Even though Signal Hill Eco Farm has appeared in my Facebook for quite awhile, I had no idea that the man behind it is in fact a primary school classmate whom I last saw in 1963 when we parted way. That was 52 years ago!
Soon after I made a call to the designated phone number in the FB, a Whatsapp contact with the name of Lee Thien Fook and with a photo appeared which finally revealed the true identity of the man behind this Farm.
I could tell from the location map in the FB that it would not be easy to find the place at night. So on 29 July, we decided to visit the Farm before the actual dinner date. Still, it took a few wrong turns before we finally found the place.
This chap is one person that I would never forget because of a “traumatic” experience I had way back in 1963 when I was in Primary 6 of Lok Yuk Chinese Primary School, KK. I did not know what exactly happened between him and the boy sitting next to him. Somehow, the incident or the conflict must have been very serious that finally warranted a public caning. During the end-of-school assembly, one of them was called to the front by the Principal. This boy happened to be the Principal’s son. Just before the caning, the Principal moved to the edge of the school compound and plucked a little tree stem around the diameter of 10mm. That was an instantly made cane after the leaves and tiny branches were removed. Once the boy was made to stand facing the whole school, he lifted the cane and started whacking the boy’s buttock. All the students were in shock and there was dead silence throughout the whole caning duration. To our surprise, this Lee Thien Fook was not called up for similar punishment. We could think of two reasons. Either he was not the aggressor but the victim or the Principal chose his son to “teach” a lesson for the whole school to see. Somehow, it was probably because of the belief that any adverse repercussion would be nil if the recipient of the punishment is the Principal's own son! We were told later that the poor boy had to sleep with his back facing up that night because the injury was severe as a result of the beating!
That was the one and only public caning I have ever witnessed. It was traumatic to watch and it has itched a lasting impression on my mind. I dare not ask my wife whether she has ever carried out such punishment on any of his students. Indeed, it takes a lot of gut to lift and cane and whack!
So on 1 August, our group had our first dinner at this Farm. Owner Lee contended that the Farm used Natural Farming rather than the conventional Organic Farming. The chicken feed that the Farm uses is manufactured in collaboration with a lecturer in University Malaysia Sabah (UMS). He claimed that the feed is added with extract from Tongkat Ali!
This is a halal restaurant that serves chicken, fish and duck only – all reared within the Farm. That evening, we only ate chicken and fish. Ducks had all been eaten. Out of the 7 dishes, 5 were vege. For vege lovers, they would love to dine here.
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