The year was 1985 and after completing five years as Junior manager in Byram Estate, Nibong Tebal, Province Wellesly, I was transferred to Ladang Kalumpong, Bagan Serai, Perak as Manager of the estate. Kalumpong Estate is a low lying, oil palm estatewith flat terrain which is almost 8 to 10 feet below sea level and in order to prevent the sea water from entering the estate, large bunds have been constructed all along the sea frontage covered with mangrove swamps. Large water gates have been erectedat regular intervals to prevent the sea waters from entering the estate and also to drain out any excessive rain water from the fields to the sea. A water gate watchman was employed to patrol the bunds daily and spot any leakages in the bunds. The biggest problem faced by the managers in these coastal estates were the cray crabs which with prawn-like features tend to bore deep holes inside the bund and live there. The opening at the top of the bund may be only a few inches wide; but deep inside, the cavity can be as big as a filled up gunny sack and if neglected, this will lead to internal erosion and cause bund breakage.
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