Mohd Lazim Atan, 61, remembers playing with model jong, a traditional Malay boat, in the river and sea back in his childhood days.
“However, in the late 1980s, people stopped enjoying this pastime as there were not many jong makers around.
“In my mid-20s, I started learning the art of making jong replicas from village elders as I did not want to see it disappear,” he told StarMetro when met at Pulau Tanjung Surat, an island located in Sungai Johor in the Kota Tinggi district, Johor.
Mohd Lazim has spent more than 30 years of his life making jong and the version he makes can be traced back to the 19th century.
He said that playing jong was a popular pastime that was introduced during the Johor-Riau Sultanate era.
“Jong is still popular in the Riau Islands of Indonesia and also Singapore.
Preserving heritage: Mohd Lazim Atan (left) with his nephew Mohd Shafiq Mohd Yatim making miniature jong at his workshop in Pulau Tanjung Surat in Pengerang, Johor. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
“In Malaysia, we can only find it in Johor,” he said, noting the three areas were previously under the Johor-Riau Sultanate.
“To be exact, jong can only be found in two locations in Johor, which is at Tanjung Piai in Pontian and Pulau Tanjung Surat in Kota Tinggi,” he added.
The wood to make the jong comes from the pulai tree, which is found in abundance in Pulau Tanjung Surat.
One pulai tree can make at least 10 jong.
Souvenir jong would measure about 1.27m while racing ones would be between 2.03m and 2.54m long and weigh not more than 1.5kg, including the sail.
For the sail, Mohd Lazim previously used light cloth. He now favours parachute material as it is water resistant.
“It is not that easy to make a jong as the measurements must be exact.
“One must also have knowledge of boating knots to make sure the jong can sail, or it will sink,” he said.
One pulai tree can make about 10 jong.
Even for a highly experienced craftsman like himself, Mohd Lazim needs at least 20 days to make one jong.
“I have set up a workshop on the island and am assisted by my relatives as well as some youths in the village,” he said.
He has also received orders from government agencies and departments to make small jong to be presented as souvenirs.
His jong souvenirs are priced between RM350 and RM500 while those designed for racing cost between RM1,000 and RM1,200.
“Jong racing is getting popular in Johor as well as Indonesia and Singapore,” said Mohd Lazim.
“The competitions are usually held during the monsoon season as winds will be stronger then.
“As it is a traditional sail boat, jong depends totally on the wind because there are no batteries or engine,” he added.
If the wind speed is about six to seven knots, a jong can sail at four knots.
“If the wind is really strong, the jong can go even faster.
More competitions will help popularise miniature jong sailing, especially near Pulau Tanjung Surat. — Photo courtesy of Pengerang Municipal Council
“We once had to use a boat with a 15 horsepower motor to catch it,” he recalled.
Many foreign tourists have started visiting his workshop to see him making jong.
Some would purchase a jong as a souvenir of their trip to Malaysia.
“Making and sailing jong is part of our heritage, which should be preserved.
“I plan to continue passing my knowledge to future jong makers.
“I hope more jong competitions will be held to help spur interest,” he added.
Tradition unique to Johor
Historian Associate Professor Datuk Dr Kassim Thukiman said that when he was growing up in Masai, playing with miniature jong was a favourite pastime.
“Normally those living along or near coastal areas will play with jong because wind and water are needed,” he added.
Aznan (right) and Mohd Lazim’s wife Elyana Supian looking at miniature jong in the workshop. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
Kassim, from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty, said that with the advancement of time and lack of miniature jong makers, its popularity had dwindled.
He pointed out that jong was a heritage of Johor as it could only be found in the state.
“It is important that efforts be made to preserve this heritage for future generations,” he said.
Jong was a sailing vessel used in the Malay Archipelago as early as the 1500s to transport passengers and cargo, said Kassim.
He added that it was also used as warships back then.
Tanjung Surat assemblyman Aznan Tamin said the international jong competition should be included in Tourism Johor’s annual calendar of events.
The Jong Gallery at Pulau Tanjung Surat was set up by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Presently, both domestic and international competitions are supported by Pengerang Municipal Council and Southeast Johor Development Authority (Kejora).
“Pulau Tanjung Surat is known for its ecotourism where tourists visit the island to see traditional villages.
“Many of them are amazed by Mohd Lazim’s skills. If we can showcase his skills locally and internationally, it can help bring tourists to Pulau Tanjung Surat, Desaru and Johor,” Aznan said after visiting the workshop to see how he could help promote the craft further.
The island has a jong gallery contributed by UTM to help preserve the traditional handicraft.
