Golden Land

-- Sarawak

written by
Dr. J. Chong






Chapter Twelve , The Elastic Gold -- Rubber

Sarawak is also known as the land of the Hornbill birds
( Bumi Kenyalang ). The golden age of modern Kuching started with the construction of Kenyalang Park,
A new Township which centred all other satelite towns. The most ancient Kuching city is the Gambier Street.
A place next to Sarawak River, where Ban Hock wharf took the lead in all import and export since 1820.

By 1950, Kuching the Capital of Sarawak was a popular trading, education adn tourists centre.
That year 1950 was significant as Korean war triggered the boom of Rubber, pepper price.
Listed Singapore international trade Rubber price was 48 cents in early 1959, by June it reached 90 cents, then raised further to a dollar sixty cents. That was an increased of three times the Rubber price within a year for each pound ( Lb) of Rubber.
That was another golden period with another 'golden' product cultivated as cash crop in Sarawak.