GUA MUSANG, Dec. 7 -- When the monsoon arrives and rubber trees stop producing latex, rubber tappers in Gua Musang reportedlyturn to an unexpected source of income: gold panning.

They work in small groups at nearby streams using improvised tools - cooking pans and old vehicle floor mats - to sift through sand in search of tiny gold flakes, according to a report in Harian Metro.

Hasmah, one of the villagers, reportedly said they often work for up to eight hours a day.

"We divide ourselves into three or four groups, each with different tasks - collecting sand, sifting it, and then panning for gold using the pan," she was quoted as saying.

She said their daily earnings of around RM50 help cover basic household needs, and many villagers w...