Conserving Papan, Perak’s near-forgotten town
Once a bustling tin-mining town with over 2,000 residents, Papan whispers tales of a vibrant past in Perak.
Presented by: Theevya Ragu
Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2023/08/09/papan-peraks-near-forgotten-town/
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#FMTLifestyle #Perak #Papan #KintaValley
Presented by: Theevya Ragu
Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2023/08/09/papan-peraks-near-forgotten-town/
Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.
Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry
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Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com
Follow FMT on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Rn6xEV
Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM
Follow FMT on Twitter: http://bit.ly/2OCwH8a
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#FMTLifestyle #Perak #Papan #KintaValley
Transcript
00:00 Have you ever dreamt of experiencing the country's rich history firsthand?
00:08 The quiet town of Papan, located in the heart of Perak, is your gateway to Malaysia's past.
00:22 Today Papan may seem quiet, but this quaint town was once home to over 2,000 residents.
00:29 To learn more about its history, FMT Lifestyle visits the Papan Heritage Gallery to meet
00:34 with Jackie Chew Seng Leong, head of the Papan Heritage Conservation Group.
00:40 Contrary to its name, Papan's roots to the timber industry are debatable.
00:44 Instead, this town was one of the earliest tin mining settlements in the Kinta Valley,
00:49 attracting migrants from all over.
00:51 "Papan is one of the most prosperous towns in Kinta Valley, together with Koping also.
01:02 So Papan was thriving until the year of 1920.
01:08 So about this 20, 30 years, Papan is one of the busiest towns in the Kinta Valley."
01:16 But as the demand for tin dwindled across Malaya in the early 1900s, Papan experienced
01:22 a sharp decline in both population and commercial activity.
01:27 And with Ipoh growing in popularity, many chose to relocate to the state capital.
01:33 But Papan's history extends far beyond being a tin mining town.
01:37 Chew reveals that it was also the site of a former World War II clinic.
01:42 Known as No. 74 Main Street, it was run by Sibyl Katigasu, who, along with her physician
01:49 husband, provided medical aid to resistance fighters during the Japanese occupation.
01:54 For her efforts, she was awarded the George Medal for bravery.
01:59 Although many of the buildings in Papan are worn down, several monuments dating back more
02:04 than a century still stand strong.
02:07 Perched on a slight hill is the Grand Istana Raja Bila.
02:11 Hence the town's administrative house, which was completed in 1896 by local chief
02:17 Raja Bila.
02:18 And nearby stands Masjid Lama Papan, one of the oldest mosques in Perak, which was completed
02:24 in 1888.
02:27 Through the Papan Heritage Group, Chew is eager to preserve the uniqueness of the town
02:32 and promote its rich history as its strongest selling point.
02:35 "Papan is so rich of history.
02:38 So many things that people like to see, I myself love Papan.
02:42 Why?
02:43 Because of all the, I say, the faked away history feeling, all the remnants, old buildings
02:49 feeling that you cannot find anywhere.
02:53 So that's why I say, why don't we try to revive this old town?"
02:58 In fact, it is the old folks who still live here who largely help with their conservation
03:02 efforts as many of the artifacts in the Papan Heritage Gallery were donated by them.
03:08 One such person is 88-year-old Lau Chuen Yau, who has lived in the town for the past 70
03:14 years.
03:15 "I am very happy to see you all here.
03:16 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:17 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:18 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:19 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:20 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:21 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:22 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:23 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:24 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:25 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:26 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:27 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:28 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:29 I am very happy to see you all here.
03:30 I am very happy to see you all here."
03:31 With the dedication of the Papan Heritage Conservation Group, this near-forgotten town
03:36 has been given a new breath of life.
03:38 So don't miss the opportunity to visit Papan on your next trip to Pera to embark on a journey
03:43 through time.
03:44 Tiveragu, FMT Lifestyle.
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