Preserving Melaka's bullock carts

MELAKA: In a bid to keep Melaka's traditional bullock carts from becoming a thing of the past, Samsudin Abdul, 50, spends thousands of ringgit each month to preserve a transport that was once a distinctive feature of the state.

He said his efforts go beyond caring for the animals and maintaining a traditional vehicle; he sees it as a responsibility to keep the heritage alive for the future generation.

"The bullock cart has long been part of Melaka's identity. A look back at the state's history shows it played an important role as a means of transport when Melaka was a global trading centre.

"Even today, people continue to associate Melaka with bullock carts.

"However, they are no longer seen in places like Bandar Hilir and Ayer Keroh, when their services stopped in 2000," he said at his home in Kampung Tambak Bugis, Telok Mas, here.

Samsudin is among the few who still offer transport services with his bullock cart.

He has been using his cart for 26 years and had set up his own workshop for maintenance.

"We do not really rely on this as a source of income. We operate independently around the village.

"Not many tourists know about us because we only promote our services through our personal social media platforms," he said.

Samsudin spends about RM2,000 each month to run his services.

"This covers the costs of caring for the cattle, including their food, vitamins, rice bran, salt and vaccines, not to mention maintaining the bullock carts.

"The bullock carts, made from resak wood, are durable and can last for decades.

"However, they still require regular upkeep, particularly on the wheels and repairs from daily use," he said.

Samsudin hopes his efforts, along with those of the small community of bullock cart operators still active in Melaka, would receive support from the authorities.

"We charge RM80 for a 25-minute ride around the village, accommodating four to five passengers per trip," he said. — BERNAMA