day.

In place of him I trained another local young man,yes.directly from the plantation,a worker's son.He had no basic education accept only standard six.I initial took him as a "kangany"of the weeding gang,He proved himself to be trustworthy and can follow my instructions without failed.From "kangany" I promoted him to junior conductor,trained him to do the pay rolls etc.

When he was ready I transferred him to another plantation which was also under my control.The plantation was fully matured rubber, mostly old rubber.The workers were all Indians .He was to stay there and worked independently and I only went there at least once a week.Or when ever any problem arises.

With him there I converted that plantation into solely Oil Palm and after that there was profits coming which delighted the Boss.The Boss had at first doubted his abilities after a Chinese conductor failed him.He proved me right and worthy of my trust in him.

In the main plantation I took in other Chinese as junior conductor .Frankly I took in my own cousin to serve as junior conductor with the approval of the Boss.He proved to be good enough and obedient.I trained similarly to do the pay rolls and all other field works.With myself going out many a times to other plantations I had him write daily reports for me and that really relieved my work tremendously.

The training I gave him was so good that after he left me he was able to get employment in Chinese owned plantation as Conductor in charged.In his heart I gave the best training sufficient to be a Manager of a plantation.Agreed, I was quite harsh with him and while in my employment he showed his displeasure with my handling of him,never relaxing.But it did him a world of good as he was later able to work independently anywhere.

Later I recruited another Chinese also to be trained as junior conductor.True I gave this young man some training but not as much as I taught my own cousin.He was with me for sometime but his later whereabout were unknown to me.



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





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

Chapter 9 The Conversion To Palm Oil

To convert to Oil Palm there was an abandoned field about 1oo acres to be replanted.Unfortunately the inter-rows of that field was filled with wild rubber seedlings some as as 14 to 16 inches in girth.Those so overcrowding that slashing was almost impossible but definitely costly.I have tried to poison them with 2-4-5 T but proved to be too costly and difficult.

The old rubber stand was about 70 trees per acre.So I worked out a plan to cut them down first.At that moment rubber wood was of little value and the huge size of the trees offered no consolations at all.To hire a felling contractor was almost impossible with most of them courting extremely high cost.Nevertheless felling had to be done so I enrolled a contractor to fell those trees on manwork days basis.That way they accepted and a gang of few chainsaw men were employed.

The huge size trees almost frightened all the sawyers away athough a few stayed back to work.I even simplified their job by allowing them to cut the the trees with few off cutting of main branches.That way I managed to have all the trees down within two months.The Contractor absconded as soon as work was about to complete,for he did not pay some of the workers.Another was sudsequently recruited to all other neccessary cuttings of branches.

Those trees were left to dry by the merciless sun.A Malay contractor was recruited to obtained casual workers to stack the cut branches where ever possible.When sufficiently dried those stacked were set on fire.The fire really put me total astonishment as it burnt furiously.The burning not only burn away all its wood and branches it also burned away those wild seedlings crushed down by those rubber trees and all those around it.

The burning took away those wild seedlings down to its roots system.The pit soil when exposed to the sun also dried up quickly and began to catch fire as we continued burning.That explained the fantastic burning destroying all the wild rubber seedling to deep down into the soil burning away those awful rooting of the wild rubber seedlings.It surely was a blessing in disquish.What planting method,there was none.I broke all therules in clearing this field.Most important I had it done at a minimum cost.

We had anticipated a high clearing cost but.............................................................well the Lord was with me.

It was no easy task as re-stacking and re-staking over and again, were necessary all the way.I surprised everyone including the Boss that I was forever present on the spot of work under the hot blazing sun.There were staffs to aid me but not one of them reliable.The Senior Conductor was the son of one of the Directors and he could hardly take the sun.His only job was weighing of latex.Then there was a junior conductor seemingly lazy and raw.

That hot and blistering sun was forever merciless couching everything,sure it assisted our clearing.I had it completed before the onslaught of the rainy season in October.It was pain stalking effort to clear this field having to endure the full blast of the sun all the way.Nevertheless I completed it and the cost extremely low.That surprises the Boss who were unwilling to replant it as they estimated that it would cost them heavily.My experiences were proving what I am capable of. Easy well,just try to clear it at my cost.

The D x P Chemara seedlings were already well established for transplanting into that field.We had our nursery by the canal where water is easily available for daily watering.Springklers were fitted where ever necessary for water to reach all the seedlings in the nursery.The seedlings were than a year old when we transplanted them.

The field had a very good drainage system for replanting to rubber,but we were now replanting to Oil Palm,so the drainage were no more useful neither did I decide to cover them up but allowed them be.The lining was done by me without any contractor.Now the Boss knew what I was made of,not the talk the work,but work the talk.Sweet talking was never my trade mark.My work was.

Soon with the beginning of the rainy season we were ready for transplanting as the planting holes were also ready.On the first day of planting my Boss requested me to fetch in his friend to see my transplanting first thing in the morning.We arrived back at the plantation about 8.00 a. m. and went straight to the replanting field.Likened an experienced planter he went straight to the palm planted and surprised everyone by kicking it to test its firmness.

"See,Mr.Cheah,planting not firmed",he said proudly with hands in his pockets.He was a man of short stature,wearing sockings and well polished brown leather shoes.Surprised at his moved, I replied,"Mr.Lee I only just came in with you,should that be not firmly planted that could be easily be rectified immediately, no need to kick the plant.Should you be good sufficiently take over from me.Go tell the Boss what you encounter".He kept mum.

