KEPALA BATAS – Penang will showcase to the public its latest tourism landmark – an engraved boundary stone that once marked the territory of the Kingdom of Siam all the way up to the state’s border.
The stone, which is preserved at Kg Ekor Kuching in Pinang Tunggal here, is to become part of the state’s efforts to promote tourism in Seberang Prai Utara, one of Penang’s largest districts.
State executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin, who is in charge of tourism, visited the site earlier today with an entourage of officials from Tourism Malaysia, Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP), and the state heritage office, as well as travel industry players.
The inscription on the stone reads “British and Siamese Boundary”, and reflects an Anglo-Siamese agreement in 1869 that the Province Wellesley territory south of the Sg Muda waterway was under British (Penang) possession.
The engraved stone was the only one to have survived the erosion of time and river currents which swept away other similar boundary stones erected from 1826.
A group of surveyors from the mapping authorities uncovered the stone several years ago and it has since been preserved by MBSP and the district office.
Showcasing the boundary stone to the public is important for Penang, which has been under verbal attacks from PAS leader, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who claims that Penang was “loaned” from Kedah.
Sanusi said Kedah should thus be paid RM10 million a year for “leasing” Penang’s island and mainland, drawing outrage in the Penang assembly, which passed a motion to censure Sanusi and demand an apology from him.
Penang Heritage Commissioner Rosli Nor meanwhile said that historians believe Kedah had been under the control of the Siamese Kingdom, and that many Malays from Kedah and Perlis had fled their Siamese invaders by seeking refuge on the British side of the border, namely, in Penang.
There is an ancient village called Kg Pekan Darat, which was used as a place to make parangs and blades to mount a counter-offensive against the Siamese invaders, Rosli added.
“Three families in the village continue to manufacture such weaponry. They are the fifth generation and they were singled out for their achievements by the heritage authorities. This is a good spot for tourism,” said Rosli.
Yeoh added that with Tourism Malaysia and Penang Global Tourism, more packages would be developed in Seberang Prai to attract tourists, while amenities such as street lighting would also be installed. – The Vibes, March 16, 2023
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