There was a Community Center or “Balai” known to the folks, which opens around 2 pm and closes at 9 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends. The care taker I remembered was Abang Rahman who comes daily on his bicycle from a neighbouring kampong where he stays. A pleasant soft spoken man always with a smile on his face.
There was a soccer field beside the CC and also a sepak takraw hard court on the opposite side. During the earlier days there was a TV set locked in a steel sheet cabinet place on a steel pole. Abang Rahman would switch the TV on at around 6 pm for us to watch the local channel. Those days not many own TV sets at home, so most would crowd in front of the TV on days where special program were aired, especially malay movies and musical variety shows. Being a kid I remembered accompanying my parents to watch TV in my pajamas.
Basically the CC (other than kedai ah chap) are patron for board games, reading of the local newspaper or just a leisurely hang out. Occasionally there would be some activities held at the CC, be it games or some political functions with some ministers as guests.
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| PAP function at the Balai |