With that I shouted at the "Malay Mandol".Learning what I wanted done immediately he ordered all the workers to add more soil to the planting hole and pressed on them firmly.All were corrected immediately in front of our Mr.Lee.As he walked away the Malay mandol asked,"Siapa orang ini,Tuan,macam "Samseng",tedang pokok.Sadikit hormat orang2 yang menaman pokok itu,pun tiada".Meaning who was that man kicking the palm without due respect to those who planted it acting like a gangster.

"Dia orang kaya,Boss punya kawan",I replied."Boss,Boss pun,macam mana,kena hormat orang2 pekerja juga,kalau Tuan tiada bahru dia tahu lah",he replied.Later I explained to Mr.Lee that I was not at the field earlier at the first transplanting as I had to fetch him.I explained that I also did not have capable staffs accept for the Malay Mandol.With that completed I sent him home to Kuala Lumpur.On the way he told of his planting exoeriences as a pineapple planter on his own plot of land in Klang.

Very soon we arrived at his home at old Klang Road.From what I see I now knew that he was a patrol station owner selling Mobil Gasoline etc.His patrol station was in the middle of two roads, one going uop the other going down.That Gas station was no more in existence presently.The whole stretch of the road was now widened.I learned that he later became the Manager of Bidor Bahru Estate,Bidor,Perak.Before that plantation was ran by by my friend,another of his cousin.I knew him as Lee Shing Chin.I wander what has become of this joker,should be kicking lallang I was told.

Well.it takes all types of people to become planters I for one was another.Many of Malaysian planters were through inheritance,while others like me had to struggle our way up.Chinese plantation owner never trusted the Manager fully.Funny thoigh when employing European Manager they dared not bully them.What ever it was Plantation owner always have spies knocking around reporting back unneccessarily,causing many untold problems.How to moved around with these jokers were alone another experience in Chinese owned plantation.I think I had mastered that after so long in it.

Enough said about that man sent by the Boss, I went on to complete my transplanting before the rainy season was over.Leguiminous cover plants were established at the same time.With successfully transplanted up ,I further went on to cut down the all the existing clonal seedlings fields as returns from them were not good at all.With that successful transplanting I was quick to convince my Boss to replant all those low yielding fields one at a time.

Fortunately this time around rubber wood was in demand for brick factories around Selangor areas,and with these fields I easily recruited a contractor to remove all the rubber stand incuding a complete burning, without any cost for the clearing. Thus our replanting cosdt was extremely low,only for transplanting cost and the planting of leguminiuos cover crops..In fact all those fields were transplanted at a minimun cost.

Within the next five years there were already harvesting of fruits.In this latter stages there was a demand for rubber wood with its introduction into the furniture business.Rubber timber did fetched a beeter price.In fact the contractirs were paying for the timber to be extracted plus their willingness to burn and clear all remains there of.Should the owner refused that the contractors were ever willing to give a free round of plowing and another harrowing.With all these incentives given by the felling contractor the transplanting were then accomplished with any actual cost.

Another thing a planter need to know all its boundaries when taking over a plantation be it on transfer or other wise,for I have learned that there were many surveying mistakes especially when the kand was brought over.Many atimes the boundary stones had been moved by people uinknow or by people out to steal some land form either way.During my stinct at St,Andrew I have discovered by surveying that the adjacent small holder had planted into the plantation land for a period who knows maybe from the beinning.

Some five acres and slightly more perhaps might be nothing to a big plantation owner but
to a small holder the gain were enormously huge.To a Chinese plantation owner it was likewise as big,so mt recovery was valuable after all.We recovered that small piece of land without any hitch.It seemed to me that that owner knew it all along until we take action he waas reaping quite substantial profits for a long,long time.Thus I ended his small fortune.

With the surging prices of Palm Oil ,our crops were churning in profits.This sssssshowed that what I did were exeellent and gain praises from all the Bosses.Armed with those success the Boss allowed me to take down more low yeilding fields leaving fields witn high yeilding clones only.Only clones like RRIM 600 survived my onslaught.

Within a period of five to six years I was able to convert almost 805 of the fields to Oil palm.The good fortune was with me all this while as the prices of Palm oil surged further and further upwards.The profits made the Directors extremely happy.

Further to replanting I also started to plant Cocoa on a trail basis. Actually it was the Boss suggestion as the price of Cocoa was also surging higher and higher,much to the envy of all the Directors.Well,I just went along with his idea and ordered the cocoa planting materials from Bagan Datoh Estate.As normal I had the nursery by the canal side where watering were easy,and by the side of the Oil Palm seedlings.

A plot in an area of RRIM 501 was selected for the planting.As the area was already a wind damaged area ,all I did to cut cost was only to poison the rubber stand without felling them.The Cocoa responded very well in growth,within a short peiod of about one year plus we were already getting a little crop.Ripe cocoa harvested were sun dried as the amount was too little to warrant any construction a drier.

At that moment the price of cocoa was seemingly attractive and the Boss ordered me to purchase further planting materials,with intention to plant up the whole field with it.One thing which bothered us was the rampant pilfering of the fruits.Easy to steal and easy to sell,with ready buyers every where.So there was a lot of suggestions how to apply our securities to the fullest to prevent any eventual stealing.Well,I was allowed to try out various methods including the breeding of dogs.It did not work of course.





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