Chinese Influx to Bentong in the Early Days
According to the 2010 Malaysian Census, Bentong is home to a significant Chinese community where those who identify as being racially Chinese constitute 33.3% of the total population of 114,397 people. Accordingly, the Chinese form one of the largest ethnic groups in the district of Bentong, comprising about a third of the total population in the district.
If you take a short stroll along the streets of Bentong today, you will observe a significant Chinese presence in the town’s commerce and business sectors. However, this was not always the case. In fact, the original wave of Chinese immigrants sailed from China to Malaya in the hope of finding a better life. A small number of them ended up filling in for labour shortages in the Bentong tin mines. With the build up of a large Chinese community over time, the Chinese commerce industry in Bentong began to flourish.
In this article, I am going to uncover the roots of the Chinese community in Bentong, particularly focusing on the influx of Chinese labourers and its impact on the town. In the interest of clarity, this article is divided into two distinct parts. Part one focuses on the history of Chinese immigration to Bentong while in part two, I will discuss the concomitant effects of such immigration on the town.
Part 1: The Influx of Chinese Labourers
Chinese immigrants
The presence of Chinese labourers in Bentong can be traced back to 1889 when the British expanded their mining activities in Bentong. With the capital provided by local business magnates, namely Mr. Loke Yew and his partners, Bentong was poised to become a key mining town.
The labour-intensive nature of tin mining triggered the recruitment of many workers in Bentong. Therefore, Mr. Loke Yew and his partners established Tong Shoon Company based in Bentong, partly to better oversee the recruitment of thousands of Chinese labourers from China during the initial period. Tong Shoon was in fact the main vehicle used to consolidate and manage the business operations of the group in Bentong.
Credit-Ticket System
Most of the Chinese labourers who came to Malaya in the late 19th Century were travelling under the credit-ticket system. Under this system, the labourers worked for a set period of time as indentured labourers to their employers, who paid for their travel expenses from China to Malaya. Once the debt was repaid, the labourers had the freedom to choose to continue their work or to part ways with their employers. Most of the Chinese miners in Bentong, if not all, came under this system or one similar to it.
Through my research, I discovered that one other method of extending the period of indenture in Malaya, including Bentong, was to entice the workers into debt through gambling or opium supplied and controlled by the employers or financiers. It must be said, however, that there is no clear evidence that such methods were being applied to the tin miners in Bentong.
Origins and Ancestries
From the 19th to the early 20th century, Chinese labourers in Malaya were mainly from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong that includes Cantonese, Hainanese and Hakka people, amongst others; and Fujian (Hokkien people).
There were also a significant number of labourers who hailed from Guangxi province. Just like in other parts of Malaysia today, all these clans still reside in Bentong. Of all the clans, the Guangxi people formed the majority of the Chinese community.
Early Immigrant Occupation
Upon settling down in the town, Chinese immigrants were first mostly involved in the tin mines around Bentong. Over time, different Chinese clans diverged and specialised in various industries. For instance, through the accounts of the elderly in Bentong, I discovered that in the past, the Hokkien clan was well known for its near-monopoly in the rubber and plantation-related businesses while the Cantonese were deeply involved in the trading sector.
As a member of the Bentong Hainanese Association, I have had the privilege of observing how many Hainanese people in Bentong were involved in culinary-related businesses. In fact, my paternal grandfather owned a coffee shop for many years. As for my maternal grandparents, like many other Hakkas, they previously owned and managed a small-scale retail and medical hall in the town.
Part 2: Legacy of Chinese Immigration
Without a doubt, Chinese immigrants had to possess an indomitable will to prevail and thrive against all odds for survival. Amidst the hardship, many of them never forgot to contribute and give back to society. It is easy for us, the younger generation, to forget that Bentong today owes much to the Chinese immigrants for the town’s development. In this section, I will elaborate on some of the key contributions and legacies left by the pioneering Chinese generation in Bentong.
Connecting Bentong
It is widely acknowledged that a sound transportation system, which connects a town to the surrounding cities and ports, is a key factor to spur and intensify further economic growth. In the late 19th century, Mr. Loke Yew had already envisioned this important fact. Therefore, he commissioned the building of a road from Bentong to Tras. This road would later link up with the Pahang trunk road which enabled the miners to transport tin from Bentong to the ports in Selangor.
In order to complete the road, Mr. Loke Yew and partners had to employ Chinese labourers to work in one of the harshest climates in the region. The area where the road was built was known for its tropical climate, high temperatures and high-density rainforests. This was exacerbated by the fact that most Chinese workers were from the semi-tropical, temperate climate of Southern China. Worse still, many workers had to rely on rudimentary methods of using picks and shovels to build the road. It is said that an unknown number of workers perished in landslides, explosions, and from diseases.
