WW2 historical site in Kampar gets new signboard

Malaya historical group society director Shaharom Ahmad (right) and Perak Warisan society secretary Nor Hisham Zulkifli (left) replacing the signboard of Battle of Kampar at Green Ridge Hill, Kampar.

KAMPAR: A new signboard for the Green Ridge World War II site here has been installed.

Malayan Historical Group (MHG) chairman Shaharom Ahmad said the signboard was necessary as it provided information to visitors.

"It looks strange and feels like something is missing if we don't put up a signboard here.

"We have also received plenty of feedback from the public hoping that we will install the signboard," he told reporters when met after unveiling the new signboard along Jalan Ipoh-Kampar here on Saturday (Jan 29).

"Many people have visited the site after we put up a signboard in 2020 before it was stolen," he added.

The previous signboard, which was made of metal, was reportedly stolen earlier this year and was believed to have been sold as scrap.

It was put up to explain the significance of the Green Ridge World War II site here and also served as a marker for the 6.47ha site.

One of the fiercest battles took place at Green Ridge between 1,500 British troops and 4,000 Japanese troops that lasted for four days and four nights from Dec 30, 1941, to Jan 2, 1942.

The event was described as one of the rare moments when Japanese troops tasted heavy defeat after advancing relatively easily from the northern side of the peninsula.

The battle there also saw 150 British and 500 Japanese soldiers killed and buried in the same area, underlining the significance of the signboard in remembering the heroic deeds of the Allied troops during wartime Malaya.

Shaharom said they also had no choice but to use metal again to make the signboard as it was cheaper.

"We had initially thought about using fibreglass so thieves would not be interested in stealing it but the cost was high.

"The Public Works Department also did not allow us to put up a permanent structure," he said, adding that the metal signboard cost about RM1,000.

"We hope the local authorities and the public here will help us keep an eye out for it, and hopefully it will not be stolen again," he added.