SIPPING a mug of hot, fresh milk after a long day at work, while covering the Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang for about three weeks, is a joy that I will never forget.
It is not milk from the supermarket shelves.
I am talking about freshly milked milk from grass-fed cows, brought to a slow simmer to kill all microbes.
Since it is not homogenised in a factory, you can see a layer of cream on the surface as the milk comes to a slow boil.
The workers tending to the milk pots at this Sungai Bakap shop called Old Farm Fresh Milk manually homogenise the milk by stirring constantly and then treating the milk like teh tarik by pouring into mugs from a height of 40cm.
This breaks up the milk fats which disperse evenly in the mug.
No wonder culinary experts wax lyrical about expensive grass-fed beef or milk, because from the first bite of the meat or sip of the milk, your eyes might widen at the sensory difference.
That heavenly creaminess of the milk and lactose sweetness is tough to articulate except to say: “Oh! So this is how milk really tastes like”!
Now run by third generation family members, Old Farm Fresh Milk also serves soft-boiled eggs and toast with that wondrous hot milk.
The eatery wooed outsiders involved in Saturday’s by- election which saw Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail trounce Pakatan Harapan’s Dr Joohari Ariffin with a majority three times more than last year’s state election (14,489 votes against 10,222).
Campaign workers from both camps would eagerly head to Old Farm Fresh Milk every night for a nightcap after a hard day of house-to-house visits or ceramah sessions.
That, and many other delights, made me realise that this state constituency at the southern end of Penang, sharing borders with Kedah and Perak, offers a unique blend of semi-urban and rural charm.
Entering the villages here feels like stepping into the rural heartland of Kedah or Perak, yet this serene locale, in recent years, shares a part of Penang’s hectic development.
While you may find yourself surrounded by modern homes and retail shops on one side of the street, cross the road and find yourself in a tranquil village with the sight of cows grazing in the field.
I noticed that when the sun sets, the main roads get rather busy.
Massive lorries and tankers roll by, and locals tell me that the heavy vehicles are notoriously present after dark.
They must come from palm oil and rice mills as well as factories from Kedah and Perak, headed to the North-South Expressway that runs next to this constituency.
Being used to Penang island’s road infrastructure – which uses bright LED street lamps, by the way – I was alarmed by how the lorries and tankers roared past dimly lit suburban and village roads in Sungai Bakap.
It can get really dark along some stretches, that I found it unnerving to drive there at night.
Town planners and local authorities could do better to analyse Sungai Bakap’s needs and find solutions to modernise the place while preserving the suburban and kampung life ambience.
The juxtaposition of traditional Malay villages alongside encroaching modernity creates a dynamism that is quaint and captivating yet complex.
The election campaign has brought this community into sharper focus, highlighting both its challenges and its enduring appeal.
Sungai Bakap offers a unique microcosm to Penang’s already diverse multicultural landscape, blending the old with the new, the rural with the urban.
Despite the intimidating night-time drives and limited dining options, the warmth and resilience of its people shine through.
Places like Old Farm Fresh Milk not only provide sustenance but also foster a sense of community among those who frequent the place.
Sungai Bakap holds a special place in the hearts of many, including mine, a testament to its unique charm and enduring spirit.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
