Section 46: Batu Bakar

"A Witness to a Century of History The Origins and Naming Mystery of Batu Bakar New Village"

Witnessing the Hundred-Year History of Bakar Batu New Village: It is said that the name 'Bakar Batu' originated from a brick kiln, as it was a place used to fire bricks. Some people referred to brick firing as '烧石' (burning stones), and in the national language, '烧石' is also known as 'bakar batu,' which gives rise to the name 'Bakar Batu.'

It is understood that the demolished brick kiln had a history of over a hundred years. As it was located at the outskirts of the New Village, locals referred to it as 'brick kiln back' since the Hakka people say 'di poi' (meaning 'at the back' in dialect).

The once brick kiln has now been transformed into residences, and it was also the residence of Ng Nyan (伍年), the founder and second chairman of Bahau Min Xin Chinese Primary School (now known as Chi Wen Primary School).

Elderly residents of Bahau point out that it was this brick kiln that gave rise to the name "Bahau Bakar Batu." In Bahau, it is the most representative new village with around 300 households. Currently, some “farm village houses”still retain their original appearance, exuding a strong rural atmosphere.

They say that this new village was one of the earliest established in Bahau and has a history of over a hundred years. It has gone through the colonial period, the Japanese occupation, the emergency period, and several eras after independence. The village is full of rich history and interesting stories, each one evoking a sense of nostalgia. For example, behind the brick kiln, there used to be a lotus pond, and the scene was lively and unforgettable when people was harvesting lotus roots,

甄火生: The Brick Kiln Stops Production, Ponds Turned into Lotus Fields

Yan Fo Shang甄火生 (70 years old), who lived in the vicinity of the brick kiln during his childhood, recalls that he was only seven or eight years old at the time, living with his parents behind the brick kiln. By then, the brick kiln had ceased production, and due to extensive digging, a large pit had formed behind it. After the kiln stopped operating, this pit filled with water and became a fertile place for villagers to cultivate lotus roots.

He once followed the adults into the water to harvest lotus roots. When the villagers dug out a large lotus root from the muddy swamp, it was like finding a piece of gold. People's lives were simple, and their faces were filled with contentment and joy.

As a result, this place came to be known as "莲藕塘" (Lotus Root Pond). At that time, renowned buyers like Huang Geng Ji and Ye Bing would come to purchase lotus roots, which they would then wholesale to the Kuala Lumpur market.

Some people drove lorries to collect the lotus roots from the pond once a month or sometimes twice. After receiving their wages, the villagers would go together to the Happy Cinema in town to watch movies, and everyone would be full of happiness and delight.

"At that time, there were twenty to thirty households living around the lotus root pond. Besides lotus roots, the pond was also abundant with various kinds of fish and Catfish. Villagers would often go fishing by the pond in the morning or evening, and they would frequently have a good catch, adding joy to their lives.

He heard from his father, Zhen Bingguan, that behind the house of the resident Li Musheng, there were two large fish ponds where the pond owner, Laobo, raised a large number of Bighead crap and Grass carp. Every time they caught fish for sale, it would bring the lively atmosphere of the village to its peak.