By: Zaki Salleh
Photo: Prof Tajul Suhaizam
TANJUNG MALIM: Authorities have granted permission to salvage parts of the Slim Village Bridge remnants, which bear marks from World War II battles.
Among these are visible impacts of cannon fire or bullets that penetrated the bridge’s metal.
The Public Works Department (JKR) Mualim has given the green light for these historical remnants to be relocated by researchers from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI).
Confirming this, Prof. Dr. Tajul Shuhaizam Said, Director of the UPSI Education Museum, stated that these remnants will either be moved to the museum or to locations around Mualim.
He mentioned that there are also signs of battle damage on the bridge structure that collapsed into the river.
“Currently, we are allowed to retrieve specific parts, not all of them with cannon fire or bullet marks.
“There were many visible bullet marks on the Slim Village Bridge before. This site is also frequently visited by historians, including foreign military researchers.
“The UPSI Education Museum, assisted by the historical NGO Malaysian Historical Society (MHG), will visit the site to assess what can be preserved.
“In fact, UPSI and MHG had previously collaborated three years ago on a program to conserve the remnants of the Slim River Battle,” he told Ipoh Echo / Peraktastic.
The historic bridge collapsed last Friday due to the strong currents of the Slim River, which carried sediments and trees, destroying part of the bridge.
The Slim Village Bridge witnessed the Battle of Slim River in 1942 during the Japanese advance in World War II.
Tajul Shuhaizam added that the Battle of Slim River is known for its intense assault on a small group of Japanese troops advancing on foot and in tanks.
“As a leading national educational institution, UPSI aims to foster patriotism by encouraging public appreciation of this historic battle,” he said.
