Memories come crumbling down

THEY had their fair share of fame in the silver state during the good old days.

These century-old towns — Kampung Kepayang, Siputeh, Papan and Lahat — are certainly no less interesting than the skyscrapers in the city, if one finds time to explore them.

Kampung Kepayang, located south of Ipoh and along the federal route between Simpang Pulai and Gopeng, boast shoplots with architectural designs of the 1880s.

Uniformity: The century-old towns bear the same window designs.

Some of them were brothels frequented by rich tin miners in the olden days, said Chang Ching, 88, Kampung Kepayang’s oldest resident now.

Only five lots are occupied — a barber shop, a fertiliser warehouse, a newly renovated shop offering feng shui consultancy and two residential units.

Chang said residents started leaving the town in droves a decade ago in search of greener pastures.

Looking back: Chang, the oldest person in Kampung Kepayang town, chooses to stay behind.

The former radio repair technician said his children had shifted to Kampar, about 15km away.

His neighbour M. Sugumaran, 60, said many moved out for fear of being hit by vehicles as the shophouses were too close to the main road.

There had been several accidents, he recalled.

In need of work: The row of old shop houses along the High Street of Lahat town

Siputeh, also a one-street town along the old Ipoh-Lumut road, was bypassed after the opening of the Ipoh-Lumut dual-carriage road.

Resident Chan Ah Ngow, 64, said there were only 10 households in Siputeh and the population was less than 50.

“Most of us are elderly people,” Chan said, adding that many were also former tin-mine workers.

Chan was proud to note that the town had produced many graduates and professionals, including his two engineer sons, and they would return home to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Unique: Old and rare ceramic tiles on the wall of a shophouse in Siputeh

Siputeh, with its old town charm, also takes the spot as being the site for several movie shoots, he added.

Lahat, located at the south-west boundary of Ipoh — Lumut, is another one-street town. The road is named High Street.

Many of the shophouses are hidden by trees and bushes, with one of them being turned into a “birds’ hotel” for swiftlet nest farming.

Coffee shop owner Voon Kit Seong said visitors usually made cursory visits to the town to look at the old buildings though more than half of the units were left to rot.

Many were structurally unsafe.

Its once busy post office is now overtaken by tall bushes, while the pre-war three-tier wet market is left to rot.

The 140-year-old town of Papan, about 16km from Ipoh, is in no better shape. Like Siputeh, its old town charm has made it a popular venue for movie shoots.

Driving through these towns is like going back through the time machine, revisiting good old days.

(The Star,11 Aug 2011)