|
| all news articles | by topics |
|
news
articles about singapore's wild places
|
| Channel
NewsAsia 8 May 05 Secret community of fishermen live off the sea in Yishun by Ken Teh SINGAPORE : Hidden in the forests near Yishun, a quiet community makes a living off the sea. Their homes are self-made floating huts, and their lifestyle is a far cry from the city life most Singaporeans know. The stretch of road along Yishun Avenue 1 is a favourite hangout for teenagers, courting couples and families who gather for barbecues and fishing trips. To one side is Lower Seletar Reservoir and on the other side is the sea. But few visitors know there is also a secret fishing community that has been around for decades. Meet Jenal Yusop, a fisherman who has trawled his trade for over 40 years. He catches fish and crabs every day to earn a living. A cushy retirement isn't an option for the 53-year-old; survival is a daily task. "No fishing, no money. I go fish, sell, then can pay for everything, then also can 'makan,'" he said. "Every day I can get S$50 or S$60. S$30 I keep, and then S$30 I use to 'makan.'" Jenal used to live in a kampong by the sea but had to relocate several times because of urban renewal projects. But now he and his wife have a permit to settle at the mangrove swamp in a floating home built from wooden planks and plastic barrels. Their children live in nearby housing estates, but the couple isn't budging; they simply can't bear to leave their home. Saying he is "very happy" staying here, Jenal said, "I stay here because here everything I can do." But life isn't easy -- the couple has to make do without electricity and piped water, and their toilet is a public toilet half a kilometre trek away. Their shelter sometimes leaks but rain is a welcome gift, it just means more water for washing and bathing. Besides fishing, Jenal wears other hats too, especially since the Maritime Port Authority has designated this area as an official mooring site for boats. "He's taking care of my boat. He will test the engine. I trust him so much I give him the key. He not only takes care of my boat, he also takes care of all others boats too," one boat owner said. But Jenal isn't alone; there are others just like him who also make their living off the sea. Some even have makeshift huts tucked in the vegetation along the banks. Old man Yang, a he is called, has spent virtually his whole life out at the sea -- all 77 good years, he says. Then there is the eccentric Jamil Ahmad, who fishes on his "surfboard" to save on petrol. And he has an alter-ego, too; at times the fearless fisherman also doubles up as a lookout for the Police Coast Guard. "One night I put out the net, then I saw a boat ... I called the patrol ... They caught illegals from like Burma, Thailand. The Coast Guard said eight persons were caught." Jenal knows the life he and his neighbours lead, is not for many. "Uncle fisherman, cannot retire. If I retire who want to give me money? Maybe when I cannot do, hands cannot carry, I think I'll stop ... I hope this place won't be disturbed," he said. And like his fishermen kin, Jenal wants only to live out the rest of his years in peace where he belongs -- out at sea. links Related articles on Wild shores of Singapore |
| News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes. | |
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com |