The Old Trades Of Batu Pahat

As I have promise before , I will definitely do an article or rather a Photo Journey on the Old Trades of Batu Pahat. I believe most of you would have known or at least heard of Batu Pahat by now. If Not , please do a Google on it or look for it in wikipedia. Batu Pahat was reknown for its salted fish in the past, It was formerly known as Bandar Penggaram, which means “town of salt-makers”. In 1893/1894, the present township was founded by Dato’ Bentara Luar, Mohamed Salleh bin Perang, acting on the orders of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar.As with most Old Township in Malaysia, Batu Pahat along with the others, still has a sizable amount of Folks who manage to maintain and pass on those … ” Old Trades ”.  Believe it or not, the amount of Old trades can easily be compared to those of  Malacca. But unlike most towns, Batu Pahat is rather unique in that it has through History brought about some of the most Talented man & Women , in both the Business and Political Scenes ( Read my earlier Post on this ). May be it’s the ” Feng Sui ” or the Schools & Teachers, Dieties & Gods ( B.P. has the most Temples Per sq. ft than any other towns ) in Malaysia if not Asia. There are about 450 or more of which 300 plus are Registered. It’s clearly a case of ” Where The Environment Makes The Man ”…. And I am glad to say that I am one of them ….Ha,Ha.

Now for the ” Old Trades ” that makes the Town what it is Yesterday, today and the near future.  As usual I will arrange them in photos of their respective Trades & Professions. Most of them are my friends and whenever possible I will add their names or their shop Title.  Please take this as a Photographic journey rather than a Photo journalistic article. Take Grace in any Mistakes that I may have made as I am really a slow typist and one prone to errors…Ha,Ha. Enjoy !!!

Due to the overwhelming request for  some of my old Batu Pahat Pics, I have today ( 22/11/2016 ) uploaded them for your viewing  pleasure … Ha, Ha. This are Vintage pics from the 20’s to 40’s from the Colonial Batu Pahat.  Lots of you who were born even in the 50’s doesn’t even know or recognise some of the scenes here. I won’t be identifying any of the places here as this is a Quiz for anyone Young or Old . Try naming as much places as possible … Adooii . There will be a number to each picture and if you quest all of it right, I will give you a Treat over here in B.P. You can call me at : 019-7119019 or just place a comment below ….Thanks.

By the way, all pics are copyright, so ask me if you need it for commercial usage. Other than that, feel free to share . Most of the negatives are with me and they were handed down to me by my Late Brother whose interest in Photography lead me to what I am today … Thanks.

Here we go … Pic # 1.

Pic # 3

Pic # 4

Pic # 5

Pic # 6
 

  

Here’s an update as of 27/5/2014 ….Just manage to get two wonderful Pic of the then Old Ferry Terminal and the second a view from across the B.P. River….Cheers !! Pics are from Arkib Negara cawangan Johor. I used to swim along this Terminal at Jalan Shahbandar.

  A view of the Batu Pahat Ferry Terminal  from the across the river … 1955 .

The view of Perserai from across the River …. 1928.

 After years of using the Ferry services, it was  finally taken over by the the big thing … The Bridge . It was completed on July 1967 and was officially open on July 1st and later to the public on 23/7/67 with a Toll charge of 20cts for motorcycles,  80cts for cars and $ 1.80 for lorries and buses. 

Here’s a pic from an archive on the official opening day on July the 1st 1967… Truly Down Memory Lane Stuff !!

I shall start with the ” Makan ” or ” Food ” Trades. Most of you local folks would have known some if not all of them here. Batu pahat is also a food heaven besides the famous ” Nasi Briyani , Asam Pedas, Kopi Puteh Senggarang or Apollo Yam Rice ”. There’s more to it than meets the eyes down here in B.P.

Those Makan Sutra Trades …!!! 

This is an update that’s long overdue ( 28/10/2014 ), and the thought of not including my longtime Latin Dancing classmate is unbelievable !! Here he is, ” Ah Choon ” in his ( one of the oldest ) ” Mun Chiang Kueh ” Stall .  Few know that this Man was once a ” Cha-Cha ” Dancing King of B.P. Believe me, this Man has some smooth moves under his belt, besides having a skilled pair of hands … Cha, Cha, Cha !!

 The Best of the rest below … !!

