From Fishmonger To Friend

By Kurniawati Kamarudin BATU PAHAT (Johor, Malaysia), Jan 9 (Bernama) -- The arrival of Lee Swa Chai was something the villagers of Sungai Dulang Darat Village looked forward to in the mornings. His presence would be marked by the familiar honking of his motorcycle and a greeting in Javanese: "Kabare... dino iki ora tuku iwak?” (How are you? Would you like to buy some fish today?) he would ask the villagers who were mostly Malay of Javanese descent. He has been serving the village for some 40 years now, selling fish and other types of fresh seafood. At 73, he should be spending his twilight years taking it easy with his wife, 68-year-old Tan Mui Beng. However, his services are still sought after by the villagers to whom he is fondly known as Ah Chai. CLOSE RELATIONSHIP In villages and rural areas, where accessibility to towns is difficult, door-to-door sale of fresh fish is considered Godsend. With the rapid growth of infrastructure, mobile fishmongers like Ah Chai are a rare breed today. The establishment of hypermarkets and malls offering fresh produce at prices lower than wet markets has also forced fishmongers on two wheels to go out of business. However, those who live in Sungai Dulang Darat Village, some 4km off the town of Rengit, still sought Ah Chai’s services. The relationship he had with the villagers was more than that of a trader and a customer. He was like a brother to them. He was invited to every gathering and wedding, and supplied fish for many of such events. One of the villagers, Ahasanah Yusof, 76, said that she preferred to buy fish from Ah Chai despite the option of buying it from a nearby sundry shop. "He is not very particular about payment. That is why his business with the villagers lasted this long," she said. Villagers say he is trustworthy and allows customers to even delay payment. "If I’m not at home, Ah Chai would pack for me the fish I usually buy and hang it by my gate. I would pay him when he comes around the next day. "If he brought extra fish that day, he would sometimes even give some away for free," said Ahasanah, who had been a customer of Ah Chai’s since the early 70s. She said Ah Chai was also a messenger of current news or events in the village. "If there are deaths or incidents of thefts, he would inform those of us who were not aware of it," she said. HIGH PRICE OF FISH Ah Chai’s day would start at 6.30am where he would head to the Rengit Market for his supply of seafood. He would then bring to the village of about 100 people some 40kg of fish, prawns and crabs. "When I first started selling fish, I would sell over 60kg a day. It has lessened now due to the declining supply and increasing price of fish," he said. He said the market price of fish had risen drastically over the past three years affecting his business. Five years ago, the cheapest fish, the yellowtail scad (ikan selar), would only cost him around RM3-RM4 a kilogramme. Today, it was sold for up to RM8 a kilogramme. "Although prices have risen, I still cannot sell the fishes at too expensive a price or the villagers would not be able to afford it," he told Bernama when met at one of his customer’s home. SPEAKING JAVANESE The trip to from his home to the village is 30km, either way. He would only return home about 11am every day. Ah Chai lived in Kampung Sri Baharom, another Javanese Malay settlement, which explained his ability to speak Javanese and adapt well with the community at Kampung Dulang Sungai Darat. "I can understand Javanese but I am not that fluent in speaking it, perhaps only simple sentences," said Ah Chai who moved into the Rengit town in the 80s. The grandfather of 16 was proud to have raised four children on his income as a mobile fishmonger. His business had also allowed him to make investments on real estate and small scale oil palm cultivation. "In the early 70s, my father-in-law suggested I work as a fishmonger because I was jobless at the time. He was afraid I would not be able to support my wife. "It was from then that I begin my relationship with the people of Sungai Dulang Darat, who became my loyal customers to this day," he said. Although he was still able to make a living without depending on his children, he acknowledged that his health was not what it used to be. When asked until when he would continue selling fish, he answered with a smile: "I will continue to do it and meet up with my friends for as long as my health permits me". -- BERNAMA