By: Bakri Baharom @ Koboi Tunjang

Yuhanis and wife hands are full, like everyone else taking home Apom Balik

Where do you go to buy your groceries? Fish, beef, vegetable, onion, fruits, coffee powder and various condiments. Where do you go to buy various tools like cangkul, parang, kacip, kapak… and a range of small items like a head scarf and nail clipper. Where do you go to savour Ais Kacang, Cendol, Laksa…. Kacang Rebus and Apom Balek?

As far as Koboi Tunjang is concerned, it is at Nat Tunjang. It is a day market, opens every Thursday from early morning to noon – commencing a long time ago. What is Nat? It is a Thai or Siamese term for day market. Hence, you do not refer to any evening, night or weekend market as Nat – that is the rule. In Tunjang, we don’t have Uptown or Downtown. Only Nat Tunjang – managed by Koperasi Tunjang Kedah Berhad.

Our elders must have some kind of unwritten consensus then. Each area in Kubang Pasu has its own specific day for Nat. For example, Kodiang (Saturday), Tok Jalai (Sunday), Padang Sera (Monday), Air Hitam (Tuesday), Asun (Friday) and so on. After all, historically Kubang Pasu was once a state by itself and Kg Pulau Pisang was its capital – Koboi Tunjang’s neighbourhood.

Nat Tunjang used to be a totally makeshift market. You may put up a tent/umbrella or spread a piece of canvas to put your merchandise. Each trader has his/her own lot, unmarked but understood by everyone. With the passage of time, a more organised structure was introduced. There would be a ‘tax collector’ going around to collect fees for the day. The amount depends on the area size and items sold. A receipt is issued. Similar arrangements last until today. Some sections like beef, chicken, fish, vegetable and clothes are under permanent structures with the roof now.

Many regular traders are no longer around. Some had passed away, some retired and some moved on to other places. A few are inherited by the second generation. Koboi Tunjang remembers the followings:

A gentleman, Ramli @ Bang Li (deceased) served the best laksa. Next to him was Pak Usop (deceased) selling irresistible types of Ais Kacang and Cendol. The more chilli taken with laksa, the more Pak Usop sold his Ais Kacang. The business is still thriving today, taken over by his children.

On the other side of Bang Li and Pak Usop was an Indian-Muslim lady selling pasmor. It rivalled Hussein Pasmor (deceased) in Kodiang at the corner leading to the train station. Then, we had an old auntie, Tok Wan Timah (deceased), Koboi Tunjang’s villager, selling a full table of traditional kuih with tea and coffee. She used a tricycle cart for transportation.

Hamid and his second daughter, Noor Syahira selling “Manik Koran” at Nat Tunjang

The other Koboi Tunjang’s primary schoolmate was Sabri. He was married to Pak Leh’s daughter whose father was an established rempah ratus trader. Sabri followed her father-in-law’s steps but they operated separately. He was doing very well until his shop was razed down by the fire. Sabri lost almost everything but not his spirit. He resumed his business at Nat Tunjang for many more years until his wife succumbed to cancer.

Sabri started to lose his bearing, quit his business and raised cattle. Finally, he died of a sudden heart attack soon after getting re-married. On several occasions, Koboi Tunjang joined Sabri and other friends to ride big bikes to as far as Terengganu.

Yet, there is another Koboi Tunjang’s primary schoolmate, Hamid. A long time ago, there was an Indian-Muslim man selling Manik Koran – small items like comb, wallet, talcum power, children’s rings, bracelets and cheap stones from Nepal. Hamid simply jumped into the bandwagon despite the discouragement from the old man. Soon he found out why. Sales and profit margins were good. Later, age caught up with that man, leaving Hamid alone.

However, a freak car accident cost the life of Hamid’s wife. He took up the challenge to look after his young children and continued the business until today. Whenever Koboi Tunjang visits Nat Tunjang, Hamid’s stall would be his port. Hamid remained single.

The other trader is the one selling Apom Balik – much better than pancake; made of flour, sugar, margarine, peanut as well as maize. It started in 1960, with the name of the founder Md Nor Yurau (deceased) framed and displayed proudly on the table. Incidentally, Md Nor was Captain Rashid’s uncle. Since then, it has been taken over by his son, Yuhanis and his wife. They maintain the same setup, style, outlook, and taste as in the yesteryear. Many things have changed but not the Apom Balek at Nat Tunjang – 63 years old and still going strong.

The last is special. Many years ago, a medicine man offered Koboi Tunjang ‘Minyak Angin’ with a photocopied purportedly P. Ramlee’s old IC for free. Today, it is still in safekeeping. (Tan Sri) P. Ramlee’s real name was Teuku Zakaria Teuku Nyak Puteh, whose legend as a film director, actor, singer, songwriter and musician will last for another thousand years. He directed/acted in 66 films and had over 300 songs to his name.

P. Ramlee passed away only at the age of 44 on 29 May 1973. At that time Koboi Tunjang was in Form 1. Only after three decades, “P. Ramlee the Musical” was played at Istana Budaya which focused on his life. You may ask any Mat, Minah or Ali to name P. Ramlee films and songs, chances are you will not be disappointed. Bujang Lapok, Anak Ku Sazali, Ibu Mertua Ku, Sarjan Hasan, 6-Jahanam… are among his many films. Songs like Bunyi Gitar, Berkorban Apa Saja, Dendang Perantau, Engkau Laksana Bulan, Getaran Jiwa, and Jangan Tinggal Daku to name a few are simply magical and timeless. Many things in P. Ramlee’s films proved to be true today. He was definitely ahead of his time. Did he possess a ‘time machine’ that could predict the future?

Koboi Tunjang’s primary schoolmate, Roslan Mustapha who used to operate a food stall at Nat Tunjang is certainly a die-hard P. Ramlee fan. He could sing P. Ramlee’s songs pretty well, and emulate P. Ramlee’s look, especially the hairstyle and attire. He has been keeping anything to do with P. Ramlee, albums and P. Ramlee reviews ever since. If the time and mood are right, he will sing you a song for free. It was beyond Koboi Tunjang’s wildest guess why one-day Roslan called it quit. He moved to Sikamat in Negeri Sembilan, operating a food stall as well on the other side of the main mosque. Everyone misses Roslan, our beloved local P. Ramlee.