The state government has asked the Perak Museum Board to act as an expert before any final decision can be made regarding the issue of the mural of the American pilot, Amelia Earhart in Taiping.
Chairman of the Housing, Local Government and Tourism, Dato’ Nolee Ashilin binti Dato’ Mohammed Radzi said this was the last resort as there are two different opinions on the actual facts of the matter.
“We have asked the local authority (PBT) to check the facts and to check with the historical association in Taiping that started the mural initiative.
“There is a difference of opinion here. There are two opinions regarding whether or not Amelia Earhart had landed in Taiping.
“So to make a decision there must be an expert to provide reference. I instructed the Museum Board to become a reference expert so that we can take appropriate action as this matter is still under investigation,” she said.
Nolee Ashilin said this after being asked to comment on the progress of the investigation into the mural issue, which is said to be in contradiction with the actual facts.
Before this, she said her party had requested The Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) to review the issue of the mural of the female American pilot, Amelia Earhart in Jalan Abdul Jalil, Taiping, which was claimed to be unsuitable as one of the district’s tourism icons.
There was a debate among historians on social media about whether Amelia Earhart had landed at Tekah Airport, in Taiping on June 7, 1937 to refuel during her attempt to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
In the meantime, when asked about the steps that will be taken if the results prove that the pilot never landed in Taiping, she said that of course, they would correct it.
“If the mural is not erased, maybe we will make a ‘disclaimer’. History must be correct, right?
By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
