MERRY CHRISMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022

 Melaka New Chinatown expresses our Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2022 to our visitors.

May the New Year 2022 brings you happiness and prosperity.

AERIAL VIEW OF JALAN KEE ANN

 Below is an aerial view of Jalan Kee Ann. 

Looks like there is something being done on roof top of Vedromall. 

NEW ARCHWAY AT JALAN BENDAHARA

A newly built archway has been constructed at Jalan Bendahara. Jalan Bendahara is part of Melaka Newchinatown.

Costing RM 2 million, this archway leads into Melaka Little India.

STORY OF 12, KEE ANN ROAD

e-COMMOMERATIVE 90TH. ANNIVERSARY DIGITAL BOOK OF 12, KEE ANN ROAD, MALACCA 

2021 marks the 90th. Anniversary of No. 12, Kee Ann Road, Kampung Jawa, 75100 Malacca. HISTORY OF NO. 12, KEE ANN ROAD, 75100 MELAKA (SINCE 1931)

The block of 9 shop houses located at Kee Ann road was built in early 1930s and was completed in 1931. Our paternal grandfather, Kan Khing rented No. 12, Kee Ann road as his venture into the sundry shop business named "Chop Kong Hing". 

Chop Kong Hing started by selling soya sauce, rice, salted fish, eggs and other sundry items to retail customer. As Kee Ann road was situated near the newly built Municipal Central market around the same time, business at Chop Kong Hing was brisk and profitable. 

With a booming retail business, Kan Khing ventured into soya sauce manufacturing located about 10 km outside Malacca town at Bachang. He employed a master in the manufacturing of soya sauce and "Tim cheong"(soya bean sauce paste). He also brought in his relatives from China to assist him to operate this factory named Cheong Yun (sauce factory in Cantonese).

 

                                               Cheong Yun at Bachang, Malacca in 1940s

 

Besides operating the soy sauce factory, there was a pig sty, vegetable garden and a fish pond to rear fish. Chop Kong Hing and her other enterprises prospered for next 10 years before the Second World 2 loomed into Malaya on December 7 1941. 

On January 15, 1942, the Japanese occupied Malacca which brought economic hardship to her residents. The war continued until 1945. Some of our family members left Kee Ann road and stayed at Cheong Yun which was at the outskirts of town. They came back after the Japanese surrendered in 1945. 

Our grandfather suffered a lot during the war years. As a successful businessman in Malacca, he was profiled and targeted by the Japanese secret police named "Kempetei". He was interned and interrogated by them at Meng Seng Charitable Hall. This hall was the HQ of the Japanese Kempetei in Malacca. 

Suspects who were anti-Japanese were rounded up, locked up and tortured, some by forcing water down their throats until their stomachs bloated up. Then, someone jumped onto their bloated stomachs. Water would gush out their mouths. 

Grandfather was interned here for at least 3 months. Luckily for him, he had a business friend whose wife was Japanese. She acted as his Japanese interpreter and managed to get him released after a few months. However, due to his internment and torture, his health deteriorated. 

He found some pain relief by smoking opium during his remaining years. Kan Khing passed away at home at No.12, Kee Ann due to an attack of fits on 5th. September 1950 aged 56, a few months after the birth of his grandson, Tsi Yan on 3rd. July 1950. 

                                                Kan Khing's funeral in September 1950.

 

His son, Kang Weng Piew was not interested in operating Chop Kong Hing but prefer to work as a Chinese-English translator at Malacca Police HQ. 

Chop Kong Hing’s operation was passed on to ourTai Pak, Kan Wun Kun, eldest son of grandfather’s oldest brother. He managed it from 1956 until1970 when Chop Kong Hing was liquidated by debtors from unpaid debts. The debtors thought they can take over the premises as well but failed. 

In 1969, Kang Weng Piew had borrowed some money from his friends to buy over the premises from its Singaporean owner for MYR 20,000.00. 

His foresight in buying over the property and placing the title under his wife’s name (Mdm.Wong Yuit Sim) saved the day. He was working as a government servant then, so he cannot put the title under his name. By doing so, the debtors were unable to get hold of the premises as it was NOT under Chop Kong Hing. 

On May 13th. 1969, racial riots occurred in Kuala Lumpur. Malacca was also placed under a curfew. We stayed safe at home though our father was working in Kuala Lumpur Police HQ then as he was transferred there in 1968 as a Senior Translator. 

He travelled home from Kuala Lumpur after work every Saturday afternoon by interstate KL- Malacca Express bus. Every Monday morning, he travelled back early by taxi foir work. He did this routine for a while until he was given a government quarters to stay at Peel Road in KL with his family.

In 1960s to 1970s, we were assisted by our housekeeper, Ku Poh. She assisted our mum by doing the house chores and cooking our meals. She retired in later years and passed away in August 1979. 

Another unforgettable event happened in January 1971. The great floods occurred in Malacca and our house was submerged in 1 metre deep of water. Since then, no major floods have occurred over the past 50 years. 

                                              Floods in Malacca on January 1971 in 

                                                   front of No.12, Kee Ann Road 

From May 1971- 1985, the front of the shops house was rented to Mayflower Hair saloon. Rents received from Mayflower Hair Saloon financed the overseas tertiary education of his children in Australia and United Kingdom. 

