MY2011 - Matang Museum

Unlike the Perak Museum in Taiping that showcases ethnological, anthropological, geological and botanical collections, the Matang Museum (formerly known as The Kota Ngah Ibrahim Historical Complex) tends to focus more on the history of Taiping and artefacts related to the chronology of events leading to the establishment of the museum itself.

 

 

Built by Ngah Ibrahim, who carried the title Orang Kaya Menteri Paduka Tuan, he was the son of Cek Long Jaafar, the first Malay who opened tin mines in the Larut, Matang and Selama areas in 1840.

 

 

Covering an area of 0.8 hectares, this museum had served as a fort and administrative centre, …

 

 

… in addition to being a home for Ngah Ibrahim. 

 

 

Chronologically, the first exhibit at the entrance tells a tale on how a pet elephant of Long Jaffar, Si Larut, discovered tin when trapped in mud.

 

 

Che Long Jaafar then brought in 20 Chinese man to mine in the Klian Pauh (now Taiping) area. As the production was profitable, more Chinese started to flood Larut to work as tin miners, …

 

 

… which later triggered the three Larut Wars from 1861 to 1874, due to a clash between the two clans, Ghee Hin and Hai San.

 

 

After Ngah Ibrahim’s death in Singapore on February 4, 1895, the building was put under the English administration until it was converted into the Matang Malay Teaching College (1913-1922) and Malay School (1923-1941).

 

 

During the administration, the fort also acted as a court …

 

 

… and prison to put Malay nationalists, such as Dato Maharajalela and his followers who fought against the British, behind bars.

 

 

Then came the Japanese occupation of the Malay States (1941-1945), where Japan took over Malaya within 13 days. And guess what was their mode of transport, bicycles!!

 

 

As a result, the fort was turned into a Japanese Army’s headquarters.

 

 

Luckily, after Japan surrendered and the World War II ended in 1946, it was transformed back into a Malay School known as Sekolah Kebangsaan Matang (1946-1984), …

 

 

… before the Museums and Antiques Department took over and operated it.

 

 

Throughout our visit, besides re-learning the history of Taiping, the most interesting part lies in the technology showcased, most notably the kerosene-powered fan, also known as the English Fan.

 

 

And in case if you are planning to get a souvenir, you can try their self-proclaimed Best Chocolate …

 

 

.. but do let me know if it is really the best once you have tried it, OK?