Pasir Salak Historical Complex
Located about 70km from Ipoh,
the Pasir Salak Historical
Complex pays tribute to
warriors such as Dato' Sagor
and Dato' Maharaja Lela.
There
are memorials erected in
their
honour, in the shape of a
sundang (broad sword), a
replica of the type of knife
used in the killing of Mr.
Birch.The complex pays
tribute
to warriors such as Dato'
Sagor and Dato' Maharaja
Lela,
who led the locals against
the
forces of the British
colonial
administration.
This is the place where the
flames of Malay nationalism
had first stirred. When the
then British Resident of
Perak, J.W.W. Birch was
assassinated on the bank of
Sungai Perak (Perak River),
tension between the British
colonial administration and
the Malays rose. It escalated
into open conflict which
eventually led to the
country's declaration of
independence.
Other attractions at the
complex include the J.W.W.
Birch Monument, the grave of
Sipuntum (the alleged
assassin), Datuk Maharaja
Lela's fort, the Lela Rentaka
cannons used against the
British colonial army, and
two
Rumah Kutai (Perak
traditional
house) filled with local
historical and cultural
artefacts.