MELAKA:When travelling to Melaka, experiencing a ride on a bullock cart, an icon that is quite synonymous with the hometown of Hang Tuah, should be in the itinerary.<br /> <br /> Sadly, bullock carts, one of the country’s as well as Melaka’s iconic identities, are fast becoming extinct due to rapid development; there is only one workshop still making bullock carts in the state.<br /> <br /> The sixth generation of bullock cart makers, Samsudin Abdul, 42, said that his workshop, located in Kampung Tambak Bugis, Telok Mas here, is the only one left in Melaka.<br /> <br /> “There used to be many workshops that make bullock carts, but the number is getting smaller. There is a sheer lack of interest among the younger generation on this forgotten trade and now only my workshop remains.<br /> <br /> “The bullock cart was once a popular mode of transportation in the state but times have changed,” he told Bernama here, yesterday.<br /> <br /> He said that the process of making a bullock cart takes about a month to complete provided there are enough materials, especially quality wood to make the body, wheels and awning (roof) frame, which requires several different types of wood for durability.<br /> <br /> “For the body and wheels, I will use hardwood such as resak because it is durable, while for roofing I use softwood such as kelat, membasa, mata keli, cengai or cenerai, because it has 'softness' to support the awning, especially off-road.<br /> <br /> “Thatched roofs are made from ‘rumbia’ (sago palm) leaves instead of nipah leaves as they last longer, while bullocks used to pull the cart are from the Kedah-Kelantan or the Siamese hybrid breed,” he said.<br /> <br /> Samsudin, sixth of nine siblings, said that during the bullock carts' heyday operators were given space to be in popular tourist areas such as in Banda Hilir.<br /> <br /> However, he said that the activity seemed to have disappeared when the area ceased being a tourist attraction.<br /> <br /> “So, I decided to work with a number of travel agents by offering tour packages at my workshop here, so that tourists can still experience this bygone days activity.<br /> <br /> “Among the activities are a bullock cart ride around the paddy fields, rubber tapping, wearing Malay traditional attire and local food tasting,” he said.<br /> <br /> He said these activities will not survive in the future if the state government or the relevant ministry does not lend its support.<br /> <br /> “I am willing to share my knowledge and expertise with others but no one is interested to learn. I am now only able to teach my siblings and nephews about making these bullock carts because my intention is to preserve this heritage,” he said.<br /> <br /> -- BERNAMA