In the 1970’s period i.e. when we were still in secondary school, we had a woodworking bench at the rear of shop house. By using our woodworking skills learned from our Industrial Arts lessons in school, we managed to build 2 canoes and a flatbed rowing boat. The Red Devil canoe still hangs at the back of our shop house. 

We also had a small DIY photo studio that was used to develop and print Black and white photographs.

 

                               Our Red Devil Canoe hung up on top of  the rear carpark.(2021) 

From 1985 - 2000, it was rented by Teresa Ladies’ Tailors. After Teresa Ladies’ Tailors vacated in 2000, UB Tailoring Article Supplies rented the whole premises until today. 

In 2016-2018, we upgraded and renovated the live-in premises of No.12, Kee Ann. The external electrical wiring and the rusty water galvanized piping of the whole house were changed to PPE water piping. A water tank and water pump were installed to provide good water pressure. Energy saving LED light tubes were also mounted. Air wells with asbestos sheets were changed with new 2” thick insulated aluminium sheets. 

All the 4 rooms upstairs and 2 rooms downstairs were air-conditioned and 4 WCs were upgraded.  

We also installed a remote activated roller shutter door at the rear. This space is used for parking 2 cars inside our private parking space. 

At the same time, a wireless router and 5 sets of webcams were installed for remote monitoring via the Internet globally. 

The central space within our premises is our main hall which houses our Kang Family Altar. This area was always used for family reunion dinners and to celebrate auspicious occasions.

 

                                             Kang Family Altar in Malacca Main Hall 

                                 Top Panel: 義氣 

                                 Side Panels:將相經綸儒學問,英雄肝膽佛心腸 

                                 Top Panel : Ultimate True friendship. 

                              Side Panels : Hero study Sutra as their knowledge, Hero liver and bile but Buddha                                                          compassion! 

In 2020, we upgraded the upstairs front office area into a training and digital centre viz “eKongHing Digital and Creative Centre” 

We hope to use the renovated space for training and holding public talks.

However, due to the onslaught of Covid -19 pandemic since early 2020, all activities planned were shelved until further notice. 

   Air-conditioned Management & Conference Room

                                                        Training and Public Talk area 

In 2021, No. 12, Kee Ann Road celebrates her 90th. Anniversary.

KEE ANN ROAD - THE GOLDEN STREET OF MELAKA

Do you know Kee Ann Road is the golden  street in Melaka? 

Kee Ann Road has a cluster of 11 goldsmith and jewellery shops on this street alone. Definitely more than Bunga Raya road. 

This cluster accounts for about 22% of the total 49 shops in this area. 

Tai Kwang Goldsmith and Jewellery

Han Cheong Goldsmith

Hing Cheong Goldsmith

Kedai Emas Liko (916) - Goldsmith

Kedai Emas Sin Kim Loong

Kedai Emas Yon Hin

Another Kedai Emas

Kwong Leong Goldsmith and Jewellery

Soon On Goldsmith

Lee Onn Goldsmith and Jewellery

Kedai Emas Seng On Loong

Other shops located here include household items shops, home furnishing,  home decorating shops, shoe shops, tailoring supplies and tailors. 

Watch and repairing shops are also available including a dry meat shop. 

An interesting enterprise is a Senior citizens care centre with a landscape garden nearby. 

KEE ANN CARE CENTRE

Kee Ann Care Center is located at 31, Jalan Kee Ann. 

This 5 storeys care centre is available for various services for the elderly. 

Besides this centre is a newly opened 8000sq.ft. garden oasis with a pond. 

This garden allows seniors to view the open air instead of cooping up indoors.

Their video is here. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rjS0wOgIKOQ&feature=youtu.be

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1025588210921753/permalink/2047979812015916/

DOCUMENTARY ON KEE ANN ROAD

 

DOCUMENTARY ON KEE ANN ROAD

See a documentary on our street. 

https://fb.watch/6iYBIrtWN-/

We must create a new business model to resurrect Kee Ann Road to its former glory.

Over the years. Kee Ann Road has carried out numerous street projects.

1970s : Kee Ann Road Night market especially before Chinese New Year celebrations.

1980s : Kee Ann Road Street party including an open air street disco.

2019 : Kee Ann Food Street for open air dining.

Kee Ann Food Street December 2019

TMW TO MANAGE VEDRO BY THE RIVER

Hatten Land has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Medici-Watermark (TMW) to manage the former’s three shopping malls located in Malacca, Malaysia.

TMW is an indirect 60%-owned subsidiary of Hatten Land. According to Hatten Land, TMW aims at creating new real estate value propositions “by merging physical property assets with the digital economy”.

The malls which will be managed by TMW are Elements Mall, Imperio Mall and Vedro by the River(located at end of Kee Ann Road)

Hopefully Vedro can get tenants. 

A DOCUMENTARY ON JALAN KAMPUNG JAWA AND BUNGA RAYA

An interesting historical documentary on Jalan Kampung Jawa and Bunga Raya. 

https://fb.watch/6iYBIrtWN-/

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=261405775730109

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021

 Our management team wants to extend our best wishes to all visitors to our website a Very Happy New Year 2021.

May the New Year bring us Happiness and Health against the Covid 19 pandemic.

Stay your distance, Wear Masks, Exercise and be Happy always.

Website Team