Tribute To Alcoh Wong

As we sat there sipping teh & kopi tarik at the quaint coffeeshop in Chinatown, Kuala Terengganu, an elderly man approached us & started talking to us about the history of how this place began. He spoke with such dignity & pride, knowing that we were tourists (a good giveaway is my hat & pareo!) but yet, treated us with great respect as we showed interest in his topics. Indeed, I was awed that a man would actually spend the time to explain to a bunch of people (including Kaseng’s two kids) about the place & the people who made Chinatown. He was from the Terengganu Chinese Association & he was researching into the origins of the Chinese in Terengganu as well as the VBP – Vietnamese Boat People & the BP -Bidung People (born in the refugee camp).

That was when I became extremely excited at the prospect of getting a lot more information about the story behind the wrecks which I’d dived two years ago. He helped the VBPs track their family members as well as the deceased members’ grave, to which they made such an adventurous trip back in time to trace hospital records & whereabouts they sent the bodies to, before they were buried. By then, I was sitting on the edge of my stool, as attentive as ever, while Kaseng repeatedly asked him to join us & sit down. He went on to tell us about how the VBPs had found freedom in Australia & other countries while maintaining contact with him. He painted such a vivid picture of things that I felt as if I was actually there in the period where they sought refuge in Pulau Bidung. He even published a self-funded book about them. I asked him for his contact number so that I could come visit him & get the book as well as a chance to document this magnimous man’s life & passion for the Chinese people. I was so encouraged to see a person so driven by his interest, to have amassed such knowledge & contributed back in the form of a publication & I wanted to acknowledge him in my work too.

He started to talk about the origins of the Chinese coffeeshop’s structure & building while showing us the old paintings & doors & architraves. He explained how these fixtures came about. He also went on to tell us the origin of the Chinese ladies’-paintings. I was so inspired & was made to feel really proud to be a Chinese.

I was so sad & shocked to find out two days ago on his website that he passed away recently on 30th May 2006. I am two weeks late. Nevertheless, I hope you would check out his site about the amazing work he’s done in documenting the VBPs & much more. May he rest in peace & may his family members be comforted in the thought that Alcoh had inspired many with his selfless giving of his time & dedication to the Chinese people in the east coast. Farewell, my inspirator….