Thaindian News

By Aparajita Gupta
Penang (Malaysia), April 18 (IANS) The feel of an early 20th century battlefield at night with its haunted tales is almost eerie. The War Museum here offers this and more - weapons from a bygone era, underground military tunnels, cannon firing bays and sleeping quarters.

Located on a hilltop in the southeast of Malaysia’s Penang island, the museum also houses halls, offices, ventilation shafts, cook houses as well as a medical infirmary - giving a peek into the defence establishment built in the 1930s.

Spread over 20 acres, it was originally a military fortress built by the British to protect the island from enemies in anticipation of World War II.

It is situated on what is now called Bukit Batu Maung, 15 km from the Penang Airport.

“We have spent millions of ringgits (Malaysian currency) to restore the fort. Most of the money went for restoration and to maintain the originality of the building,” Jenny Johari, who owns the museum now, told IANS.

The British Royal Engineers and a work force comprising local labourers blasted and dug into the hill to construct the fort which was later called Bukit Punjab as the British brought Punjabi soldiers to man it.

The fortress had the capacity to accommodate 1,500 soldiers. The exploration of the pitch-black tunnels (almost three feet height) is a must for all adventure-loving people.

The fort is an integrated structure complete with underground water tank and anti-aircraft pits. A night tour of the premises conducted by the museum is a must to have a feel of the dreadfulness of the battles fought.

During World War II, the fortress came under attack and fell to the Japanese, who used it as an army base where interrogation and torture of prisoners for information was carried out.

Labelled as a place of horror due to the cruelty of war, the hill was deserted after the war in 1945. It was abandoned for years until it was cleared off and turned into the War Museum.

Jenny, belonging to a business family, said the first five years after starting the museum in 2002 were very difficult.

Drawing less than 10,000 visitors per month on an average, the museum is yet to make its dominating presence in the tourism map of Malaysia. But now things have started changing with Indian tourists also visiting in large numbers.

Jenny said expansion work for the second phase is on and it would be partially opened for the public soon.

(Aparajita Gupta can be contacted at aparajita.g@ians.in)