Today, the road remains in existence and is still in useable condition. In fact, it is now known as the Federal Road 55 which connects Gap near Raub to Kuala Kubu Bahru. It serves as a good alternative route from Bentong to Selangor as it offers scenic views and greenery to travellers along the way. Hence, it is recommended that visitors to Bentong should try out this route at least once.
Reconstruction of Kwong Fook Temple
Along Jalan Loke Yew is a red building which easily attracts people’s attention. It is the famous Bentong Kwong Fook Temple which is more than 110 years old. While there is no definitive account of the establishment of the temple, locals believe that the temple is at least as old as the town, which is 120 years old. Nevertheless, it is certain that the growing population of Chinese mining labourers contributed to the reconstruction of the temple to its current form.
Kwong Fook Temple today
It is said that the harsh, disease-ridden conditions in the mines which posed a great risk to the Bentong miners prompted the reconstruction of this temple by Mr Loke Yew and his partners. During that time, many labourers suffered from various diseases such as the “Beriberi” epidemic. In response, Mr. Loke Yew decided to install statues of “Sin Si Ya” and “Sze Ya” to ward off diseases amongst the labourer population. Today, visitors to the temple can still see, at the temple’s entrance, the inscription honouring the arrival of both deities in Bentong.
Bentong Chinese Town Hall
By 1914, the Chinese population in Bentong had grown into a vibrant community primarily comprised of five main clans namely, the Hakka, Hokkien, Hainanese, Guangdong and Guangxi. The sudden population surge had resulted in a number of infrastructural, social and service challenges. Under these circumstances, the Chinese initially congregated into their respective associations which were mainly based on their home region and dialect. Each association then elected their leaders, often on the basis of merit rather than bloodline and family influence.
With the passage of time, the leaders of these five clans decided to collaborate for enhanced competitiveness in economic pursuits and fostering greater inter-clan relationships in other socio-cultural activities. This eventually led to the improved welfare of the Chinese community in Bentong. Consequently, the leaders from the five major Chinese clans in Bentong, namely Tang Siew Mun JP (Guangdong), Hoh Wah Kee (Hainan), Tan Lian JP (Hokkien), Mun Fong (Hakka) and Chow Tuk Heng (Guangxi) jointly initiated the formation of the Bentong Chinese Town Hall. Its establishment united all five clans under a common vision in promoting the wellbeing and welfare of the Chinese community in Bentong.
In contemporary times, the Bentong Chinese Town Hall continues to function to enrich the local community and complement the government’s efforts to enhance economic and cultural development of the Chinese community.
The Present Chinese in Bentong
The confluence of different Chinese ethnic groups in Bentong has contributed to the diversity of cultural norms, dialects and social support systems such as local Chinese associations. Tourists who visit Bentong today will be amazed to learn about the richness of culture and history that this relatively small town has to offer. Make a trip to Bentong soon and I can assure you that you will have no regrets.
Stay tuned for more as I will be discussing a few prominent pre-World War II Bentong figures in my next blog post.
For more interesting information:
- A Bentong Series
- A History of Bentong Town
- Go Bentong!
- Cleaning Up Bentong for Malaysia Day
- Reaching Out in Bentong
- Largest Dorje Shugden in the World
- Top 10 Spiritual Power Places in Malaysia
- Top 10 Hill and Jungle Adventures in Malaysia
- Top 10 Island Holidays in Malaysia
- Top 10 Events and Festivals to Visit in Malaysia
- Stronger Bond Between Malaysia and China
- Tsem Rinpoche’s Heritage in China
- 5-Foot Gyenze Statue Arrives in Kechara Forest Retreat
- Unique Dorje Shugden Oracle Statue in Kechara Forest Retreat
- The Importance of Tibet Befriending China
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This article is beautifully presented to capture the contribution of our forefathers who brought with them development and prosperity to Bentong and also other parts of Malaysia. During those days, many immigrants from China came to Malaysia and invested their wealth and effort in this land that was rich in natural resources but otherwise raw and untouched. They made this land their home. Because of them, Bentong is now prosperous and thriving with businesses and industries that can compete in the world arena. Thank you for this sharing.
It gives me a good understanding about Bentong town, the people and the history. I used to have a relative living there but moved to KL about 20 years ago. Thank you Rinpoche and Lenard Hu for this article and insight. Looking forward to more stories of your hometown ,Leoanard 😍
It used to be a small town with not much development. Always pass by when going back to hometown.
Those days, there were only 1 small road (trunk road) and not much vehicles. It took us 3 to 4 hours to reach back home from KL.
Most of us do not know how our hometown came about, so it is very interesting and refreshing to read about some place that I once thought was like the back of beyond. For someone inclined towards motion sickness, the route may be scenic but it was viewed through hazy, dizzy, nausea-filled eyes and totally missed the charm. But, with the Karak Highway as it is today, it is a much more pleasant drive.
