Society Development 2

Different people different associations

At least 3 Chinese associations are found along the area of Carpenter Street. Chinese associations can differ by dialects or by surname. For example, dialect clan associations are Hainan Association, Foochow Association, Hokkien Association, Teochew Association, Hakka Association and many more. Clan associations were assembled when Chinese from mainland China migrated down to the South Sea in the late 1800s. They established these associations to guard their own members’ health and provide community support. ‘New comers from China would sign up themselves with their respective clan associations, thus the ‘club house’ turn up to a meeting place for clansmen.’ Besides, these associations became a media for education. The use of this association are not just try to protect the culture of different region by meeting but also as a school for the  members of association at previous time. According to Mrs Ko, different dialects people with study different schools. According to Mrs Ko, different dialects people with study different schools. For instance, Hakka people will study at Hakka association using their own mother tongue and they only need to pay around RM 1- RM 2 for school fees throughout the year.

Regrettably in these modern days, memberships of these associations have reduced. Younger generation didn’t seem to concern for ‘community support’ here when they have cyber cafes to play games and socialize. Miserably these days, less activities are conducted by clan associations, except for a few mah-jong tables or a place for the older persons to read newspaper or have a tea time with their companion and some associations are no longer active anymore and closed.

 (KWONG WAI SIEW ASSOCIATION)

 (THE SARAWAK WHARF LABOURERS' UNION FEDERATION)

 (KUCHING HAINAN ASSOCIATION)

 ( THE KAYING COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION)

(LUI CHIU ASSOCIATION)

Bicycles as the best transportation during 80-90’s

As usual, before many cars are invented like today, bicycles are commonly used for local people there as transportation. For poor families, they prefer walk as they cannot afford to buy bicycle. There is no any traffic jams and children can play hide and seek around there

Hartal

Sarawak started the long journey to reconstruct herself after World War II had ended in 1945. ‘In Dec 1954, the State Council of the colonial government approved an increase in trade license fees of 500 to 1,000% to raise M$3.5 million a year to offset lower prices for staple exports and support an increase in expenditure on education outlined in the Woodhead Report.’, (Daniel Yiek,2007) On 1 Jan 1955, the new rates have been effective. Kuching joined the hartal for 3 days starting 7 Jan 1955.  Protest leaders from all major towns met the government in Kuching to oppose the new fees. As a result of this unprecedented protest, on 1 Jan 1955, the government allowed license fees to be paid by instalments, set up a committee to examine revising the fees on 7 Jan and accepted its recommendations on 13 Jan. The State Council passed the amendments on 30 Mar.

‘During Hartal day, my family and me hide ourselves in the jungle.’ said Mrs. Ko. Mrs. Ko andher family migrated to a jungle near to the carpenter street. Mrs. Ko’s mother bought rubber tree’s seeds and planted in the jungle. Moreover, they did plant potatoes, adopt chicken and cow to support her family welfare.

Building Development

According to one our interviewer person, Madam Ko ,age 89.which is a “Sarawakian” , She said that since she was born , the building are still remain the same until now a day. The only thing change was the goods they sold are quite different compared to previous times especially the luxury goods which tend to attract the attention of the tourism. The company such as trading companies, banks and cafes are now became rare and replaced by the designed handicrafts shop to target the marketing of tourists. Beside, Mrs Ko also state that the social harmony are just a bit worse than previous times but it is considered good compared to other place. The criminal are seldom occur at Carpenter Street. She even mention that when the world war two, the situation also stable and harmony, the Japanese do nothing to them and they just closed the shop and run into their ‘Rubber Tree’ garden to crop the plant by themselves. When we ask further about whether it is true that Japanese didn’t do anything like killing the people or snatch the young girl to be sexually tool, she straight away deny it and state that they don’t dare to resist the Japanese like Malay Peninsula. So, as a result, their life are harmony and peaceful at that time even though after the 3 years 08 months, their shop are remain the same situation and they just have to continue their business by import the goods. This story was shocking us because in our view start from young age, the cruel of Japanese at those 3 years 08 months was an unforgettable and painful memories even we didn't experience it. Yet, with the quiet of the people in Carpenter Street, Sarawak, they are live in more peacefully compared to Malay Peninsula.

Security

Uncle Yeo, age 44, who open a tattoo shop at Carpenter Street secretly tell us that actually along the Carpenter Street still got some gangsters which sometime they will fight with each other or bully someone. Yet, when we ask more about that, he seem like ignore our question or looking around by not paying the attention to us. According to the history, Carpenter Street was a lower working class neighbourhood filled with opium dens, gambling joints, brothels and other clandestine activities.

 The social life in Carpenter Street was harmony and peacefully .The refurbished old shop,houses are surprisingly in nice look, with brightly painted walls and windows the lavish historical value, more than 100 years building, special cultural and  garbage-free streets with no moving vehicles crowding the alley ways let the Carpenter Streets become a most popular street in Kuching, Sarawak.