History of Kenyalang Park
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Various shop lots connecting with one another, forming Kenyalang Park Commercial Area
The history of Kenyalang Community dates back to the early 20th century. It was once part of the expansive Siang Hak Huat Farm (上合发园), covering nearly 560 acres and owned by a Hokkien entrepreneur, Ng Bak Choon and his family. Established around 1910, this integrated farm was dedicated to large-scale cultivation of rubber and peanuts, longside various vegetables, fruits, and livestock, including fish, pigs, and poultry. During its heyday, Siang Hak Huat Farm employed around 200 workers, most of whom were local Iban residents living nearby.
Ng Bak Choon (黄木春) was born in 1869 in Chao'an county, Guangdong, China, moved southwards as a teenager to run a sundry shop in Kota Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. Later, he relocated to Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, where he founded Siang Hak Huat (上合发) shop at No. 10 Jalan Main Bazaar. He served as the CEO of the Soon Hong Kongsi (顺丰公司), the predecessor of the Kuching Teochew Association (古晋潮州公会), earning respect within the Teochew community and the trust of Sir Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak. This connection allowed him to acquire the land for Siang Hak Huat Farm.
How did Kenyalang Park project start?
Following Ng Bak Choon's passing in 1933, his descendants gradually sold off portions of the land, much of which was acquired by the Borneo Development Corporation. This acquisition spurred the development of the Kenyalang Park project in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Established on 28th August 1958, Borneo Development Corporation aimed to expand and diversify the economies of Sarawak and Sabah. In 1962, the corporation sold its shares to the governments of Sarawak and Sabah, and by 1992, it split into two independent entities to facilitate regional development.
The convenience of the Kenyalang Park community, where the commercial shops are closely connected to the neighboring residential area
Development of Kenyalang Park
Kenyalang Park was envisioned as a comprehensive community development project, that was unprecedented for its time. The whole project development was executed in three phases, in which the first phase was commenced in 1968, primarily focusing on residential areas. The second and third phases included additional residential units and commercial shops, forming the core of the project.
Kenyalang Park residential area is composed of rows of 1-2 story terraced houses
Kenyalang Park's Children Playground, filled with lush greenery and adorned with symbolic dinosaur models
Additionally, the development of the residential area centred around green spaces, resulting in the rich greenery of the Kenyalang Park community. Over the years, Kenyalang Park has evolved to include numerous shop lots, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, as well as places of worship for various religions. Besides these, the community is well-equipped with essential facilities such as markets, hawker centres, post offices, and police stations, creating a well-structured and convenient environment for residents.
Kenyalang Park Market, where locals buy fresh vegetables, meat, and have breakfast
SK Kenyalang is a national public primary school where Malay is the main language of teaching
During its heyday, the commercial area of Kenyalang bustled was bustling with activities from dawn until dusk, particularly highlighted by the famous Kenyalang Theatre. The theatre regularly showcased captivating films and performances, attracting renowned artists such as Steven Liu (刘文正), Teresa Teng (邓丽君), Fei Yu-ching (费玉清), Kenny Chung (钟镇涛), and Jenny Tseng (甄妮). Notably, actors from the popular Taiwanese drama "Stars Know My Heart" also graced its stage.
At the entrance of the Kenyalang Theatre and Commercial Complex, a mural art depicting the theme of “Eternal Kenyalang” hangs quietly, as if narrating the past glories of this area
Kenyalang Park commercial area has spacious interconnected pedestrian walkways, and the square beside Kenyalang Theatre, which used to be the gathering place for various vendors. Especially at night, Kenyalang Park would usually be crowded by people, drawn in by live performance and persuasive sales pitches from those vendors, including those selling homemade ointments and snake oils.
Text credits :
星洲日报：蔡羽《肯雅兰集体记忆》