Tanjung Tualang: Perak’s prawn town

The landmark of Tanjung Tualang — a giant replica of a freshwater prawn — welcomes visitors to the town. - Photos: RONNIE CHIN/ The Star

THE SMALL town of Tanjung Tualang in the Kinta Valley is synonymous with freshwater prawns. 

Just ask anyone; the locals as well as people from Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and even as far asJohor Baru will attest to this.

There is a road sign that proudly reads Tanjung Tualang Pekan Udang Galah (Tanjung Tualang Freshwater Prawn Town) at the T-junction between Batu Gajah and Malim Nawar.

The small town with a population of about 7,000 was one of the many major tin-mining towns in the country in the early 1900s.

Yee (left) and her son at their sundry shop.

Its name “tualang” comes from a species of rainforest tree found in South-East Asia.

Following the collapse of the tin mining industry, many mining pools were abandoned and some were turned into freshwater prawn or fish farms.

Apart from its freshwater prawns and fishing industry, Tanjung Tualang’s economy depends on rubber estates, oil palm plantations and duck farms.

Kampung Tanjung Tualang New Village chief Wong Soon Mun, 52, said the prawns there are famous for their freshness.

The town’s many seafood restaurants have become very popular with tourists.

“The industry began in the 1970s. Back then, before the farms were set up, people were catching prawns from the Kinta and Perak Rivers.

“I do not think we can get prawns any fresher than the ones from here,” he said, adding that the prices for the seafood is also quite reasonable compared to bigger cities.

Wong said there used to be only two to three seafood restaurants in the town.

“I think there are about 10 restaurants now. Everyone wants to capitalise on the popularity of the prawns,” he said.

The market now has a new look after the district council gave it a fresh coat of paint.

Fruit and vegetable seller Chew Hock Man said life in the town is quite mundane.

“There’s nothing much here. Just the popular seafood restaurants that continue to thrive.

“Hordes of tourists come during the weekends, some from as far as Japan and Taiwan,” said Chew, who is in his 50s.

“Their presence makes the town livelier and noisier,” he said, adding that souvenir shops are benefiting from the visitors too.”

Chew says many tourists come to Tanjung Tualang over the weekends, some from as far as Japan or Taiwan.

Retired construction worker Chan Kam Hoon, 76, who came back to the small town from Singapore about 15 years ago, said nothing much has changed.

“Sure, some houses and shophouses have been rebuilt and new ones have come up.

“But the town pretty much remains as it was about 20 to 30 years ago,” he said.

The father of four said because of the lack of opportunities, many people, especially the younger generation, have been forced to venture away from Tanjung Tualang and head to Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Singapore.

Tanjung Tualang is famous for its freshwater prawns.

“Most young people have left for the big cities. They do not want to work in restaurants or farms,” he said.

Having stayed in Tanjung Tualang all her life, sundry shop owner Yee Lin Fong said much could be done to improve the town.

“There’s not even one bank here. I have to travel some 27km to Batu Gajah to do my banking,” said Yee, who is in her 70s.

Yee said the advantage of living in a small town is the low cost of living.

A trader selling local handmade biscuits.

“I can still get a big plate of wan tan mee at RM3.50. I think it costs more in bigger cities.

“There’s nothing much to spend on here, except for food and some daily goods,” she added.