The ‘Battle of Slim River’ mural is the newest attraction at Lorong Seni Muallim
TANJUNG MALIM: There are many ways for you to appreciate the history of the country, apart from learning in class and ‘dissecting’ books on historical affairs.
Being literate and aware of the country’s history is not a burden, rather it is required to ensure that the present and future generations are aware and appreciate the sacrifices of previous fighters.
The murals painted in Lorong Seni Muallim here to some extent make people more sensitive, thus being able to learn the story of the wartime in a relaxed way during their free time.
The mural depicting the story of the Battle of Slim River or the Battle of Slim River during the Second World War was the touch of a talented local artist, Mohd Afiq Othman, also known as Bop Sopan.
According to the Secretary of the Perak Heritage Association, Nor Hisham Zulkiflee, the mural highlights the history of the war in Slim River, namely in Trolak and Slim Village.
“The mural is also provided with a QR code that can be scanned by visitors to get information and the story of the painting.
“We can see the response from visitors is very encouraging, including history buffs, the military doing research and foreign tourists,” he told reporters.
He also said that the art lane initiative also sparked a string of Tanjung Malim cities being declared as a youth-friendly city.
He added that the role led by local authorities (PBT) such as the Tanjong Malim District Council in raising the value of history should also be commended.
“We can see that every local authority in this state has an art gallery and mural about local uniqueness.
“It’s a positive development because it can indirectly be used as a unique local tourism product,” he said.
Meanwhile, when asked about improvements that can be made for the future, Nor Hisham hopes that easier information facilities are provided for visitors.
“Not all visitors know how to use gadgets or technology, most of the murals in certain areas use QR codes, there are no information boards.
“Perhaps for the younger generation or youth it is not a problem (QR code access) but it would be more appropriate if there is an information board there for those who do not have gadgets or for the elderly,” he added.
Talking more about the Battle of Slim River, he said it was an important story for the history of the country in particular and the world in general.
He said, the defeat of the British army to the Japanese in the battle, ended the British hope in defending Malaya.
“It was a battle that took place on January 7, 1942, in which approximately 20 Japanese tanks managed to destroy two British army brigades that were defending at Trolak and Slim River.
“Only in a period of five to six months, the Japanese managed to capture both bridges at Trolak and Slim River.
“Approximately 3,000 British soldiers were captured and many weapons were confiscated. It became a great memory for the Japanese army when they attacked Malaya at that time,” he said.
