Sunday August 19, 2007
A little story, a little history
A journalist comes up with a zippy little picture book about a rickshaw puller in late 19th century Penang.
By LOOI LAI YEE
IN today’s fast-moving world, would a guy with a Qing Dynasty pigtail who pulls a rickshaw strike a chord with children more familiar with IT than history?
A budding local writer certainly thinks so. With that conviction, Choong Kwee Kim journeys to the past to come up with her first book, Ah Fu the Rickshaw Coolie (coolie is an old term for a labourer, kids!).
The newly published 32-page children’s book also features colourful artwork, all drawn by the author herself.
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Author Choong Kwee Kim showing old rickshaws preserved at the famous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang. – GOH GAIK LEE / The Star |
“I chose to go further back because the world, and the country at large, were so dramatically different 100 years ago compared to, say, 50 years back,” the 37-year-old says of her maiden work that depicts the economic struggles of immigrants in old Malaya.
In addition, the story is a reflection of Choong’s deep interest in history, people and culture. As a journalist with The Star in Penang for the last 12 years, Kedah-born Choong has written widely about these subjects close to her heart.
Her picture book is a zippy little tale, written in catchy verse, about Ah Fu who works hard and saves even harder pulling a rickshaw as a “taxi service” of the day. (In fact, rickshaws are the father of Penang’s iconic three-wheel trishaws!)
The fella has no vices, except that he breaks all traffic rules and ignores the resultant summonses. And when he and his ilk are made to pay up, the indignant bunch goes on strike!
The story is inspired by a real rickshaw strike in Malaya in 1901. It’s a well-researched piece that references several sources including the book Penang Past and Present 1786-1963: A Historical Account of the City of George Town, first published in 1966.
“By writing a historical tale, I hope to trigger off young readers’ interest in history,” says Choong, who is captivated by her mother-in-law’s childhood memories of “exciting 30-cent rickshaw rides” on the island back in the late 1930s.
At the same time, Choong hopes Ah Fu will evoke nostalgia among the older generation.
“It is also my sincere wish that this story will act as a catalyst for the older folk, such as grandparents who may remember their rickshaw-riding days and share their experiences with their grandchildren,” adds the mother of four.
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Next came the more arduous task of illustrating the story. Plugging away at her labour of love after work each day, she brought to life the adventures of Ah Fu, using pen and water-soluble colour pencils.
“I told myself, ‘A page a day will get your book published one day’,” says the art hobbyist who minored in art education when she studied the Teaching of English as a Second Language at Universiti Malaya in the early 1990s.
Her work was done by December and, in March this year, when MPH Publishing responded favourably to her manuscript, Choong was over the moon.
Significantly, the account of Ah Fu, the “King of the Road”, is related by a girl named Siti. Together with little Bee and Ali, Siti takes a joy ride on Ah Fu’s vehicle to their grandmother’s kampung house uphill. It underlines Choong’s desire to create books with local content.
“I wanted to have Siti tell the story of Ah Fu to reflect the unique diversity of our country,” says the writer-illustrator who counts Datuk Lat, Dr Seuss and Roald Dahl among her favourite authors.
Indeed, Choong’s illustrations portray the richness and vibrancy of colonial Penang, a bustling port city and notable melting pot, set against a kaleidoscope of landscapes.
Despite its historical setting, the writer says her tale is as contemporary as they come.
“Well, if you look at it, traffic summonses, snatch theft, citizen’s arrests, going to grandma’s house ... aren’t they all still relevant today?” she asks, referring to the content of her book.
Ah Fu the Rickshaw Coolie is a delightful little gem that celebrates the rich history and wonderful diversity of this land we call Malaysia – and a lovely diversion from those Nintendo games and PlayStations for children.
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