岁末了，明天又是新的卯兔年的开始。

365天前，我们才迎来寅虎年，转眼8760个小时就这样过去了。

蓦然回首，不觉中竟虚度了年华！

 

虽然说：“大阳下山明早依旧爬上来，花儿谢了明年一样的开”

可是我们的年华呀，却一去不回来！

 

真所谓“往者不可谏，来者犹可追”，在这卯兔年里，

承诺自己要勤读书、勤做事、勤拍摄，切莫让余生留白！

 

与诸君共勉之，并祝新年进步，身体健康，事事顺意。

武来岸开埠初期

 

19世纪末，武来岸和文丁一带是个产锡米的地方，全盛时期，根据J.M Gullick的著作-《A history of Negeri Sembilan 142页》，华裔人口就有3000人。锡矿场需要许多劳工，我的祖父就在那个时候，从中国梅县来到这里找生活。

 

石嗱督庙后山的一大片土地，名为Kampung Kapal的，就是采锡的地方，俗称『铁船』的砂泵採锡公司在曾在这里运作。

 

当时候的武来岸可热闹了，街上除了餐馆和宾馆外，还有烟馆和劳工喝酒寻欢的地方。只可惜，好景不长，当锡米采完后，锡矿工人也随着离开，剩下部分则留在当地割树胶和务农，其中包括我的祖父母。

 

当时，所有居民除了少数开店的人外，都散居在各自的胶园里，分布在老港、新港、协利港、林新港和山蕃港等地区。老港是指石嗱督庙的所在处、新港则是指武来岸往十八啤和芙蓉方向，而协利港则是靠近茅草山地区。我祖父住在老港区，离街上约三公里路。

 

这些新客都是过着“日出而作，日落而息”的平淡生活。他们视这里为临时落脚地，希望有朝一日，落叶归根，把辛苦挣到的钱带回老家。丛然不能衣锦还乡，但起码能过着比较安稳的日子。

 

可惜，人算不如天算，大平洋战争和日本南侵，切断了归乡之路！我的祖父母因此滞留在此。这里也成了我们永久的家。

 

 

At the end of the 19th century, the area around Broga and Mantin was a tin-mining area. In its heyday, according to "A history of Negeri Sembilan by J.M Gullick, page 142", the population of Chinese immigrants was 3,000. The tin mines required a lot of labor, and my grandfather who left his ancestral home in Meixian was among those who came here at that time to find a living. 

 

The areas behind the Sak Datuk Temple known as Kampung Kapal was key tin mining areas. There were also mining companies that used the Gravel Pump method for their mining operation. 

 

According to the village senior, Broga was very lively at that time. In addition to restaurants and hotels, there were also places where laborers drank and had fun. It's a pity that the good times didn't last long. After the tin ore was harvested, the tin miners and laborers left, while my grandparents chose to stay behind as rubber tappers and farmers. 

 

Like many other immigrants at that time, my grandfather regarded this place as a temporary place to stay, hoping that one day, they can bring back their hard-earned money to their hometown to live a better life.

 

However, my grandfather’s wishes did not materialize. The Pacific War and Japanese Occupation cut off their way home! My grandparents were stranded here, and Broga finally become our permanent home. 

 

 

峇东加里露营地土崩

 

上星期五（16/12/2022）凌晨2.42分在峇东加里露营地土崩事件中，不幸夺走了24条人命，61人获救，目前拯救人员还在寻找9个失踪的露营者。

 

遇难者包括6名来自吉隆坡民众华文小学的老师，其中还有多个孩童。

 

这是一宗大悲剧，高高兴兴向家人挥别去露营的亲人，却走上了不归路，最后回来的却是冷冰冰的尸体！

 

从报章看到亲人在医院认领罹难者的尸体和出殡的悲伤的情况，让人万分心痛！

 

人生就是有这么多的无奈，生可预知，死亡却不可预测。

 

人世间的悲欢离合，也不是我们所能掌控的。

 

今生有缘能在一起，无论是亲人、同事或朋友，都要好好珍惜。

 

 

 

A few days ago, my good friend Mr. Murali sent me this newspaper cutting that appeared in The Star 30 years ago, which carried a story by him about litter Shalini who needed financial assistance for an urgent heart disorder treatment. Murali bought Shalini and her mother to my office for help. I was then a State Assemblyman, I appealed for help from the public through The Star and very soon we had successfully raised enough funds for her treatment. 

 

I met her mother by chance recently, and I was so happy to hear that Shalini is now leading a normal life. She is now over 40 years old.

 

Happy Deepavali to Shalini, her family, and all my dear friends from FB.

 

我的好朋友，也是星报记者Murali先生，前几天从马六甲寄给我一份剪报，这是他30年前在该报的一份报道，讲述一位印裔小女孩Shalini 正需要一笔钱进行一项紧急的心脏手术。当时我是州行政议员，Murali带Shalini和她母亲来见我，通过星报和善心人士的协助，我们很快就筹足了款项，顺利让她动了手术。

 

几月前，我巧遇她的母亲，很高兴得知，她女儿如今一切安好，过着正常人的生活。Shalini已是40多岁的妇女了。

 

在此祝愿Shalini、她的家人和所有朋友，屠妖节快乐！

屠妖节快到了，芙蓉市印度街的商店里，琳琅满目，摆满了庆祝佳节的用品和食物，好不热闹。

 

These are the few shots I took a few days ago along “India Street” in Seremban. I can feel the festive mood of Deepavali.

The Bridge over the Tutuh River 

 

2021年5月，连续几场大雨，一百多米长的Tutuh 河铁桥被河水冲毁了，切断了Long Lama通往Long Seridan、Long Kawa、Ba Puak及多个本南村落的陆路交通。如今一年多过去了，修桥的工作才刚开始不久，我们必须乘小船过河，然后再安排车子来接以便继续我们的行程！

 

The bridge over Tutuh river was washed away during heavy downpours in May 2021. The road connecting Long Lama to Long Kawa, Ba Puak, Long Seridan, and a few other Penan settlements was completely cut off. During my visit last month, I saw that the restoration work had just started, we had to cross the river by small ferry and arrange for another vehicle on the other side of the river to continue our journey.  

内陆水果摊

 

往砂州内陆Belaga途中，经过一个简陋的水果摊，上面有凤梨、香蕉、柑和一些蔬菜，每样都有标价，却没有人看守。摊位上挂着透明塑料小罐，有的则用小木箱。顾客拿了水果，把钱投入小罐或木箱，买卖就成交了。内陆地区，已有Cash and Carry的买卖模式，比城市还先进了！

 

On the way to Belaga, the interior of Sarawak, we came across a small and makeshift stall, selling pineapples, bananas, oranges, and vegetables, with prices written on it. We saw no sellers but a few used plastic bottles for us to put in the payments. What a fantastic “Cash and Carry” experience in this remote area!  

达雅市集在芙蓉拉杭第一天营业，摊位虽然只有约20个，人潮也不算多，但这是很好的开始。市民民可以认识达雅族的美食和文化，展现出大马一家的理念。同时芙蓉市星期天又多了一个打卡的地方。祝面书朋友国庆日快乐。

Last Sunday, I visited Daya Market, which opened for the first time at Jalan Rahang, Seremban. Although there were only about 20 stalls and the crowd was not that large, it was a good start. Folks from Seremban can learn more about the cuisine and culture of the Dayak people, showcasing the concept of “Keluarga Malaysia”. At the same time, this is another place to spend Sunday morning with family and friends.

“Selamat Menyambut Hari Kebangsaan 2022”