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A youthful dream of wealth

Hasnoor Hussain7 years ago8th Mar 2018Pictures
No money here 030318 tmihasnoor 12
Low Keat Xiang transferring packed charcoal to a lorry. The 17-year-old has been working at the factory for the last two years. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
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Near the fishing village of Kuala Sepetang in Perak, Low Keat Xiang weighs charcoal and loads it onto the back of the lorry. The commodity is sold in shops around Malaysia and overseas, too.

As soon as Low turns 18 in October, he plans to leave his kampung for Singapore to join some of his friends working there. He dropped out of school at 15 and hears that he can earn a decent wage in the F&B sector there, especially when he converts the strong Singapore dollar into ringgit.

Low’s dream is to work three years abroad and to buy a house from the savings. – March 8, 2018.

Low Keat Xiang transferring packed charcoal to a lorry. The 17-year-old has been working at the factory for the last two years. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Low Keat Xiang transferring packed charcoal to a lorry. The 17-year-old has been working at the factory for the last two years. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Workers removing charcoal from the kiln at Kuala Sepetang. Hundreds of kilns are still producing charcoal the traditional way. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Workers removing charcoal from the kiln at Kuala Sepetang. Hundreds of kilns are still producing charcoal the traditional way. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
The small town of Kuala Sepetang or Port Weld, which in its golden days during the tin-mining era became the first town to be connected by rail to Taiping to transport the mineral. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
The small town of Kuala Sepetang or Port Weld, which in its golden days during the tin-mining era became the first town to be connected by rail to Taiping to transport the mineral. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Mangrove trees line the Kuala Sepetang coastline. The trees act as a habitat for wildlife, breeding area of fish and supplying logs for producing charcoal. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Mangrove trees line the Kuala Sepetang coastline. The trees act as a habitat for wildlife, breeding area of fish and supplying logs for producing charcoal. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
A worker checking piles of mangroves logs which will be used to produce charcoal at one of the factories in Kuala Sepetang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
A worker checking piles of mangroves logs which will be used to produce charcoal at one of the factories in Kuala Sepetang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Workers preparing themselves to start their work at a Workers preparing for the start of their work day at a traditional charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang, Perak. Hundreds of families still depend on the coal industry here. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Workers preparing themselves to start their work at a Workers preparing for the start of their work day at a traditional charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang, Perak. Hundreds of families still depend on the coal industry here. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Workers arranging charcoal before it is transported out of the factory. The work at the factory is tough and requires a great deal of physical strength. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Workers arranging charcoal before it is transported out of the factory. The work at the factory is tough and requires a great deal of physical strength. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
A worker leaning on logs. The factory area is hot as heat is released by kilns and dusty but the workers have no choice but to face the hardship as it remains one of the few economic options in the village. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
A worker leaning on logs. The factory area is hot as heat is released by kilns and dusty but the workers have no choice but to face the hardship as it remains one of the few economic options in the village. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Senior citizens enjoying a chat at the coffee shop in Kuala Sepetang. Most of Low’s friends have left the town for Singapore to earn a living. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Senior citizens enjoying a chat at the coffee shop in Kuala Sepetang. Most of Low’s friends have left the town for Singapore to earn a living. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Migrant workers from Pakistan taking a break at the charcoal factory. There are more migrant workers now as most local youth are not interested in the back-breaking work in the kilns and factories. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Migrant workers from Pakistan taking a break at the charcoal factory. There are more migrant workers now as most local youth are not interested in the back-breaking work in the kilns and factories. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Yew Siang Lee taking a break. She works in the factory to raise her child, Low. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
Yew Siang Lee taking a break. She works in the factory to raise her child, Low. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 8, 2018.
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