           The Famous ” Mun Chiang Kueh ” at Nam Ah Huei Coffee Shop

 The above Pic is one of the many old Food trades spread across S.E. Asia. Those ” Keng Che Mee or Sar Kak Mee ( Thirty Cents Mee ) and better known to us Oldies as ” Salon Mee ” here in B.P.  This one above is one of the Two Famous ones and its called ” Ah Sar ” Sar Kak Mee”, here seen taken taken over by Ah Sar’s Daughter in Law.

                    The ” SATAY ” from Kampung Satay at ” Tong Ah ” Coffee Shop

                      The Spicy ” Lontong ” also at ” Tong Ah ” Coffee Shop

Another favorite of mine, Now nearer to my Home …. The ” OM ” Indian Rojak at the Main road of Taman Perdana.

Now for the Noodles side of things, Those Delicious … ” Wan Tan Mee ” of Batu Pahat. Here’s two of my favorite and they are Famous among locals here. Guess Who …???

 

We all know that ” Mee Rebus ” is a traditional malay food, But here in B.P., there’s an exception, A chinese ” Mee Rebus ” Seller that’s equally popular here. The Mee Rebus of Jalan Abu Bakar ( Formerly at Sin Mee Hing Cafe ) at Jalan Sultanah.

Not forgetting the famous ” Fish Ball Mee ” Family. There’s a total of five of them spread around Batu Pahat.  All of them handed down from the ” Chu Song & Chu Teck ” Brothers …!!! 

Here’s a Late edition as of Dec 15th, How could I leave out my friend, Ah Loh ( One of Batu Pahat’s Best Egg Crabs ) Restaurant ?? Yes folks, This has to be one of the best Sea Food restaurant ( Ship Village Restaurant ) in Sergenting, here in Batu Pahat. The owner ( AH LOH ) as is often called here, has his own Secret recipe in cooking crabs. Better known here as his ” Chow Phai ” dish of eggs coated fried and delicious crabs. No Pics here as it will only have you swallowing your own Saliva. Remember its in Sergenting, a Tourist Hound for Singaporeans and Locals alike. You won’t miss it, as its next to the village main temple and the restaurant is shape like a Ship.

Here’s the man himself cooking away !! Mr. Ah Loh !!

Enough of noodles and food … Finally, a pic to depict the ingenuity of the folks of Batu Pahat. A true ” Jack of all Trades ” and an ordinary man who tries his best to make ends meet. The Apam cum ” Chai Tau Kueh ” seller of Batu Pahat. A good example of what 2 in 1 means.

Here an update that I almost forgot. The old Banner & Chinese Calligrapher. They are the one that writes those Beautiful and Artistic chinese characters on our ancestral tablets and banners for all occasions. This here is Mr. Chew , the only man left here in Batu Pahat who is still in this line. This really is a ” Vanishing Trade ” … !!

Here’s another taken through the glass  window.

Now For the  rest of The Old Trades of Batu Pahat. Some sad to say, are a dying breed, and may not last till the next Generation. First off ….The Ricksaw Man or in Malay ” Wak Becha ”.

        The Frangrance Rice Seller from The Pasar Pagi Barter Street.

 

 Not forgetting my other friend Mr.Tay ….” The Rattan Maker ”, Whose shop is at Jalan Engan.

Batu Pahat is also famous for it’s  Watch Dealers & Goldsmith. But Repairing those Old Vintage watches takes a skilled and experience Hand. To that B.P. do have some of the Finest Watch repairers and craftsman.  Here are some of those magnificent man with their Tick-Tock skills…Yee Haa !!

 This is another update as of ( 7/6/2015 ).

One of The Oldest Bicycle shop in B.P.

 A Traditional Malay Frame Shop.

 Workers from the ” 98 ” Trades.

 ” Sheik ” The Cendol shop Boss … !!

 Here’s a really Old and Traditional ” SONGKOK ” maker at The Pasar Melayu.

Not forgetting The ” Curry Powder ” and ” Nuts ” Grinders.

  
Still going strond and surviving trade of ” Joss Stick ” making.

Here’s an update as of January 2016 .  A truly Vanishing Trade that has long gone from the scenes in Batu Pahat. This two pics were shot after a year and Half of waiting. It is of course the Traditional Chinese ” Coffin Makers ”. This has to be one of the last remaining shops in Johor, if not Southern Malaysia. They are the ” GOH ” brothers of Muar.

 

 

Well, there you go, this is just another one of those Topic/ Articles that I felt I need to Post. It’s not only important to me personally, but in the long run, serves to inform others ( especially the younger generation ) about the Life & Times of their Fore Fathers.