Pasir Salak Historical Complex is a pleasant compound of traditional Malay buildings which together form a museum alongside the Perak River about 50 kilometres south of Ipoh.
History
The place is offcially open for public in 2004. In 1874, Perak was established as a British Protectorate and an advisor was appointed to the Sultan of Perak. James Wheeler Woodford Birch which are known as JWW Birch became colonial servant after the retirement of Ceylon. He is an impatient, arrogant and disrespectful of local customs person.
Most chiefs bowed to the inevitable but Datuk Maharajalela boasted to others that he would not allow the proclamations to be posted in his settlement, Pasir Salak. Some say that Datuk Maharajalela made money from the slave trade and it was Birch's intention to outlaw the practice. Whether it was this or just bravado on Maharajalela's part, he soon had to put his money where his mouth was when Birch arrived in the early hours of 2nd November 1875. He was received by Datuk Sagor and 50 armed warriors who told him that he had no right to post the proclamation (Maharajalela refused to see Birch).
While Birch picked this time to take a bath in a floating bath house in the river, he had his man, Mohd Ashad post the proclamation. Then all hell broke loose - Ashad was killed and Birch was speared to death through the mat walls of the bathhouse by Pandak Indut, Siputum and others.
Whether or not it was heroic to murder an unarmed naked man in this way, it was brave in the sense that they must have known that retribution would be swift and severe. This act of resistance and others allows the Malaysians to justifiably claim that British colonisation did not go unopposed.
Three days later on 5th November 1875 (bonfire night), the British launched a punitive raid against Pasir Salak and the mosque was one of the buildings burnt down.
n the days and weeks that followed, the perpetrators of the assassination, including Datuk Maharajalela, were rounded up, tried and hanged. The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Abdullah was deposed and exiled to the Seychelles (not a bad place if you have to be exiled - I wonder if any of his descendants are still there). Birch's death sparked a small war and greatly accelerated Britain's control over the state.
Specialties
The Historical Time Tunnel
The main attraction at Pasir Salak Historical Complex is the Time Tunnel. This is a traditional Malay building with a series of dioramas inside arranged in chronological order, depicting the main flash points and important events in the history of the Malays and Malaysia beginning with the early settlement of Kuala Selingsing in 200BC.
Opening Hours and Admission Charges
Opening Hours:
Saturday - Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am 12:15p/2:25pm - 5pm
Adult Admission is RM4
Pasir Salak Historical Complex was almost deserted when I went on a Saturday afternoon which is a shame because a lot of effort has gone into creating this attraction.
Accommodation
If you want to stay longer in this area, the Pasir Salak Resort Hotel is right next door to the complex. It offers chalet style accommodation at reasonable prices in a scenic riverside setting.
