JWN Conducts Potential to Gazette Mat Kilau Fort As National Heritage Site

DUNGUN, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The historic Mat Kilau Fort in Padang Jerangau, near Kampung Pasir Raja here, has been listed in the Department of National Heritage’s (JWN) inventory as a location with potential to be gazetted as a national heritage site.

JWN director-general Mohamad Muda Bahadin said they will conduct further studies to assess its potential for gazettement as a heritage site, including its historical significance in relation to the struggle of the warrior, Mat Kilau.

Although he doesn’t expect the assessment study to take too long, the department would still need to consult various stakeholders, including historical associations, to obtain information on the writings, accounts and history of the site to complete the assessment documents.

“This information is important to complete the documents required for the assessment and study for the gazettement of the site… To achieve the gazettement of the fort as a heritage site under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645), it also requires a recommendation and ultimately the consent of the state government,” he told Bernama after the closing ceremony of the Jejak Warisan Merdeka and Mat Kilau Fort Gotong-Royong Programme at Kampung Pasir Raja here today.

Also present were Dungun District Information officer Mohd Fadli Muhd Yusof and Malaysian Historical Society Dungun Branch chairman Che Mat Nor Abd Latif. 

For the record, the earthwork fort, measuring 14.6 metres (m) wide and 17.2m long, is located near the Terengganu-Pahang border.

Mohamad Muda said the fort also had the potential to be developed as a tourism product if visitor facilities were provided, including roads, walkways and parking areas.

However, he said that since the site had yet to be gazetted as a heritage site, JWN could not use allocations from the relevant fund to finance development at the location.

“However, if the site has tourism potential, a grant application through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture can be considered to finance the development of infrastructure and facilities for visitors,” he said.

Mohamad Muda also urged the local community, including the local authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to carry out gotong-royong activities, like the one held today, on a regular basis to ensure the historic location is always clean and well-maintained.

Earlier, over 100 participants from several government departments and agencies, NGos, as well as local residents took part in today’s gotong-royong programme.

Mat Kilau, whose real name is Muhammad Khatib Rasu Abd Salam, was a historical figure and Pahang warrior who fought against British colonial rule.

He died on Aug 16, 1970. He was 104.

He was regarded as a person well-versed in religious knowledge, having studied under several prominent religious figures and scholars, including scholar Sayyid Abdul Rahman Sayyid Muhammad Al-Idrus, better known as Tokku Paloh, and Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, while he was in hiding in Terengganu.

-- BERNAMA