Batu Gajah
Encyclopedia
Batu Gajah is a town
located in the state of Perak
in Malaysia, about 24 km from Ipoh
, the Perak state capital.
, is presumably derived from 2 large boulders that resembled elephants found along the Kinta River
. Folklore claims that huge elephant figures were made of stones to scare away the elephants that destroyed the villagers' sugar cane crops.
Famous for its tin
mining
long before the Independence Day
of Malaya
, Batu Gajah had been an ideal place for Chinese
immigrants to stay and work during those years. This contributes to a significant percentage of Chinese in the population of Batu Gajah today. The Indian Settlement village at Changkat has a large population of Indians and Punjabis who built one of the oldest Sikh temples in Perak.
Batu Gajah had an established pre-war British
English school
, which was renamed Sultan Yussuf School (SYS) after the war. The current Sultan of Perak is a former student of this school. Formerly known as the Government English School (GES), it was founded by Mr. Malai Perumal Pillay in 1907. The school was built from the rubble of an old jail
. Over the years, the school has produced many successful students.
Kampung Sungai Terap was founded by Toh Panjang Bongkok. Since it was the first kampung to have a mosque, it became the main kampung of the area, and mukim Sungai Terap was named after it.
courses - Royal Golf Club and Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Course, and nearby pre-independence castle built by a Scottish rubber plantation owner, Sir William Kellie - Kellie's Castle
. There are also many hawker stalls and restaurants serving food such as noodles, laksa
, and Indian-Muslim mee goreng
and mee rebus
. Youths spend time at cybercafés and around the local supermarket
. In recent years, Western style food franchises such as 7-Eleven, KFC, Marry Brown and Pizza Hut had opened up branches in the town. Recently, a supermarket named TF has opened and currently is in business.
In 2007, Batu Gajah got a new operational railway station. Located near Kampung Pisang at the Southerly end of town, it replaces the old station at Jalan Pusing which is being planned into a museum.
In addition, the Malaysian railroad operator, Keretapi Tanah Melayu
, is currently constructing a new central workshop within the vicinity of Batu Gajah to replace its existing facility in Sentul. Located near the new railway station, the centre will house repair workshops, training facilities and staff quarters. The center is scheduled for completion in August 2009 at a projected cost of RM
430 million.
A new four lane highway is currently under construction that connects to the Ipoh-Lumut Highway
at Seputeh and ties to the North-South Expressway at Gopeng
. The new highway will pass near the new railway station through Bemban at the West side of town.
A new district land office is being constructed in Changkat and should be operational before the end of 2008. It is also given a new name, Majlis Daerah Batu Gajah or MDBG.
Currently, a district mosque is being built replacing the former mosque with funds from the Sultan Perak totals up to RM1 million. This mosque is expected to be finished in a few months' time.
, a famous pop artist and actress was born on May 10th 1971 at the Batu Gajah Hospital. She once worked as a Malaysia Airlines
flight attendant for 5 years and won the Asia Bagus singing competition in Japan, 1993 which launched her singing career. She is now married to Alvin Tham Suffian from Ipoh
with two lovely children, Adriana and Adalia. Renowned artist/director, Datuk Rahim Razali, also came from Batu Gajah.
Yuna
, a tudung-clad musician, has been popular after her single hit song also born in Batu Gajah. Her grandparent still live in Kampung Sungai Terap, Batu Gajah.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
located in the state of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
in Malaysia, about 24 km from Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
, the Perak state capital.
Origins and History
The name Batu Gajah, which literally means "stone elephant" in the Malay languageMalay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
, is presumably derived from 2 large boulders that resembled elephants found along the Kinta River
Kinta River
Kinta River is a river in Perak, Malaysia. It gives its name to the Kinta Valley which surrounds Ipoh. There are many limestone hills in this area and there used to be many tin mines.-Major settlements:Major settlements along the river are:*Sungai Siput...
. Folklore claims that huge elephant figures were made of stones to scare away the elephants that destroyed the villagers' sugar cane crops.
Famous for its tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
long before the Independence Day
Independence Day
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another nation or state, and more rarely after the end of a military occupation...
of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
, Batu Gajah had been an ideal place for Chinese
Malaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
immigrants to stay and work during those years. This contributes to a significant percentage of Chinese in the population of Batu Gajah today. The Indian Settlement village at Changkat has a large population of Indians and Punjabis who built one of the oldest Sikh temples in Perak.
Batu Gajah had an established pre-war British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
English school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
, which was renamed Sultan Yussuf School (SYS) after the war. The current Sultan of Perak is a former student of this school. Formerly known as the Government English School (GES), it was founded by Mr. Malai Perumal Pillay in 1907. The school was built from the rubble of an old jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
. Over the years, the school has produced many successful students.
History
Batu Gajah lies on the bank of Sungai Kinta, a little downstream from the major confluence of Sungai Raya. It started out as one of the many villages of mukim Sungai Terap, developed under its titular chief, the Sri Amar DiRaja, since the early 19th century.Kampung Sungai Terap was founded by Toh Panjang Bongkok. Since it was the first kampung to have a mosque, it became the main kampung of the area, and mukim Sungai Terap was named after it.
Features
Batu Gajah is a very quiet town, ideal for pensioners and young families. The attractions here include two golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
courses - Royal Golf Club and Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Course, and nearby pre-independence castle built by a Scottish rubber plantation owner, Sir William Kellie - Kellie's Castle
Kellie's Castle
Kellie's Castle is located near Batu Gajah, and is about 20 minutes' drive from Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. The unfinished, ruined mansion, was built by a Scottish planter named William Kellie Smith...
. There are also many hawker stalls and restaurants serving food such as noodles, laksa
Laksa
Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore, and to a lesser extent Indonesia.- Origin :The origin of the name "laksa" is unclear...
