Quaint town now a heritage site

The small town of Lenggong is abuzz with excitement over news that Lenggong Valley is now a World Heritage Site for Archaeology.

Following the Government’s announcement on the recognition given by Unesco on Saturday, locals have been talking about the prospects of tourism and development in their little town, located some 100km north of Ipoh. Noodle seller Lah Chee Choon, 57, told The Star it was inevitable that Lenggong would receive an influx of foreign tourists after this.

Attraction for academicians: The Lenggong Archaeological Museum with the artifacts for viewing.

“Now that we have been put on the world map and everyone knows what the Perak Man is, visitors are going to come here in droves. “The town’s economy will definitely benefit from it,” he said enthusiastically.

Perak Man is the 11,000-year-old skeletal remains of the earliest man in the peninsula. It was discovered at the valley in 1991 and currently exhibited at Muzium Negara although there have been calls to bring it home to the Lenggong Archaelogical Museum. Lah said up until now, the town was only frequented by students from Universiti Sains Malaysia, academicians and a handful of archaeological enthusiasts, who came to visit the museum.

Detailed info: Tourists Thariq Ahmad (right) and Eileen Lau taking a closer look at the soil layers exhibit.

Agreeing with Lah, Kwan Yin Temple committee chairman Choo Kam Kong said the temple could also benefit from more tourist visits. There was, however, a need to create more accommodation facilities in the town, he said.

“At present, we only have the Tasik Raban Resort, Lenggong Rest House and several other homestays in nearby villages here. “These are insufficient to accommodate the large number of tourists who will be visiting our town soon,” he said.

Lenggong district councillor Chew Ee Lee suggested that special tour packages be drawn up to properly promote the archaeological treasures of the valley. “Lenggong needs a lot of promotion but before we do so, there is also need to improve the town’s facilities and amenities. “The state government should pour in more allocations to develop the town,” said Chew, who is also the district’s Rural Development officer.

Little town: The main road at Lenggong Town is clear of heavy traffic.

Lenggong town is at present, depicted by a row of old shophouses separated by narrow roads. Sharing similar views with Chew, Lenggong MP Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said there was need to improve on the town’s public transportation system, telecommunications system, and to create more eateries, places of accommodation and amenities such as public toilets. “I feel this should be the state government’s main priority and I hope the Federal Government will work on this.

“Development in Lenggong should be comprehensive so as to benefit everyone, including producers of our famous pekasam fish (traditional preserved fish) and sports fishing operators,” he said, before proudly adding that while Penang and Malacca have had their cities declared as heritage sites, the people of Lenggong have an entire valley.

Kampung Lenggong chief Mohd Razali Ahmad reminded the state government to also look into safety aspects in the districts. “With more tourists expected here, traffic along the North-South Expressway and trunk roads will also increase. “The Public Works Department needs to relook all roads, especially accident prone areas,” he said.

Mohd Razali, who has been village chief for the past eight years, said he was ecstatic for the people of Lenggong when the good news came to light. “I have been advising my fellow villagers to think of opportunities to increase their income, such as selling our local delicacies or to come up with souvenirs like keychains and T-shirts in anticipation of the tourists’ arrival,” he said.

-thestar online.