Chapter 14 K.C.Cheah Sawmill (Phg.),Karak,Pahang.

Well,what could I do but to follow the leader,I need not wait long before my Auntie offered me a job at K.C.Cheah sawmill,Karrak,Pahang.So we shifted to Karak where we rented a low cost house as residence.

Karak was a small quiet town.A  one main road town with a Chinese new village hanging in its back ground and a fast flowing river  behind that..Most things were extremely cheap then for the three of us (our new born daughter,Yue Kit,my wife and me). 

Actually I was receiving only a small allowance from the sawmill.We were fortunate as a distant relative of my wife offered her to tap in his newly opened up plot of rubber,yielding her some $ 10/= ringgit per day.With that our life were seemingly comfortable.

Of course,it hurts me having to depend partly on my wife's earning to survive comfortably.Say what you may,a man ought to brave sufficiently to face the consequences.Sometimes a lot of patient and guts came along to face what were installed in the future.

The sawmill had much to offer actually and I learned a lot from my stay there.For sure I acquired some knowledge about logging as the Mill had large concession of land for logging. Therefore I acquired much knowledge of the quality and quantity of  timber extracted from those forest.

As I was a beginner at the Mill I had to go about mostly all by myself to assist around.There was no one to order me about,so I just hanged around wherever there was work in progress.Funny everyone seem to be suspicious of my movement.Many harbored ill feelings about my present there.That was why no one really bothered about me.

Initially I lived in the Mill in a room provided.Later my wife shifted to Karak and we stayed in Karak town.By then our first child had came along.We were quite happy with our lives although my earnings were not much but we got by..

The mill itself also had much to learn.There I learned how to break down huge logs into required sizes,before sawing them to per specifications.Staying within could mean a guarantee of a good future but I never like its working environment.

There were too many relatives working within  the same work place.Everyone with high expectation from the Uncle.
It definitely brought about relationship deterioration,  jealousy and discontent  among scores of them.

At times a distance uncle or an Uncle's friend might pay a courtesy to the Mill but I simply ignored them.This brought about much complaints that I was arogant and had no respect for them.They expected me to "kowtow"to them which I would condone.

Further I was branded as extremely "hot headed". Many a times back stabbing,with every one trying their level best to get into the good book of our Uncle.Of course there was no need for me to adhere to any of such tactics.I believe on myself.

Also  this Mill, was without a strong and efficient leader, everyone seem to be the Boss  around.Considering all these I have second thoughts about  my future there.That was definitely no place  for me.My future need not come by relationship with the Boss.It ought to be through my own hard work and abilities.

By such at least I had something to shout about should I succeed on my own.Earn my status that my children could be proud of in the near future.After pondering over it I was damn sure my future should be in planting never to divert away from it.So with my mind set I once again I took up my pen and wrote away new applications for a planting position.


The so called European Agency may be hostile towards my applications but remember there were also Malaysian owned plantations.It did not take long before I was requested to attend an interview from a Malaysian Owed Plantation.

The Directors were impressed with me and immediately offered me a position to work under some one they had also just recruited.Working under some one else,no big deal.I accepted because I just wanted to return to planting by hook or by crook.

My resignation was not well received by my Uncle.Nevertheless,my mind was made up to leave and I left.It was really a great relief to left his Company.But I know my Auntie was very happy that I could stand up on my own.Well I got her blessings.She had always wanted me to stand up on my own.

I joined St.Andrew Estate,Batang Berjuntai,Selangor in October 1970,working under a young brat.This fellow was a young man who was very out spoken.His sweet talks in Hokkien  convinced the Bosses to offer him the Manager position,when in reality he had no or little experience in plantation management.

He was actually bluffing his ways around.He was a joker for all of us including the workers.He was always sleeping in the bungalow and whenever the Boss came to the plantation for a surprised visit.On receiving the news he would take a short run round the field towards the office,coming in panting and sweating profusely as if he had been working very hard in the fields.With sleepy eyes he fooled those Bosses.

Well,he fooled the unsuspecting Boss most of the time.Every one of us knew his bags of tricks. To promote good relationship among all including the "kanganies" he threw a lavish dinner at his bungalow.Well what could I do but to join the leader.When in Rome do as the Romans does.

A leopard never changes its spots,before long this young brat began to show its fangs.He wanted more money for his service and was not satisfied with what he was paid.He hatched out a plan to sell some of our RSS sheets.

He gave instructions for the lorry driver to divert part of the rubber consignment to his brother's rubber dealer's shop in Cheras.He foolishly accompany that consignment.While they were weighing those rubber the Boss suddenly appeared with the Police to arrest him.Having been caught red handed he was thus sacked.All were prosecuted in court.

This young man never opened his eyes and ears widely to look around first before attempting something foolish.Obviously, the lorry driver was a Boss's man.The Boss was actually informed as soon as he re-directed part of the rubber away from the go-down.Secondly it was rather foolish of him to follow that load of rubber.

I had always known that to serve under Malaysian Chinese concerned one must play it smart.See,all Malaysian Chinese concerned usually had plenty of spies around.To work there safely one must bear in mind the rules.Never to trust anyone even those who were very friendly with you.

Another golden rule was  never be greedy to accept any small bribes or gifts from anyone.Never allow anyone to pay for even a cop of coffee.Most Bosses had close contact with suppliers we dealt with.Should the suppliers or contractors be extravegrant or lavish,just be careful and never take what they say for granted.For what transpired among you would be relaid back to the Bosses.

My experiences with such people dated back to Hurst Estate,Gunong Inas Estate,Benton Estate and again going through Ulu Selangor Estate,meeting many of such people.They stopped at nothing to get into the good books of the Bosses.

Presently I am doubly sure of my standing and know how to tackle all these Bosses' informer or even the Bosses,themselves.All their movements and thoughts were always within my finger tips.Well, for one their body languages easily gave them away.I am also a good mind reader.What I had acquired in my past experiences were very useful in my future in planting.

In St Andrew I was no more the young nervous young man.In fact I was already a transformed man,a man ready to face any challenges.I was more bold in my actions.Of course being honest,sincerity and hard working were always the best policies.Coupling with these ought to be satisfied with what ever you were paid.Reward had its way of finding you.

Have no doubt over that.I took up the job here without even considering the pay.Believe me no others would have accepted that. And even worst still had to serve under some one so stupid and without any experience in planting.

My patient finally paid off finally when he was sacked for attempting to sell rubber belonging to the Company.He was shifted out with immediate effect and I stood in place to replace him.That was the day we always remembered as following that event the great flood in Kuala Selangor set in.