Craft Survives Test Of Time
By Shafiyi Azahari

Bandar Seri Begawan - Boatmakers in Kampong Ayer continue with their craft even as more and more water villagers are moving out to the mainland and the demand for the service of water taxi is decreasing.

Bakar Metali of Kampong Saba Darat B, one of the seven boatmakers in Kampong Ayer, yesterday expressed his belief that people would still prefer to use the water taxis over walking the distance from the mainland to the water village even if there should be a bridge built.

"Even if people built a bridge connecting Kampong Ayer and the mainland, it would still be too far to walk the distance," he said, when it was suggested to him that one day there might be a bridge built to the village,which has earned the reputation of being "Asia's Venice".

"I'd think people would still prefer to use water taxis to ferry them across so as to save time. Besides, imagine having to walk while carrying a lot of things in your hand." He admitted the usage of perahu tambang or water taxis has been decreasing nowadays. "Many residents have moved to reside on the land," he said. The 64-year-old is one of seven boatmakers in all of Kampong Ayer, who began his craft 20 years ago.

"I learned making boats on my own," he said, whose second son, Besar, is now following in his footsteps.

Besar is one of the many penambang or water taxi operators in Kampong Ayer who started working when he was 12. Today, at 37 years of age, he still has the same job. Bakar mentioned the different types of wood used for making boats which include kayu jati, kayu merati and kayu meraka merah.

"Basically we use mahogany which is bought from sawmills in Kampong Sungai Kebun or Kampong Pelambayan," Bakar said.

Besar explained there are four types of perahu for different purposes: fishing boats, taxi boats, boats used for fishing with nets, and mobile trader boats. "We normally make fishing and taxi boats. The other two are no longer in demand, they are becoming extinct," said Besar who helps his father in boatmaking on commission.

Bakar said a 19-feet-long taxi boat would require a capital of $900. They sell the boat for the price of $2000, excluding the price of a boat engine.

"I don't remember how many boats I have made, but this year alone we made ten, including three taxi boats with roofs attached," he said, who has just finished a taxi boat when he was interviewed.

"It normally takes about 5 week for me to make taxi boats while fishermen boats takes less time to finish as there are no seats required," said Bakar who has seven children. Memburis perahu or boatmaking requires no special tools, said Bakar, apart from the fine skills of making one. In addition to the wood, normally up to two kilogrammes of nails are used as well as glue suitable for wood. He said a taxi boat usually can ferry up to 10 passengers or 15 for the 21-feet-long boats.

"When the passengers are bigbodied, like some Europeans, the boats can only carry seven of them because safety must be considered at all times," he said. Besar recalled some European tourists were amazed at the skills of the locals in attaching timbers together when making a boat.

"It's interesting having the chance to show the tourists what Brunei has to offer in terms of boat-making culture," he proudly said with a smile. He said locals also come to take a lesson on boat-making. Bakar expressed hopes that the craft, the oldest heritage from Kampong Ayer and for the whole of Brunei, could be preserved for the benefit of the future generations. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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