Reviews & Press : : Kinta Valley

Buletin Warisan
July-September 2005
by Diana Cooper

Kinta Valley
PIONEERING MALAYSIA'S MODERN DEVELOPMENT
by Khoo Salma Nasution and Abdul-Razzaq Lubis

This is a huge publication, 428 pages in all, so there is ample space to take the reader on a full tour of the Kinta Valley, the heart of Perak, to discover the rich history of the area. Both authors are heritage advocates so they are sharing something that is very close to their heart. Their previous publications include "Ipoh: The City that Tin Built", a heritage map of the town and "Raja Bilah and the Mandailings in Perak: 1875-1911".

The author's really do start at the beginning when the Perak area was the hub of an ancient Buddhist kingdom and visited by Indian traders, so predating the Malacca Sultanate. Trade was conducted with the Orang Asli who were the first to mine for tin. Change came about in the 18th Century, when Chinese immigrants mainly Hakka and Cantonese were re c ruited to work in the mines. Early mining methods are diligently described making the reader appreciate the dramatic improvements that the Chinese introduced with their innovations in mining and smelting methods. But it is not all technical; the social and work life of the mining coolie is also described including an interesting section on the role of women miners.

Changes and development of the Kinta Valley came from two catalysts; the worldwide increase in the demand for tin and the discovery of large deposits in Kinta and Larut. The British Resident Hugh Low had established with Malay royalty and chiefs and two Chinese towkays, the Perak State Council in Kuala Kangsar, which oversaw the resultant "Rise of Kinta" as it gained economic importance.

It was during two major "tin rushes" that there was a rich ethnic mix of communities, Malay, Chinese, the Mandailing, Acehnese, Javanese, Tamil, Pathan, Sikh, Europeans and Eurasians working together to develop the mining industry. This impetus led to the development of the frontier towns like Papan, Batu Gajah, Gopeng, Kepayang, chemor, Kota Bharu, Malim Nawar to mention a few which are thoroughly charted , by Khoo and Abdur Razzaq. Other chapters cover;" Ipoh and Modern Kinta", the "Japanese Occupation", and "The Emergency" so taking the account beyond the story of tin. The book concludes with a discussion of the environment and the significance Orang Asli of Kinta who were mentioned in the initial chapter but become the focus of the final.

There are copious photographs and reproductions of contemporary maps which are interspersed through out the well written text. These contrast with the 32 pages at the end of colour plates, showing present day views of the landscapes and towns taken by various photographers. Page XIV shows Alma Baker's residence in Batu Gajah at one time a bustling vibrant town. Alma Baker a New Zealander was a rival of William Kellie Smith; Batu Gajah's other well known resident. But while Kellie's Castle has been pre s e rved and can be visited, sadly Alma Baker's unique house was demolished last year. The timing of the publication "Kinta Valley "could not be more appropriate to make us conscious of the importance and relevance of the Kinta Valley before we lose more valuable heritage.