BELADIN: Known as the largest fishing village in the state, Kampung Beladin is quite synonymous with trawlers of various sizes and shapes.
There are small-sized boats for river activities up to large ones for deep sea fishing.
On any given day, several trawlers are moored along the village waterfront. The cost to build a trawler, especially for the purpose of deep sea fishing can reach RM1 million.
Yet, have you ever wondered who the people who built these ships are?
In Beladin, many villagers are experts in building trawlers and New Sarawak Tribune/Suara Sarawak managed to meet one of them, Mohamad Polon.
Among the local community, he is well known as a Kia Amat Tukang.
Although still new in the art of building trawlers, he is among the inheritors of the art of building belian boats.
Mohamad said the art of building a trawler had changed with the advent of modern technology and equipment.
“I have only been involved in the art of making trawlers, including small boats, for eight to nine years. Thank God, so far I have produced nine large trawlers but I have made a lot of river fishing boats.
“As a trawler builder, I often think of something new to ensure that the ship is more comfortable to use at sea. I also think about expediting the process of making the ship.
“The old methods of the past will always change and improve with the advent of modern technology and equipment,” he explained.
Mohamad added that in the past, shipbuilders used axes.
Now there are saws. In the past, when they wanted to make a hole, they used a chisel, but now there is a special machine for it. The building of boats and trawlers in the past took longer; now they can be completed in about two months.
“Besides that, the shapes of ships have also changed a lot. Take for instance, the wings and the ‘linggi’ on both sides. You need to balance a ship so that it does not sway too much when hit by waves. Do you know that Thai ships are very stable compared to our ships?
“So I studied thought and now the ships we build with a few additions do not sway that much when hit by waves. The fishermen also admit that the new vessels we build are more comfortable to use than the old ones.
“In fact, various other changes have been made. As the leader, I would show craftsmen a new way to build the ships. I admit everything that I know is what learnt from experience,” said Mohamad.
With the skills that they have, he and other craftsmen receive RM200 per day as their salaries.
Asked about the challenges of making large-sized trawlers, Mohamad said they could not be made by just one person.
“For example, in the case of this ship, I was assisted by Tukang Main, Tukang Gaban and six other assistants.
“This is because the building material consists of thick and large belian wood. A lot of energy is needed to build a ship that starts from the keel, ripples and boards all the way to the top.
A trawler under construction. 
Strong belian wood is used to build a trawler.
“However, I am used to the hard work. My friends and I also know each other’s roles and this makes the job easier,” he explained.
Mohamad said there were bound to be complaints after a ship was ready.
“I accept them positively. Nothing is perfect and all of that has made me passionate about doing my best.
“This is because I really enjoy this work and inventing something new. Thankfully, many of my customers are satisfied with their completed trawlers,” he said.
Mohamad advised the younger generation who wanted to learn the art of making trawlers to be diligent in following the skilled craftsmen.
“I see many young people here are also interested. For me, they have to be diligent. They will be acknowledged in this line of work only when they are able to finish a boat,” he said.
