The West Side of Kg Chekok Tok Kerawat

On the west side of the village remains the pristine Bagan river. The river structure went through minimal human interference, twenty years ago the river bank was cleared to curb flooding and simultaneously the fishing activities distorted; however, now it begins to take the original form. During my childhood to teenager time, the river was part of the population's food source where fishes were caught using variety of techniques. The best time was during monsoon season between October to January when the river flooded over its banks and sometimes filled up whole village, this was the time when fishes were easily caught.

Present bridge crossing the river

Refurbished path towards Sg Bagan named after Tok Ali

Nowadays Bagan River normal activities have been little bit distorted due to new landscape on the river bank, but during monsoon when rain starts flooding the river fishing activities remain active.

River view from the bridge

This was the spot or Pengkalan named after Tok Ali

From the view, Bagan river system is restoring its original landscape, trees rapidly growing and the river starts rebuilding its banks into meanders again for rapid fish reproduction. 

TOK KERAWAT FIRST GENERATION: A SCHOLAR AHEAD OF TIME

The name Tok Kerawat was established as a scholarly name in Islamic knowledge and practices. Locally resided at Kg Pangkal Nering just a few miles south of Kg Kerawang, north of Kg Chekok, west of Kg Belukar and east of Kg Bagan. Referring to a blog @
http://pejuangislam85.blogspot.com/2008/08/sejarah-hidup-haji-abdul-samad-bin.html Tok Kerawat i.e. Hj. Abdullah bin Hj Abdul Samad was one of the son of Tok Pulai Chondong i.e. Hj. Abdul Samad bin Faqeh Hj. Abdullah bin Hj. Hashim from second wife Hjh. Zaleha.

Hj Abdullah (Tok Kerawat) house remains beside the mosque

Present day Tok Kerawat Mosque

Tok Kerawat era was the time when Islamic knowledge initiated in the area, he imparted the knowledge for the Muslim community to be slowly developed. A mosque known as Masjid Dalam Kerawat was erected and he was the first Imam. Developed community included his four sons, Hj. Jusoh, Hj. Ibrahim, Hj. Mahmud and Hj. Ismail. After Tok Kerawat, his second son Hj. Ibrahim took over the position as the Imam of the community.

During Hj. Ibrahim era, he led a committee that initiated an Arabic medium school in 1945. The committee members were the Imam's brother, Hj. Mahmud or known as Pak Cik Mud, Pak Teh Dolah, Pak Cu Do Him, Pak Mat Besar, Pak Do Dolah, Cik Gu Mat Perak and Pak Do Hamat Mat Diah. The first teacher was Cik Gu Kamarudin Hj. Ahmad (about 1945) and the second was Cik Gu Yusof Talib or known as Cik Gu Soh (about 1946). Those teachers were without salary, they have to earn from other means for living expenses, for example Cik Gu Soh was the mobile rubber trader around the village to earn his living.

Present day Sek Keb Pangkal Nering ... after almost 70 years ago

The first badge students (1945) were Hj. Harun or Pak Ngah Harun (the narrator), Pak Nik Jusoh, Pak Su Mamat Talib, Pak Lah Talib, Hamzah Jusoh, Pak Su Mat, Pak Nik Daud Mahmud, Benik Zain Ibrahim, Daud Ghafur atau Pak Ok.

Hj Harun @Pak Ngah Harun
Class of 1945

Hj Abdullah @ Pak Ngah Dolah
Class of 1953

Hj Osman Class of 1948

The school evolved to present day after three times being relocated. Despite that, the school thrived and now known as Sekolah Kebangsaan Pangkal Nering (SKPN) and ultimately became full fledged government funded and growing. The new building was first built in 1970s and the development continues.