80-year-old Ang Ku Kueh Maker in Kuching Has Been Immortalised in a 20-feet High Mural

Ang ku kueh, or red tortoise cake is a sweet Chinese pastry mainly made using glutinous rice flour and typically given during special occasions such as a new-born baby’s first month as it symbolises good fortune and happiness.

Although it has its roots in China, this handmade kueh is often listed amongst Nyonya kueh and is becoming increasingly harder to find. The kueh is typically red but is also available in other colours like yellow and green –– indicating the fillings inside.

To some, it may be seen as just a snack, but it is steeped in age-old traditions and is a cultural heritage that should be passed on to future generations.

An 80-year-old grandmother, Goh Bing Choo has been recognised for her renowned creations of the sticky treat and other pastries. You may come across an image of Goh smiling down on you if you walk along a row of shops along Lorong 16 of Jalan Padungan.

A mural of her has been painstakingly painted by mural artist Leonard Siaw on the same row of shops as her shop, Syn Soon Huat Enterprise. Her daughter is now the fifth-generation heir of the business, which is located opposite the Padungan Police Station in Kuching, Sarawak.

The store was previously located next to Kapit Hotel in Padungan before moving to its current location two decades ago.

Goh was born and raised in the area and had no thought of living elsewhere. Her typical routine includes waking up at 4.00 am to prepare the ingredients and then opening the store at 9.00 am till her pastries sell out.

2023 will mark the first century of Jalan Padungan and the road is lined with Chinese shophouses which were mostly built during the rubber boom in the 20s and 30s and now house restaurants with local fare like popiah and sotong kangkung, coffee shops, handicraft stores, and more.

Malaysians also will instantly recognise the iconic statue of the city, ‘The Great Cat of Kuching’, located at the junction of Jalan Padungan and Jalan Central.

Sarawakian Leonard Siaw’s murals can also be seen outside of his home state such as his piece ‘The Joy of Harvest’ in Penang, ‘Fishing Fun’ in Melbourne and a mural of gorillas at the Franklin Park Zoo in Massachusetts.

According to the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, it is appropriate for murals to be installed to commemorate the history of the past professions that locals have practised in the area. This mural is part of an effort by the council to breathe life into the old heritage area and to boost the tourism sector.

It also aims to add a touch of a historical glimpse into Padungan’s social history and its culinary heritage. Speaking to Dayak Daily, the mayor said, “We need to make sure that there are things to attract visitors to the area, because murals talk about history and are educational not only for tourists but also for the younger generations.”

There will be a total of eleven murals around Jalan Padungan and the council has promised to preserve and care for the architecture of the buildings in the area for the coming year as well as repaint the old shophouses.

The project is sponsored by the Facilitation Fund of Arts, Culture and Heritage under the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and is a collaboration with Leonard Siaw and Council of the City of Kuching South (MBKS).

It will be interesting to see which murals come up next!

Image credit: facebook.com/siawtistic, @leonardsiawart_, facebook.com/MTCPSWK