RAWANG, Oct 3 — Beyond its rows of old shophouses that have witnessed the shifting tides of time, Pekan Lama Rawang keeps traces of its former glory as a local trade hub.
Its alleys may not be as lively as malls, but each shop carries its own stories. Some owners inherited them from their parents, some took over decades-old fronts, and some are upholding their families’ legacies.
As eras shift and the ways people do business change, traders in this old town prefer to stick to tradition as they stay and earn a living here.
Restoran Pun Nam owner Lee Kar Chung, 45, says Rawang isn’t just where he plies his trade, but is part of his family’s long history in the area, which started with his ancestors’ arrival in Malaya from Guangzhou in 1898.
“This isn’t just a business, but a family heritage that must be continued,” said the fourth-generation descendant, who sells mooncakes handmade according to century-old recipes.
He added each recipe, piece of equipment and inherited knowhow has its own value in maintaining the tradition.
Last year, Lee’s mooncakes were recognised by the Malaysian Book of Records as the Oldest Kam Tui Mooncake Brand.
He said the recognition was an important accomplishment for his family business, and proved that traditional fare still has a place in modern society.
In the rapidly advancing business world, Lee believes quality should remain a priority, especially when demand rises. Last month alone, he aimed to produce around 1,200 mooncakes a day.
“If there are many orders, the quality could drop, so we have to make sure things are right from A to Z,” he added.
Thanks to his efforts in keeping up the business, his mooncakes are on the radar of foreign customers.
“We also get orders from overseas like China, England and Singapore… The orders would be sent to relatives outside Malaysia. For customers who have long lived overseas, these mooncakes remind them of Malaysia and memories with family,” he said.
Traffic a major challenge
Lee said Rawang’s growth has equally brought opportunities and challenges for longtime businesses.
“Residents are increasing and congestion is also (getting worse). (My) house 2km (away) could take 15 minutes (to reach). Lots of time is wasted on the road,” he lamented, adding that parking is also an issue for customers.
Florist Ragunath Gopala Krishnan, 42, meanwhile has been running his wedding garland business in Pekan Lama Rawang for 18 years, and hopes mobility is prioritised in the area’s rejuvenation plan.
He said better public transport, road-widening works and more parking spaces would bring more non-locals to the old town.
“Mobility here was better last time because there was a bus stop, but since it was moved to another location, access to this town has been a bit difficult and visitor numbers have decreased,” he added.
Manli Hardware owner Lim Man Tech, 42, whose business has been operating for 30 years, said road and parking issues are affecting traffic.
“If the roads could be fixed a bit more, maybe more people would come to Rawang town,” he said.
For traders in Pekan Lama Rawang, the rejuvenation plan isn’t just a question of beautifying the area or improving infrastructure, but is also the embodiment of hopes that their businesses may persist for decades and even centuries more.