, and Indian-Muslim mee goreng
Mee Goreng
Mie goreng is a dish famous in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. It is made with thin yellow noodles fried with garlic, onion or shallots, fried prawn, chicken, or beef, sliced bakso , chili, vegetables, tomatoes, egg, and acar...
and mee rebus
Mee rebus
Mee rebus or Mie rebus , is a noodle dish popular in Indonesia , Malaysia, and Singapore.The dish is made of yellow egg noodles, which are also used in Hokkien mee, with a spicy slightly sweet curry-like gravy...
. Youths spend time at cybercafés and around the local supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
. In recent years, Western style food franchises such as 7-Eleven, KFC, Marry Brown and Pizza Hut had opened up branches in the town. Recently, a supermarket named TF has opened and currently is in business.
Development
In recent years, Batu Gajah has seen a lot of improvement. Recently, a new large post office was built and the scenery around Batu Gajah has been greatly improved. Majlis Daerah Batu Gajah (MDBG), the district council, has greatly enhanced the scenery of this town by planting trees, repainting and keeping this town clean on a regular basis.In 2007, Batu Gajah got a new operational railway station. Located near Kampung Pisang at the Southerly end of town, it replaces the old station at Jalan Pusing which is being planned into a museum.
In addition, the Malaysian railroad operator, Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin...
, is currently constructing a new central workshop within the vicinity of Batu Gajah to replace its existing facility in Sentul. Located near the new railway station, the centre will house repair workshops, training facilities and staff quarters. The center is scheduled for completion in August 2009 at a projected cost of RM
Malaysian ringgit
The Malaysian ringgit is the currency of Malaysia. It is divided into 100 sen...
430 million.
A new four lane highway is currently under construction that connects to the Ipoh-Lumut Highway
Ipoh-Lumut Highway
Ipoh–Lumut Highway, Federal route is a major highway in Perak, Malaysia. Connecting Ipoh in the east until Lumut in the west.-Upgrading of the Ipoh-Lumut Highway into dual carriageway:...
at Seputeh and ties to the North-South Expressway at Gopeng
Gopeng
Gopeng is a town located in Mukim Teja, District of Kampar, Perak, Malaysia. It is situated approximately 20 km south of Ipoh, the state capital. The town is located on the west side of the North-South Expressway stretch of Tapah-Simpang Pulai...
. The new highway will pass near the new railway station through Bemban at the West side of town.
A new district land office is being constructed in Changkat and should be operational before the end of 2008. It is also given a new name, Majlis Daerah Batu Gajah or MDBG.
Currently, a district mosque is being built replacing the former mosque with funds from the Sultan Perak totals up to RM1 million. This mosque is expected to be finished in a few months' time.
Primary School
- SK St Bernadette's Convent
- SK Sultan Yussuf
- SK Toh Indera Wangsa Ahmad
- SJK(C)Yuk Kwan
Secondary School
- SMK Sultan YussufSMK Sultan YussufSMK Sultan Yussuf is a high school located in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia. The senior principal is Zainal Abidin Ahmad Sanee.- History :The school was established as a small private school in 1907, and was founded by Malai Perumal Pillay, a local merchant. It was difficult to persuade the parents...
- SMK St Bernadette's Convent
- SMK Toh Indera Wangsa Ahmad
- SMK Yuk Kwan
- SMK Dato' Bendahara CM Yusuf
- SMK Pusing
People
Amy MasturaAmy Mastura
Amy Mastura is a Malaysian actress and singer who is known for her romantic comedy film roles and contributions to the local pop music industry....
, a famous pop artist and actress was born on May 10th 1971 at the Batu Gajah Hospital. She once worked as a Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
flight attendant for 5 years and won the Asia Bagus singing competition in Japan, 1993 which launched her singing career. She is now married to Alvin Tham Suffian from Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
with two lovely children, Adriana and Adalia. Renowned artist/director, Datuk Rahim Razali, also came from Batu Gajah.
Yuna
Yuna (singer)
Yunalis Zarai or commercially known as Yuna, a Malaysian singer-songwriter.Yuna is conquering Malaysia with her acoustic guitar and winning folk pop tunes – enchanting listeners with the gentle warble in her voice, a flair for old-timey pop songcraft, a bit of Feist’s soul and subtlety, and...
, a tudung-clad musician, has been popular after her single hit song also born in Batu Gajah. Her grandparent still live in Kampung Sungai Terap, Batu Gajah.
Landmarks
Some heritage buildings and landmarks in Batu Gajah that are famous throughout Perak and even the whole country are:- Kellie's CastleKellie's CastleKellie's Castle is located near Batu Gajah, and is about 20 minutes' drive from Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. The unfinished, ruined mansion, was built by a Scottish planter named William Kellie Smith...
(an old unfinished castleCastleA castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
built by a ScottishScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
rubberRubberNatural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
tycoon) - An old tin miningTin mining* Tin* Tin mining in Britain** Dartmoor tin-mining** Mining in Cornwall and Devon** Stannary Courts and Parliaments** Tinner* Tin mining in Bolivia* Black tin* White tin* International Tin Council...
dredgeDredgeDredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...
(resembling a large 'boat') - Sultan Yussuf School or SMK Sultan YussufSMK Sultan YussufSMK Sultan Yussuf is a high school located in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia. The senior principal is Zainal Abidin Ahmad Sanee.- History :The school was established as a small private school in 1907, and was founded by Malai Perumal Pillay, a local merchant. It was difficult to persuade the parents...
, the oldest school in Batu Gajah, established in 1907 - Batu Gajah Prison, the second oldest in Malaysia after the Taiping Prison.
- Batu Gajah old courthouse established in 1892
- St. Joseph Catholic Church