AMCAA Hosts Prof. Gary Lit’s Engaging Historical Heritage Tour for Students
On Saturday, 3rd August 2024, 33 Form 3 students from SMJK Ave Maria Convent Ipoh, accompanied by their teachers Puan Cheah and Ms Chin, embarked on an enlightening half-day historical heritage tour to Gopeng and Kampar.
The enriching tour was organised and hosted by the Ave Maria Convent Alumni Association Ipoh (AMCAA) and expertly guided by Professor (Dr) Gary Lit Ying Loong, a retired academician turned historian and published author.
This multifaceted curriculum enrichment programme aimed to promote historical heritage while broadening the students’ knowledge of current affairs, encouraging them to think beyond classroom walls. The tour provided students from one of Ipoh’s premier schools, alongside other participants, the chance to draw their own conclusions on historical details often left out in textbooks.
Guided by Prof. Gary, this field trip was probably the first ever by any school in the world, offering students a unique opportunity to conduct their own research from scratch. It highlighted the enduring relevance of events from eighty years ago to today’s world, emphasising the importance of peace and harmonious living in Malaysia’s multi-racial, multi-cultural society.
AMCAA President Madam Chik Mun Ling noted that when Prof. Gary visited her school with complimentary copies of his book, “If The Sky Were to Fall…”, for the school library, she saw a rare opportunity for the professor to impart his insights to the younger generation, who may not fully grasp the hardships faced during Malaya’s wartime and conflict periods.
Joining Madam Chik on the tour were AMCAA Honorary Life President Madam Moy Ooi Thye, AMCAA committee members, SMJK Ave Maria Convent Ipoh Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Vice President Candis Kok, and Headmistress of SJKC Sam Tet Madam Lee Chia Chia.
First Checkpoint: Gua Naga Mas
The tour’s first stop was Gua Naga Mas, one of the Kinta Valley Geopark sites located at Kampung Kepayang, Gopeng. A fossilised vertebrate measuring 0.98 metres was discovered in this cave in 1992, believed to be from an extinct tiger species, a lion, or a bear dating back to the Pleistocene era, between 1.8 million to 10,000 years ago. As an introduction to Prof. Gary’s historical heritage tour, Gua Naga Mas served as an example of the caves used as hideouts by the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) guerrillas.
Second Checkpoint: Gopeng Giant Pipes
The next stop was the Gopeng Giant Pipes landmark at Kampung Rawa Baru, Gopeng, a mere ten-minute drive away from Gua Naga Mas. These pipes were part of a six steel pipe system constructed by tin mining tycoon Eu Tong Sen to transport water from the Cameron Highlands foothills to his tin mines in the nearby town of Lawan Kuda.
Eu Tong Sen, who amassed great wealth through tin mining and rubber plantations, was one of Southeast Asia’s richest men by the 20th century at the age of 30. On a side note, he inherited from his father, Eu Kong Pui a.k.a. Eu Kong, a traditional medicine shop under the trade name Chop Yan Sang, expanding it to Hong Kong under the brand name Eu Yan Seng.
Gwei Moon Guan
Nearby, at the traffic lights junction, is the location known as “Gwei Moon Guan” (Hell’s Gates), where World War II Chinese resistance fighter, Lim Bo Seng, was captured by the Japanese under Marshal Ōnishi Satoru around March/April 1944. From Gopeng, the captive was transported to St. Michael’s Institution in Ipoh, which served as the headquarters of the notorious Japanese Kempeitai Military Police for interrogation. He refused to provide the Japanese with any information about Force 136 despite being subjected to severe torture. He died in Batu Gajah Jail, Perak, on 29th June 1944.
Third Checkpoint: Tokong Shau Sin Ngam
The tour then proceeded to Tokong Shau Sin Ngam (石山脚寿仙岩观音庙) in Sungai Siput Selatan, a 140-year-old Goddess of Mercy cave temple. Located at the “sek san keok” or the foot of a limestone hill, it has a bell that dates back to 1888. Attempts were made by thieves to steal this precious artefact, but they were unsuccessful. One of the most significant episodes was when the bell was found hidden in a nearby river; its location was revealed by a medium in trance when the temple management sought divine assistance to recover the stolen bell.
