Teaching & Learning Engagement in Architecture & Interior Architecture Programs
School of Architecture & Built Environment, UCSI University
Yu Lai
Master Craftsman
The most experienced craftsman of
the Boatmaking Factory
Kimguan Founder
The originator of the esteemed Kimguan Factory
Guan Yak
Kimguan Inheritor
The guardian of Kimguan Factory's esteemed lineage.
Wei Hao
Transcript
We were supposed to do it without any blueprints. Initially, my uncle obtained the craftsmanship learnt from a master in Penang and brought them back to Pangkor Island.
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The hulls of the boats have become larger. Because the engines have greater horsepower, so the hulls are enlarged and everything becomes bigger.
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We would still continue even if it rains. The time of the ceremony has already been chosen following Chinese customs, according to feng shui. For launching, it depends on the date and the tide, if the tide is low, the boat can't go into the sea. We must see the tide conditions.
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It is not worth thinking about as this is a sunset industry. Can't say they don't want to do, as this type of work requires manual labor and there aren't any young people to continue this line of work, this leaves the old generation to continue it. Until now, we are the third generation and we are lacking people who want to help continue the industry.
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The terrain here is convenient. Because it is convenient for us to work by the shore. In the past, this area was not developed and the wood was transported here by sea shipping. That's why it is convenient to set up the factory here. We launch our boats here, nowadays it is not as convenient to transport wood as it can’t be transported here through sea shipping, only through land transportation which causes us to have another loading area.
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Yes, our working area is open-air. If it rains, we can't work. But we have an unspoken rule: If it rains after our break time which is around eleven in the morning, we pay the workers wages for half a day. If it rains before break time, at around nine or ten in the morning, everyone takes the day off and no wages are being paid.
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No, we don’t even have a dedicated space to work. We just do our work wherever we can. Actually, the space required to store the wood is quite big. For instance, we store our wood at the roadside. If we move it down here we won’t have any space to do our work. Even if we expanded, it’s useless. You can see a lot of wood at the roadside. If you take them down here, there is no place to put them. If we don’t buy them for preparation, we have to wait for the workers to cut and process it, so you just buy it in advance and store it first, that's it.
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Master Craftsman
The most experienced craftsman of
the Boatmaking Factory
Yu Lai
Kimguan Founder
The originator of the esteemed Kimguan Factory
Transcript
It is because of the excellent craftsmanship in Pangkor, our boat is made this way. If any there is any issues with the boat, it would be easy to fix. because there is always wood supply. because you need manpower to repair. The problem is whether they would come to Pangkor to repair your boat for you or would you drive your boat to their dock. Because for boats made in Pangkor, the boat-builders are already there. There is already manpower, if you want to repair. They would tell you to come tomorrow. It is convenient. Like I said, Teluk Intan manufactures Fiber Boat, If my boat is spoiled, does that mean I have to go Teluk Intan to repair my boat? Does that mean I have to go all the way there only I can repair?
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It is not that special, but we would still continue to use these types of boat. Its durability is actually pretty good too. If you take care of it, it can last for 50 years. We have never used Metal boats before, so we don’t know if it can last for 40 years. the wood is much better quality. Because nowadays, if you have good paint, then it would be better as water wont be able to get through, this makes it even more durable.
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They are already used to the place, if you tell them to improve like us, they wouldn’t want to. You told us to make changes to their side, but they rejected all of it. Then you told them to make changes to our side, and they also rejected it. (So the boats you make here are specifically for fishing in this area?) Yes.
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Guan Yak
Kimguan Inheritor
The guardian of Kimguan Factory's esteemed lineage.
Wei Hao
The workers in the boatmaking factory also have their own stories to tell. Every day they pour their hearts into different methods and techniques which have been passed down from generation to generation, using tools and knowledge which they have formed a close bond with.
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