Preserve Pulau Sebang/Tampin Railway Station as historic monument, say residents

ALOR GAJAH , Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Residents of Pulau Sebang here and Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, have urged the authorities to preserve the heritage features of the Pulau Sebang / Tampin Railway Station which was built in 1905.

They said that although the station's reconstruction in 2013 was necessary to provide the best public transport service to the people of Melaka and Negri Sembilan, the new look was deemed  'too modern', overshadowing the heritage values of the site.

Retail shop owner Asmah Arshat, 58, said a building which maintained its heritage value would be able to attract more local and foreign tourists to the area, thereby helping to shore up the local economy.

"I grew up here. So I have seen the transformation of this place from just an old station to one which is modern. For me, it's a great change, but I want the historical values of this station to be maintained.

"(The authorities) should preserve the historical items such as the station signage, some old structures or railway management equipment. If possible, create a mini-museum at the station to ensure that the current generation can appreciate its history," she told Bernama.

Trader Sapiah Aton, 63, said many foreign tourists visited the Sebang/Tampin Railway Station in the 90's, but then the numbers began to decline especially after the station was modernised.

"Previously, many foreign tourists came here, primarily tourists from Japan and Britain because the station was a stopover for tourists heading to or from Melaka and Johor then.

"They would then take a train from this station to go either to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. They (foreign tourists) are very interested in the background and history of this station, so I hope the authorities will take measures to maintain the historical values of this station, "he said.

Sapiah, who has been doing business at the station for 27 years said residents in the area loved the station because it was the catalyst for the development of the Pulau Sebang and Tampin areas, and had long been a unifying symbol of Melaka and Negeri Sembilan folk.

The station is very unique as it is located at the border of the two states and has served the people there for more than a century.

The media had previously reported that the station received about 135,000 visitors last year, and is a stop for 44 daily commuter trips and eight inter-city train services.

-- BERNAMA