Locksmith Poh Defies Modernisation To Keep Traditional Trade Alive

SANDAKAN, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Despite turning 70, veteran locksmith Poh Kim Tong remains adept at keeping his traditional locksmith business going, a trade he has been running for more than four decades, amid the rapid pace of modernisation.

His move from Sungai Petani, Kedah to the district in 1979 marked the beginning of a business he started with his wife, Lim Chun Hiong, 76, to finance their children's education until they secured stable careers in Kota Kinabalu.

"In the past, brass was stronger and purer, whereas today, there are more alloys, and people also use electronic locks more often. However, we still make conventional keys for cars and motorcycles, charging only between RM3 and RM10," he told Bernama.

Over 43 years in the business, he has witnessed technological changes, with key cutting time reduced from 30 minutes using manual methods to five minutes with modern machines, while he continues to maintain a 38-year-old Japanese-made machine at his shop.

Poh hopes the small business that has contributed greatly towards meeting his family's daily expenses can continue to be preserved and not become a thing of the past.

"Young people nowadays are not interested in learning how to make keys because they think the work is difficult, gets their hands dirty and involves polishing metal," he said, expressing concern over the lack of a younger generation to inherit the skill.

Despite facing challenges from competition posed by electronic locks and a decline in customers following the development of satellite towns, Poh's business continues to survive, thanks to the strong support of loyal customers across generations who regard him as a close friend.

The loyalty is evident in the case of regular customer Selvia Ben, 46, who has been turning to Poh for various key-cutting services since she was a schoolgirl.

"Since I was little, my mother would always bring me here to have keys made. I have never gone anywhere else. I have had my gate keys, house keys and all my car keys made here," she said.

-- BERNAMA