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.

A PROLOGUE

A village or kampong in Malay language indicates a location populated with a group of people. This blog aims to explore Kampong Chekok, 16600 Pulai Chondong, Kelantan. There are about 20-30 families live in the village based on number of houses. The landscape of the village is mostly flat land, the border on the west marked by a stream named as Sungai Bagan and paddy field on the east, north-south landmarks are mostly settlements on main road of Pangkal Gong-Kemubu route.

Entry from the south, Pangkal Gong-Kemubu Avenue

Social structure here is more of a close-knit community due to family relationship. Leadership is based on religious, political and educational backgrounds

Heart of the village is the mosque since most of the community congregate here five times a day. The mosque is named after Tok Kerawat, a religious leader who had the wisdom and vision. History of the social structure here began more than a century ago, basically, the evolution is influenced by Malaysian development.

The mosque named as Masjid Tok Kerawat - An influential social organization

 

Next influential social structure here is the school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pangkal Nering a primary school established sometimes in early 1940s. The school evolved alternately with the village development. The school provides another platform where community to congregate on occassions. Other location for the school info is in Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/SekolahKebangsaanPangkalNering?ref=hl#!/

Next article shall explore further into each social structure as well as the village community, the landscape and its surroundings.