PORT DICKSON: The sundial at the Astronomy Square in the Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve here has become a unique attraction for astronomy enthusiasts and falak (Islamic astronomy) students, while also serving as a hands-on educational tool for learning how to tell time based on the sun’s position.
Senior Forest Ranger at PD Forest Sungai Menyala, Ahmad Syafiq Abdul Aziz, said the idea to construct the sundial in 2023 was conceived as a value-added feature for the Astronomy Square, which was initially planned solely for astronomy-related activities.
He said the idea for the Astronomy Square came about after the Negri Sembilan Observatory and the Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council sought a location with minimal light pollution for astronomy activities.
“The Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve was identified as the most suitable location as it is shielded from light pollution from Port Dickson town and its surrounding areas.
“When the idea of establishing the Astronomy Square emerged, we looked for an additional astronomy-related feature, which led to the construction of the sundial.
“To this day, the site serves as a reference point, particularly for falak students and enthusiasts,” he told Bernama.
Ahmad Syafiq said the area also serves as an outdoor learning site for astronomy researchers and students from higher education institutions, including Universiti Malaya and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, providing them with an opportunity to learn firsthand how to read a sundial under actual field conditions.
He said the sundial provides highly accurate readings, adding that before it was opened to the public, the installation underwent three separate verification processes by the relevant authorities, including the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, to ensure full accuracy.
“The sundial had to be installed precisely according to the specifications, taking into consideration its location as well as the positions of sunrise and sunset to ensure the readings remain accurate,” he said.
He explained that while a basic sundial requires only a gnomon (pointer), the large-scale sundial features an expanded structure with parallel lines, allowing the shadow to be read more accurately along a scale measuring approximately 2m in diameter.
The sundial was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest horizontal sundial located within a permanent forest reserve in Malaysia.
The Astronomy Square itself also received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records in 2023 as the largest square located within a permanent forest reserve.
