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New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
The forgotten remains of Teluk Intan's legendary elephant [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: In the quest to uncover more about the 1894 incident near Sungai Kerawai in Teluk Intan — where a wild elephant was struck and killed by a steam locomotive — we set out to trace the whereabouts of the animal's remains, believed to have been preserved due to their remarkable features. According to Ivor Hugh Norman Evans (1886–1957), a British anthropologist, ethnographer and archaeologist who spent most of his career in British Malaya, the tusk of the elephant killed in the collision was the heaviest ever recorded in the Malay Peninsula at the time. The elephant's skull and two ivory tusks were once proudly displayed at the Perak Museum in Taiping. We drove more than 100 kilometres to visit the museum, hoping to view the remains we believed were still on display. We were sadly disappointed. A security guard informed us that the exhibit had been moved to storage. Museum staff members later confirmed that the display had been a temporary one, on loan from the Department of Museums Malaysia's natural history museum, and is no longer accessible to the public. "At this moment, that collection is still being kept safely by the natural history museum under the Department of Museums Malaysia, located at Muzium Diraja (the old Istana Negara)," says Mohd Khairill Jemangin, director of the Natural History Museum Malaysia (NHM Malaysia), also known as Muzium Alam Semulajadi. However, the NHM Malaysia is no longer open to the public. The original museum was dismantled in 2006 to make way for a for a different exhibition focus. A temporary display in Presint 15, Putrajaya followed, but it too was taken down in 2017. Today, much of the museum's former collection — including the Teluk Intan elephant's remains — is in storage. The elephant's massive hip bones — nearly a metre tall — were once housed at the KTMB Mini Museum in Johor Baru, which has also since closed. Their current whereabouts remain unknown. It's disheartening to see such significant artefacts either stored away, forgotten or quietly erased from public memory. A vital piece of history has effectively vanished. The Department of Museums Malaysia should not only reinstate the remains for public display, but also take the lead in establishing a national-level museum of natural history — a permanent, dedicated space to safeguard and honour invaluable artefacts like these. They are not merely relics of the past, but powerful reminders of our ecological and cultural heritage. They deserve to be seen, remembered and learned from. A dedicated museum of natural history is not just a place to store old bones — it is a vital institution for education, preservation and national memory. Artefacts like the remains of the Teluk Intan elephant offer more than scientific value; they are tangible links to our environmental past and stark reminders of the cost of human expansion. Displaying them in a properly curated setting ensures that future generations understand the consequences of our actions on wildlife, while also honouring the animal's place in history. Preserving and protecting these remains is not just about conservation — it is about accountability, storytelling and respect for the lives and landscapes that shaped our nation. Because if we've learned anything, it's that we haven't learned enough — not enough to prevent the same tragedy from repeating itself. Which is why one question remains: Can we, the public, researchers and storytellers, see the bones? And if not, where are they now? Surely, a life and legacy this significant deserves more than a forgotten shelf in storage.
New Straits Times
17-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
The forgotten remains of Teluk Intan's legendary elephant
KUALA LUMPUR: In the quest to uncover more about the 1894 incident near Sungai Kerawai in Teluk Intan — where a wild elephant was struck and killed by a steam locomotive — we set out to trace the whereabouts of the animal's remains, believed to have been preserved due to their remarkable features. According to Ivor Hugh Norman Evans (1886–1957), a British anthropologist, ethnographer and archaeologist who spent most of his career in British Malaya, the tusk of the elephant killed in the collision was the heaviest ever recorded in the Malay Peninsula at the time. The elephant's skull and two ivory tusks were once proudly displayed at the Perak Museum in Taiping. We drove more than 100 kilometres to visit the museum, hoping to view the remains we believed were still on display. We were sadly disappointed. A security guard informed us that the exhibit had been moved to storage. Museum staff members later confirmed that the display had been a temporary one, on loan from the Department of Museums Malaysia's natural history museum, and is no longer accessible to the public. "At this moment, that collection is still being kept safely by the natural history museum under the Department of Museums Malaysia, located at Muzium Diraja (the old Istana Negara)," says Mohd Khairill Jemangin, director of the Natural History Museum Malaysia (NHM Malaysia), also known as Muzium Alam Semulajadi. However, the NHM Malaysia is no longer open to the public. The original museum was dismantled in 2006 to make way for a for a different exhibition focus. A temporary display in Presint 15, Putrajaya followed, but it too was taken down in 2017. Today, much of the museum's former collection — including the Teluk Intan elephant's remains — is in storage. The elephant's massive hip bones — nearly a metre tall — were once housed at the KTMB Mini Museum in Johor Baru, which has also since closed. Their current whereabouts remain unknown. It's disheartening to see such significant artefacts either stored away, forgotten or quietly erased from public memory. A vital piece of history has effectively vanished. The Department of Museums Malaysia should not only reinstate the remains for public display, but also take the lead in establishing a national-level museum of natural history — a permanent, dedicated space to safeguard and honour invaluable artefacts like these. They are not merely relics of the past, but powerful reminders of our