Perak mosque holds old treasure that has survived the passage of time

By Rozainah Abdul Rahim

GOPENG, March 16 -- A wooden mimbar dating to 1905 and believed created by well-known sculptor, the late Megat Ja’afar, is being kept in good condition at Masjid Ahmadiah Kampung Kepayang.

Megat Ja’afar is related to Megat Terawis, the first Orang Kaya Bendahara Perak during the reign of the first sultan of Perak, Sultan Muzaffar Shah I.

According to Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) art and design department head, Dr Harleny Abd Arif, the more than three-metre high mimbar has a unique feature that marks it out from other mimbars.

“Out of the hundreds of mimbar I discovered and researched here and in a neighbouring country, this one has the name ‘Megat Ja’afar’ and creation date, ‘1323 Hijri’ (1905) inscribed on its inner part in Arabic,” said Harleny, while adding that it corresponds with the date the mosque was built.

She said the other distinctive feature is the leaf patterns – Daun Kelumpang, Daun Ketumbit and Daun Bayam Peraksi – carved using the Tebuk Tembus Bersilat, Tebuk Timbul Bersilat and Ukiran Layang techniques.

“During my research, I obtained information from the Persatuan Keturunan Megat Terawis (a genealogy association) and Persatuan Penggiat Seni Ukiran Kayu Malaysia (a national woodcarvers’ association) which helped confirm the motifs on the mimbar,” said Harleny.

She said another of Megat Ja’afar’s mimbars -- made around 16 years later and with a similar inscription in the top back portion -- can be found in Masjid Teluk Memali, Perak Tengah.

Masjid Ahmadiah Kampung Kepayang deputy chairman, Mohd Sukri Saad, said the mimbar in the mosque which is more than a century old is maintained well.

He said the mimbar’s history is renowned and attracts many visitors, adding that “the mosque is one of the oldest here besides Masjid Teluk Memali which is about 13km away”.

He believes that the mimbar has survived intact all these years because of the mosque’s maintenance regime and how it was constructed without the use of nails and using the baji technique.

-- BERNAMA