BUKIT MERTAJAM: Tucked away in a quiet corner at the foothills of Cherok Tok Kun in Bukit Mertajam stands an ancient relic of the nation’s past dating back more than 1,500 years.
Although thousands of pilgrims and visitors have flocked over the years to the nearby Minor Basilica of St Anne to celebrate the annual Feast of St Anne in July, many remain unaware of the hill’s rich archaeological history.
Located within the church grounds is a large weathered granite boulder known as the Cherok Tok Kun Megalith, or Batu Bersurat Cherok Tok Kun.
It is Penang’s only gazetted ancient megalith and is believed to date back to the 5th century.
The boulder bears seven heavily eroded inscriptions carved in ancient Pre-Pallava Sanskrit script, one of which makes reference to “King Ramaunnibha” vanquishing his enemies.
Long before the church was established on the hill, traders and travellers from ancient kingdoms are believed to have left their mark on the rock, offering a rare glimpse into the area’s links to the Bujang Valley, one of South-East Asia’s earliest centres of civilisation.
The boulder was discovered by Col James Low in 1845, who left his mark on the stone.
Over the past two centuries vandals have also tagged the relic, however their graffiti has held less significance.
Penang Heritage Trust president Clement Liang said the megalith represents more than an archaeological relic but also a testament to the Hindu-Buddhist influence that flourished in northern Malaysia during the 5th century.
“It reflects a period when local communities embraced the cultures and beliefs introduced by foreign traders, allowing different traditions to coexist and flourish.
“The same spirit of openness and cultural exchange can still be seen in Penang today, where people of different backgrounds and faiths continue to live side by side,” he said.
Liang added that the site is also a reminder that cosmopolitan values are not new to Penang.
“They have existed for more than 1,500 years and that is a heritage we should cherish and be proud of,” he said.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the granite megalith was gazetted as a Penang State Heritage Site on May 7 this year under the Penang State Heritage Enactment.
He said that this would strengthen efforts to safeguard and preserve one of Penang’s most important archaeological treasures.
Although the site comes under the care of the National Heritage Department and the Penang State Heritage Commissioner’s Office, the church helps maintain the surrounding grounds, including the landscaping, to ensure visitors can continue to access the site.
