DUNGUN, Oct 8 — The surviving rows of two-storey wooden shophouses, known locally as ‘kedai kayu’, in Kuala Dungun are more than remnants of traditional architecture; they stand as witnesses to the history of a town once the centre of trade and economic activity in the district.
Built in 1933, the wooden buildings still carry the character of a bygone era, with timber main structures and windows, though some have been modified over the years to meet modern business needs.
Kuala Dungun trader and resident Ang Ah Kiang, 76, said the buildings are closely linked to the town’s history, which saw it develop from a fishing village into an important trading centre.
He said Kuala Dungun’s role later changed as economic activity picked up following the rapid development of the iron ore mining industry in Bukit Besi, particularly from the 1930s to the 1960s, before the mine closed in 1970.