And, I must say, this account is a very interesting recount of the the old days and the mix of the various clans that helped built the town on backs of sweat and sorrow. Especially loved to read about the temple that must have been a source of refuge and solace to the labourers who staked their lives there. It was most kind of Mr Loke Yew to invite the 2 special deities to the temple to sooth the minds and hearts of those in need.
For some of us, we can relate to the stories told here of hardship and strive. I can imagine the harsh terrain and conditions that must have broken many a spirit. It is heartening to see how far the town has come.
Thank you, Lenard Hu for this article and insight. Looking forward to more stories of your hometown through your eyes.
Thank you Lenard for writing this article. It gives me a good understanding about Bentong town, the people and the history. I used to have a relative living there but moved to KL about 20 years ago. They only think I remember vaguely then was it is a cold area as it’s surrounded by mountain. With Kechara Forest Retreat there, it gives me another chance to visit and know Bentong again.
Hello Lin Mun, 20 years is a long time! I can say that Bentong is now very different from the former self 20 years ago. Just take tourism,Bentong has now opened up a new Bentong Gallery located in Jalan Loke Yew which is dedicated to explaining the stories of the town and commemorating one of the key founding members of the town, Mr. Loke Yew. Do spend more time in Bentong and you will be amazed with how far has the town developed over the past few years. Of course, stay tuned with my blog series as I will be writing more articles about some of the most relevant topics of the town
It is always interesting to learn about historical establishment of a town, to learn and remember the efforts of pioneers put into forming Bentong town as it is today. After our Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche established Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, i started exploring Bentong and discovering the quaintness of this historically rich haven. There are still so many parts to explore and soon Bentong will be my home too. Absolutely looking forward to it. Look forward to more articles on Bentong from you, Leonard.
Hello Sofi. Thank you for your comment. Yes, I absolutely agree with you that although Bentong is a relatively small town located on the mountains of Pahang, it has much to offer. Stay tuned with my blog series as I will delve deep into relevant topics about Bentong in my coming posts.
With the establishment of Kechara Forest Retreat, I have spent many days in Bentong and had noticed this town has great character. Being a part of Malaysia, Bentong seems to be quite Chinese in characteristic.
It was also interesting to find that out that many of my friends and associates originated from Bentong.
During the weekends, when many visitors come to Kechara Forest Retreat to pray, it also come to my knowledge that many of these visitors though no longer stay in Bentong are originally from Bentong.
The history of Bentong as told by Mr. Lenard Hu is very interesting, Thank you.
Thank you Datuk May for your comment. Your description Bentong as a town which exhibits quite a bit of Chinese characteristics may be attributed to the fact that Bentong Town actually has a majority ethnic Chinese population. However if you venture out to the outskirts of Bentong District, you will notice that Bentong offers a lot more than just Chinese cultures. For example, you may explore the indigenous people settlement located within the district( “Orang Asli”) when you visit Bentong next time. Thanks for your support and I am looking forward to hear from you in my next article about people who have contributed to the town of Bentong.
History is always interesting that we can learn about how a town or place how it came up and all that is associated with it. It is interesting to note there are five major Chinese clans, that share Bentong as a home and harmoniusly at that.
Other parts of the Malaya, the larger Chinese Clans would sometime be at odds with one another and also at times conflict will happen.
Hi Wai Meng. I agree with you that although Bentong has five distinct Chinese clans who can are quite different from one another (especially linguistically), they have co-exist peacefully for more than a century now. Today you can learn more about the history of the Chinese Community in Bentong in a local historical gallery named Bentong Gallery which is located in Jalan Loke Yew. Thank you.
Interesting article…….as least for the time being I do know how the Chinese came to Bentong. From early as 19th century to the 1930s, thousands of Chinese immigrants came to British-ruled Malaya in search of a better life. Malaysia history records that the presence of Chinese in Malaysia for the past 600 years Through the early decades, the Malay peninsula was a world leader in the production of tin and natural rubber. All due to the mining activities, merchants for rubber and palm oil and so forth. There was then an influx of Chinese to Bentong and other places where there were mining . Most Malaysian Chinese today are descended from this wave of immigrants. Its great to know Bentong is a fast growing town, having more and more locals and foreigner going there for the beauty of the environment and the local fruits of durians. Malaysia’s ethnic diversity is a blessing and with interesting historical past. There many places of interest Bentong can offer to visitors too.
Thank you Leonard Hu for sharing this interesting article
Thank you for your support and encouragement. Stay tuned on my article series as I will be writing about famous people who have contributed to Bentong in my next article. If you are interested on learning more about the history of Bentong, you may visit Bentong Gallery which is located at Jalan Loke Yew in Bentong. Thank you.