ecological and cultural heritage. They deserve to be seen, remembered and learned from. A dedicated museum of natural history is not just a place to store old bones — it is a vital institution for education, preservation and national memory. Artefacts like the remains of the Teluk Intan elephant offer more than scientific value; they are tangible links to our environmental past and stark reminders of the cost of human expansion. Displaying them in a properly curated setting ensures that future generations understand the consequences of our actions on wildlife, while also honouring the animal's place in history. Preserving and protecting these remains is not just about conservation — it is about accountability, storytelling and respect for the lives and landscapes that shaped our nation. Because if we've learned anything, it's that we haven't learned enough — not enough to prevent the same tragedy from repeating itself. Which is why one question remains: Can we, the public, researchers and storytellers, see the bones? And if not, where are they now? Surely, a life and legacy this significant deserves more than a forgotten shelf in storage.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Beware in Taiping: ‘here be dragons'
This model of ships, with the dragon head, was used by the Majapahit Kingdom and is on display at the 'World of the Dragon: Between West and East' exhibition at the Perak Museum in Taiping. (A Kathirasen pic) TAIPING : It is said that seafarers and map makers of the Middle Ages marked unknown areas of the world with the phrase 'Here Be Dragons'. It was probably a warning to ship captains not to throw caution to the wind as they navigated uncharted seas seeking treasures in unknown lands. Dragons, of course, do not exist in the real world. But just as they did thousands of years ago, dragons live on today in folk tales and myths, including religious myths. Many Malaysians associate dragons with Western culture and the Chinese, partly because of the latter's popular dragon dance performances during festivals and special events. What is little known, though, is that dragons and serpents are or were an integral part of most Southeast Asian cultures, even Malay culture. And that the 'naga' is a unifying cultural force in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. This is what a new exhibition at the nation's oldest museum – the Perak Museum in Taiping – explores. The exhibition, which began early this month, will end in January 2026. All exhibits belong to the Museum Department. Perak Museum director Nasrulamiazam Nasir. (A Kathirasen pic) Perak Museum director Nasrulamiazam Nasir said dragon motifs and decorations began with carvings on reliefs and sculptures in ancient temples and later became a feature of cultural items: the keris, wayang kulit, puppets, jewellery, textiles, ceramics and royal regalia. He said there is a major difference between Western and Eastern dragons. 'The West sees dragons as dark, fearsome and evil; they have wings and can fly, and they can roast anyone or anything with fire from their mouths, and they are associated with evil rulers. 'But in the East, dragons are seen as a symbol of good, prosperity, power and dignity. The perspective is different.' He said the naga or dragon was associated with features of the natural landscape such as rivers, lakes, springs, waterfalls and mountains. Southeast Asian cultures saw the dragon as more snake-like than dragon-like, and they called it 'sarpa', meaning snake in Sanskrit. In Jawi Kuno, it was called 'naga' just as it is in the Malay language. This exhibit of dragons carved onto elephant ivory was presented to the Raja Muda of Perak by a businessman. (A Kathirasen pic) While belief in snake spirits existed among some groups in Southeast Asia before the arrival of any major religion to this region, scholars believe that they adopted the idea of naga worship from India as most of these lands were under Indian influence at one time. However, it is uncertain how the naga of India and the dragon of China became conflated. Nasrulamiazam said: 'At one time, nagas were a part of Malay art and culture too. However, when Malays adopted Islam, which prohibits decorations resembling humans and animals, these fell out of favour. But before that nagas could be found on cultural objects such as pottery and gongs. They could also be seen in wood carvings made by Malay craftsmen, especially to decorate the head of a boat (perahu), the head of a weapon and bird traps (jebak puyuh). 'The exhibits that we have demonstrate some of the uses of the naga motif in the art of practical items in Malaysia and the region such as the keris, textiles, brassware, gongs and pottery.' Everyday items such as lighters, ash trays and cups often had dragon shapes and motifs. (A Kathirasen pic) Nasrulamiazam said dragons were closely linked to the political power of kings in Southeast Asia and that in some countries, such as Laos and Cambodia, they were seen as protectors of kings. Rulers often associated themselves with dragons, even claiming descent from dragon princesses. Legends abound of powerful men marrying dragon princesses and setting up flourishing kingdoms. Noting that even Malaysia's Orang Asli and the Dayak used naga imagery, Nasrulamiazamsaid said naga imagery also found its way into royal regalia of Malay rulers over the centuries. The imagery continues to live on as a decoration on the keris – a symbol of power – used during ceremonial functions in Malaysia and Indonesia, he added. The dragon motif in the keris was not just for decoration but depicted the power wielded by rulers. (A Kathirasen pic) Nasrulamiazam said the museum also hoped to evoke a sense of unity among Malaysians through this exhibition. 'We have diverse cultures and beliefs and this exhibition shows how the different cultures influenced each other, how they interacted peacefully, adopted new ideas and adapted them,' he said. The museum has lined up a host of activities until next January, including drawing and meme-creating contests and quizzes, a treasure hunt, and talks. Nasrulamiazam is hoping that schools will use the attraction of dragons to bring students to the museum. On May 18, World Museum Day, adult visitors will not be required to pay the usual RM2 entrance fee. Taiping, it seems, can certainly claim: Here be dragons.
