MALUDAM, Betong: The snooker centre in a dilapidated wooden shop at Maludam Town could be the only entertainment outlet for youths after breakfast.
KILLING TIME: Suhaimi (left) with wife Zuriati and daughter Nursyamira at the snooker centre which is in a dilapidated wooden shop in town.
Snooker looks like the only game that does not require much space and where youths can enjoy a game or two before doing other chores for the day.
“It is off season now,” said 49-year-old Suhaimi Yasin trying his skills in the game while talking to The Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT).
“Most of the players are fisherman waiting for the right month to go out to sea; this is the only entertainment we get at this time of the day to kill our boredom,” he added.
The businessman and father of six joined the youths at the snooker table while waiting for his wife to buy their daily provisions.
He told BAT that these days most youngsters in the village leave for the big city to find work and for its more varied activities.
Suhaimi who does some small construction work for a living said a long time ago he had decided not to become a fisherman as the income is seasonal, so left to find his fortune in Kuching.
After working at various jobs, he decided to come back to Maludam to do his own construction business after learning the trade in the city.
While there he married Zuriati Hamdan who hailed from Asajaya in Kota Samarahan.
Both husband and wife reside at Kpg Maludam Darat with their five children who are all studying.
His oldest, 24, is studying in a college in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur while the youngest Nursyamira, six, studying at SK Chung Hua Maludam.
Cheerful Zuriati, 46, who has just bought the family provisions recalled that she met her husband while in Kuching and she is now well acquainted with Maludam after almost 25 years of marriage
She told BAT she likes living in Maludam as they don’t need to spend so much, unlike the bigger town.
Zuriati has no problems getting the daily provisions as all towns can be reached from Maludam.
Communication has improved in the last six years as the government has built them a road.
“While last time I go home once a year to Asajaya, now very frequent,” Zuriati added.
“We can go to Truso, park our car there, take a boat to Sebuyau and from there to Asajaya.”
She said most women in the village are housewives, government servants and a handful do their own business.
Zuriati is pleased with the womenfolk in Maludam for contributing to harmonious living in the community.
The husband and wife want more programmes for youths in Maludam and a proper centre for them to play sports.
“We the people, especially youths in the rural areas, can enhance their skills in any sport and have better prospects in life. Their livelihood is solely dependent on the sea,” said Suhaimi.