Interesting Place In Terengganu

Are  traditional  sampan  of  Terengganu  that  reflects  the  identity  of its people. The Sampan are called  Payang and  Kolek. Its largely in use till today as it identified the deep culture that are etched deep in the life.


Perahu Payang orPerahu Kolek are built specially for  river  and coastal area. In the past both are use only in fishing activities, and as a transportation from village to village.

The Perahu Payang (drag-net boat) is the largest traditional Terengganu fishing boat, named due to the usage of payang (drag-net) netting. The Payang boat is normally used for deep sea fishing activities operated by 15 crews on board. Measuring at 14.2 meter long, 2.27 meter wide and 3.10 meter high, the Payang boat is propelled using wind power blowing on its two sails thrusting it forward into the sea.

In the past, these boats were mostly found in Setiu district, especially along the Kuala Setiu Coastline. However, the boats were also used in other districts along the coast from Kuala Setiu until Kuala Kemaman.

For those that wish to experience sailing with Perahu Payang and Perayu Kolek then you are in luck. There are many people that provide service such as river cruise that can be found at Jeti Shahbandar near Pasar Payang and TTI River Cruise at Taman Tamadun Islam, Pulau Wan Mam



The  river  cruise takes you  on scenic  tour  upriver, to  Seberang Takir  fishing  village, the  Duyong  Island where you can also to visit renowned  traditional  boat making there,  dock  at  the  Islamic  Civilization  Park  for  a  close  view  of  the grandiosity  of  the new Crystal  Mosque - the  first  in  the  country - and  awe struck with replicas of world famous mosques.

The river cruise also takes you further  upriver  to  the  State  Museum  for  an  educational  heritage  visit.  Or just  sit  back  and  let  your  boatmen take  you  on  a  lazy  round  trip  of the Terengganu River, watching the world goes by.

Read more of the Difference of Perahu Payang and Perahu Kolek

The Design of the Perahu Payang and Perahu Kolek

 That asymmetrical form is called Bangau, partly hidden behind another smaller piece, Caping

The bangau is a decorative guard placed on the port side of the boat. It is mainly a support where sails and fishing nets are hooked on to whenever the boat is not in use. Traditional Malays also believed the bangau to be the home for the spirit (semangat) of the boat to reside which brings luck during the catch and protects the fishermen from the vagaries of the sea and sea demons. Such an easy to please creature, i must say.For the kind of life preserving insurance it offers, it really should have claimed the whole vessel to itself instead of just the bangau, and call himself Davy Jones. The bangau is always heavily carved with typical Malay meandering awan larat design. The shorter end of the bangau, okok or ongkak that lies across the bow is attached to the keel acting as a prop to secure the anchor and counterbalancing the bangau.

Bangau has its partner called caping. You would find the term caping in various parts of other Malay traditions that are not related to boats. Don't get confused though, caping is not actually a name given to one specific accessory or equipment, rather speculatively, it's the name of the shape that certain thing takes up. That refers to the spade like shape or something that resembles a spade. Let's call a spade a spade, traditional Malays were very superstitious lot that one harbouring place for the spirit is not enough they needed another one. 

This caping certainly lives up to that expectation, beside being a tool for the seamen to navigate the sea at night. By somehow pointing the pointy edge of the caping towards certain constellation they would know where to go.

Return to Previous Pages Payang and Kolek

Reference and Source : 

•  http://books.google.com.my/books?id=SWQgY1gXHf8C&pg=PA459&lpg=PA459&dq=perahu+lincang&source=bl&ots=uMVqUe9dDO&sig=ub_-lIWPZosaU4nZuKML94vw-i0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QuXtUPHCHsKwkAWK-IGQCw&ved=0CEgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=perahu%20lincang&f=false
•  http://axisthink.blogspot.com
•  http://adiatsauri.blogspot.com/2010/04/perahu-tradisional.html 
• PERAHU/Bahagian Kebudayaan, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia Dan Sukan,
  Malaysia/1984/Buku Bergambar: siri 2.