Where To Look For A ‘Knife/Scissors Sharpener’ At Jalan Sultan 吉隆坡苏丹街后巷姐妹磨刀
Rediscovering Petaling Street ( Chinatown ) Kinfe/Scissors Sharpener at Jalan Sultan -9
A long and lost trade…Located at the carpark of the former Rex cinema and away from the daily hustle and bustle of busy Lorong Sultan, KL, sits the Yap sisters (the elder being 78 years ‘young’ while the younger is 68 years. Both have been working together for 50 years and doing just this trade because when they were 12 years old, their father didn’t allow them to study and during those days, finding a job for a girl was not easy! Customers from the Klang Valley, Kajang, and as far as Johor Bharu and East Malaysia would bring the knives and scissors for them to sharpen. These mainly consist of tailors, restaurant chefs, cobblers and the occasional house wife. And they don’t use any modern fancy tools but the traditional way to sharpen the utensils.Ever since China opened its doors to the world, dresses came in ready-made. Business has been slow as these days, people are willing to buy ready-made clothes from department stores rather than go to the tailors have your shirts, pants or dresses measured and sewed. During their father’s time, the earnings from this business could feed their whole family of 7 members! Now, it’s just enough for ‘pocket money’ and passing time. Even at their age, both can still speak clearly and their minds sharp, even to sharing their life experience. They work seven days a week come rain or shine between the hours of 1:30pm to 5:30pm, except for Chinese New Year, Chinese traditional celebration days or when they are sick (but I doubt that as they look fit as a fiddle). According to them, they will carry on working until the day when they just can’t work anymore. Both are so committed to their work and always have a smile on their faces. It normally takes 20 to 30 minutes tosharpen a knife or scissors depending on the condition. Their rates are very reasonable ranging between RM10 - RM12 for scissors and RM8 - RM10 for knives.
叶氏姐妹一前一后，在苏丹街一座泊车场旁的一条巷子内磨咐磨地，磨掉了半世纪的时光。
叶钻好（78岁）和妹妹叶玉莲（68岁）共同营业，姐妹俩每天下午开摊，搬出两张老旧的板凳，再拿出几块磨刀石，还有一台电动砂轮，就开始一天营业。
从小就接触和从事磨剪刀的叶钻好来说，磨刀或剪刀看似非常容易，但一点也不简单，如果不懂得当中技巧，不只是无法把剪刀或刀磨利，反而会弄破整把剪刀或刀。
她指出，磨刀或剪刀的工具非常简单，只需要数块磨刀石、砂轮机器等。只要懂得磨及修的技巧，如果剪刀或刀的损坏情况不太糟糕，只要磨一磨及修一修还可继续使用。一般上送剪刀过来的都是裁缝师、理发师、修补鞋子、公园花艺承包商，甚至一些妇女也会把家庭用来的刀子拿来磨。
她们每日的营业时间是从下午1时30分至5时30分。
叶钻好说，她们一家5姐弟妹都懂得磨剪刀、磨刀等技术，当年由父亲亲自传授。
其父亲是从中国来到马来亚已开始从事磨剪刀和磨刀的行业。
叶钻好说：我们在七八岁时，就开始跟著父亲学磨剪刀、磨刀的技巧。我们姐妹就一起从当时做到现在。随著物价高涨后，磨剪刀和磨刀收费也已调整。以前磨刀或剪刀的价格很便宜，从50仙至一两令吉之间。如今收费已调至八九令吉之间，至于比较大的剪刀则收费10至12令吉之间。磨刀价格则从3令吉调至8至10令吉
她们的顾客大部分都是巫裔、印裔为主。他们都是从事裁缝业、理发业、修鞋业等为主。她们现今顾客主要来自雪隆一带，也有来自外州的顾客，如芙蓉、马六甲、彭亨及怡保等。
叶钻好指出，她们两姐妹将继续在现有地点磨剪刀，至无能力工作为止。