DAP’s most senior female leader and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has triggered a chapter of past memories – which ironically also elicit chuckle from netizens – through her sharp observation while dining at a restaurant in the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.
“Ancient Chinese urinary bedpan on the display shelf in a local eatery in Publika. It’s an appetite killer for those who know…. Ha ha!” penned the former Primary Industries Minister on her Facebook page.
Topping the list of darndest comments to the DAP vice-chairman’s post is that from Allan Foong.
“Madam, we should never stop learning and also don’t make assumption. In Chinese wedding, this item considered auspicious. It’s a gift from the bride to the groom. Usually wrapped in a red paper and a young toddler boy would be asked to break the paper and reveal the auspicious item inside the chamber pot.”
Jenny Chin reminisced about her sister-in-law who was still using it for her night ‘business’ until she passed away just two years ago. “I think my nephew would have thrown away or maybe keeping it for memory!” she quipped.
For the benefit of the millennial generation, Chris Cheong Ean Hwa educated them that “in the olden days, toilets (jamban) were outdoors”.
“It would be dark at night, hence more convenient to pee in that pot. Next morning, just empty the chamber pot on vegetables garden plots … as fertiliser,” she shared.
Roslina DK Pha remembers seeing her grandmother using the chamber pot for spitting after chewing sireh leave with pinang (betel nut) while Lim Kok Eng “saw Canadians using it as beer bottles container sometime back”.
Helen Chan clarified that the proper name for the said item is “spittoon” as opposed to “Chinese urinary bedpan”. “In Cantonese it’s called tham thong; in Hokkien, it’s tham phooi,” she revealed.
Kok Yuen Loh noted that chamber pots are still seen on wedding day till today.
“But since most master bedrooms have attached bathroom, the pot ended up under the bed to gather dust,” he observed. “If seen on TV dramas, it’s usually used as punishment to be carried over the head while kneeing by male spouse who were caught plucking wildflowers.”
Added Ang Tan Loong: “In our coffee shop we used it for the convenience of those who wish to spit, especially smokers”.
When push comes to shove, Andrew Kit hopes that Kok has the heart to inform the restaurant owner about the chamber pot been ‘out of place’.
“I wanted to do so but (the) owner was not around when I visited that restaurant. Maybe those who work or stay in Publika can help to convey the message,” added the DAP politician. – May 1, 2023