Fourth Checkpoint: Kampar Chinese Crematorium and Cemetery
Next, the group visited the Kampar Chinese Crematorium and Cemetery (Kampar Tai Pak Kung San), the site of the fierce Battle of Kampar (30th December 1941 – 2nd January 1942) during World War II. It was a notable engagement during the Malayan Campaign involving British, along with Indian troops from the 11th Indian Infantry Division against the invaders, Japanese 5th Division.
To prevent the capture of RAF Kuala Lumpur, the 11th Indian Infantry Division occupied Kampar, which offered a strong natural defensive position. They were tasked with delaying the advancing Japanese troops long enough to allow the 9th Indian Infantry Division to withdraw from the east coast. The Japanese intended to capture Kampar as a New Year’s gift to Emperor Hirohito. The Allied forces managed to hold their positions for four days before withdrawing on 2nd January 1942, achieving their objective of slowing the Japanese advance. (Source: Wikipedia)
Fifth Checkpoint: Kinta Tin Mining (Gravel Pump) Museum
The fifth and final checkpoint was the Kinta Tin Mining (Gravel Pump) Museum on Jalan Batu Karang. The museum was the brainchild of tin mining tycoon Tan Sri Hew See Tong. As a successful miner, he knew the ins and outs of mining. The museum provides a wealth of information on gravel pump mining, open-cast mining, hydraulic mining, underground mining, and dredging.
Information boards are available in English, Malay, and Mandarin. The museum is aptly located in Kinta Valley, one of the areas with the highest tin deposits in the country, which contributed to Malaysia’s position as the world’s leading tin ore producer. Tin deposits were first discovered in Kinta Valley as early as the 1880s, with active mines operational until the 1980s when the world price of tin ore plunged, marking the end of a glorious era.
Notable Tin Tycoons
Visitors, especially those interested in mining, should allocate enough time to thoroughly absorb the information displayed. The museum highlights the contributions of notable tin tycoons, such as Yap Ah Loy, Chung Keng Quee, Leong Pi Joo, Loke Yew, Foo Choo Choon, Yau Tet Shin, Eu Tong Sen, and Leong Sin Nam. Exhibition areas are both indoors and outdoors. The indoor section is air-conditioned and divided into two sections, with the first floor utilised as a photo gallery about Kampar town.
Lunch stop was at Restoran Makanan Laut Dai Chong (大众海鲜酒楼) in Kampar, where a scrumptious meal was enjoyed, thanks to the joint personal treat by Madam Moy and Madam Chik.
Prof. Gary Lit Ying Loong concluded the tour with a powerful message: “We are all historians, whether we realise it or not. Some might claim to dislike history, finding it dull. However, this view is mistaken because history is essentially about our lives.
“The moment you enter this world,” he elaborated, “you begin to create history. Every action, whether significant or minor, right or wrong, positive or negative, contributes to history. It’s crucial to remember that our true heroes are our forefathers, not some fictional characters produced by Hollywood.”
Pre-Tour Talk
The day before (Friday, 2nd Aug), Prof. Gary delivered a two-hour-long talk to 300 Form 3 students of SMJK Ave Maria Convent at the school’s Mother Pauline Hall. His talk and the subsequent historical heritage tour were based on his book “If The Sky Were to Fall…”, which explores the myths and mysteries of Malayan history from the 1930s to the 1980s, covering the tumultuous period before World War II, British colonial times, and the Malayan Emergency.
Video: AMCAA Hosts Prof. Gary Lit’s Engaging Historical Heritage Tour for Students
Event: AMCAA Hosts Prof. Gary Lit’s Engaging Historical Heritage Tour for Students
Venue: Gopeng & Kampar, Perak
Date: 3rd Aug, 2024
Time: 8am – 4pm
