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• n  an Asian skiff usually propelled by two oars

• Peddlers had passed it from sampan to sampan along the winding, traffic-jammed klong (canals) that made Siam's capital an eastern Venice.
• Without warning the sampan struck a log, overturned in half a twinkling.
• But when Mr To clambered aboard Lai-Je's sampan, he was wincing.

Quotes

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• President Suharto in Jakarta Post
  We can see the thieves in Peteloran Barat or Peteloran Timur through a binocular,Suharto says. "But since we only have a sampan *a wooden boat* on standby, we're always too late getting there and catching the thieves, who always ride in...
• Steve Chia in Channel News Asia
  Mr Chia said, "A lot of people would want to be with the PAP because of the safety and security. So we must appreciate that these people dare to make the effort to stand out, to be in the opposition, to go onboard the sinking sampan and let the...