Sharing history of country's heroes to ignite patriotic spirit

By Rozainah Abdul Rahim

PASIR SALAK, July 22  -- Malaysians should take inspiration from the resistance shown against the British colonial rule the pre-Independence era to continue defending the country’s honour and sovereignty.

A resident of Kampung Gajah here, Hasbullah Tajuddin, 50, said although he was not a direct descendent of those involved in the resistance, he always ensured his children knew about the history of these freedom fighters.

Hasbullah, who sells food in front of the Pasir Salak Historical Complex (KSPS), said he also shared the accounts with visitors or tourists who came there.

“I have heard a lot from the elderly about the resistance against British in Pasir Salak, and what I know, I will pass on to my six children from a young age so that they are aware of the sacrifices of our previous generations, and build their own identity,” he told Bernama here recently.

The resistance against the first British Resident in Perak, James Wheeler Woodford Birch, or commonly known as J.W.W Birch, led by Datuk Maharaja Lela with the help of Si Puntum took place 145 years ago, however, the incident remains an important chapter in the country’s history.

According to Hasbullah, most of the descendants to Datuk Maharaja Lela and his followers including Si Puntum or Sepuntum have moved to the city to work, but some occasionally returned to visit or to do research on the history of Pasir Salak.

Hasbullah said he also often showed visitors the grave of Birch, who was killed on Nov 2, 1875, by the river-bank of Sungai Perak, as well as that of Si Puntum or Sepuntum, who speared him to death.

With the help of the villagers, Bernama managed to get in touch with a descendent of Sepuntum, Mazlan Adnan, 51, who now lives in Kampung Melayu Subang, Shah Alam, Selangor.

Mazlan said his late father, Adnan Baharom, often told him the story of Sepuntum's struggle which was passed on from previous generations.

The father of four said he now narrated the same story to his children, aged 12 to 23, so that they remained true to their roots and kept up their spirits in facing modern challenges.

Meanwhile, the Perak State Museum Board director Nor Janati Ibrahim said many school students, as well as individuals from Institutions of Higher Learning and public and private bodies, visited KSPS to conduct research and filming of documentaries since its establishment 30 years ago.

She said the initial stage of its development was officiated by the then Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah on May 26, 1990, and it was declared open by Sultan Azlan Shah on July 5, 2004.

“KSPS is an important record of the history of the uprising against British colonialism spearheaded by Malay nationalists such as Datuk Maharaja Lela, Datuk Sagor, Imam Perang Ngah Jabor, Pandak Indut, Si Tuah, Sepuntum, Kulup Ali and many others,” she said.

Nor Janati said KSPS not only displayed historical and cultural artefacts of Perak, but the buildings and monuments such as Rumah Kutai (traditional Malay house), Belotah (harvest dance) stage, the Lela Rentaka (a type of cannon used by the Malays) were also major tourist attractions.

She said the uprising and the struggle against British colonial rule are described in the Pasir Salak History Tunnel at KSPS themed “Land of Malay Warriors”, and also has on display about 180 keris (Malay daggers) from around the Malay Archipelago.

-- BERNAMA