Lahat, a one-time tin-mining hub of the world

My hometown, LAHAT is just a a small sleepy town in early 1970s. There were one long tarred road linking Pasir Puteh to Menglembu towns, passing through Lahat.
The tarred road is still the  same. But the number of roadusers had increased tremendously. During my schooling days at the famous Anglo Chinese School (ACS) Ipoh way back in 1980s, I could cycle from my home to Lahat without fear. No need to brake or focus on oncoming vehicles as there were basically no cars or lorries on the road.
Yes, my father was the only few people whom had cars at that time.!
I could leisurely cycle and playing around, and cycle recklously to school.
Nowdays, it is not the same. It could traffic jam on certain busy days and of course, crawling on the road is not my cup of tea.
My kampung, Kg Pengkalan Gate has dominated the many places occupied by people.
Other places, are either deserted or turn into palong or fish rearing projects. I still remember the famous Lahat railway station, sited along the railway linking Batu Gajah and Ipoh towns.
All the trail from Johor to Penang would pass through the station and sometome would stop at the train station, and I could see the many faces of people in the train, including Mat Salehs.
I still remember, taking a train ride to my late mother's hometown in Kota Bahru near Gopeng town in Perak. Yes, Kota Bahru in Perak and not in Kelantan!
The station master of Lahat station loves gardening and his family planted many beautiful bloosomming flowering plants at the station area.
It was like a big beutiful garden that the whole village love to lepak or hanging out in the evening at the station.
Sadly, the station has closed down and changed into a haunted area. There were a few houses nearby but the glory of the station had diminised.
The sleepy Lahat town has now changing. Rows of shops are operating and few more housing projects are on the way. Prices had gone up steadily and more areas are opening up.
The Pengkalan industrial estate is developing with more workers needed, thus creating an influx of rural people to this town.
Well-known factories include Iskrameco, Ban Lian, Gallant, Khong Hooi, Zen Conrete and Pulai Lampak.
While Kg Pengkalan Gate is dominated by the Malays, other areas in Lahat town are being occupied by either Chinese or Indians.
The simbiosis between these races had created harmony for so many years and there is no racial problem. There are temples for the Hindus and, mosque and surau for the Muslims. Every one is free to practice their own religion.
Lahat, a one-time tin-mining hub of the world, will continue to florish. Tin production might had stopped but it cannot stop the progress of the people living it.
Economy will diversify and hope each Lahatian will have the opportunity to bit a slice of the cake. Of course, the cake of economy not birthday cake!
Okay that all for this time around. See you in the next post.