Getting to know 'PERAK MAN'

If you should have friends from the state of Perak in Malaysia you would know that they are referred to as  'orang Perak'. meaning that they are from that Malaysian state known for its once famous tin industry and bordered by Kedah and Penang in the north, Kelantan and Pahang in the east and Selangor in its southern part. 

But what of the 'Perak Man'?

More likelihood you would not have met the 'Perak Man' unless you are a scholar of civilization and well ventured in prehistoric period study. We had the opportunity to come close to this gentleman who is now making history and a name for himself. Naturally putting Perak and Malaysia in the limelight, especially having received recognition from UNESCO. Alongside him, a town and district named Lenggong Perak is now beginning to steal the lime light just as Penang and Malacca have captured tourism and educational potentials for their heritage domination. Mind you the Perak Man has traveled far and wide, even to Japan and Kuala Lumpur in his condition.

Lenggong is a quite town and district surrounded by hills and mountains with Tasik Reban and the Tasik Chenderoh imposing it with a lay-back and picturesque atmosphere. Sungai Perak  one of the longest river in Peninsular Malaysia flows in the district emptying itself in the sea off Lumut many kilometers away.  Nesting along the new highway Grik - Kuala Kangsar road it promises future growth and development. The Rest House at Lenggong and the Tasik Reban Resort currently accommodate visitors to this area and evidence of development and growth forthcoming is quite perceptible. In no time towns nearby such as Kuala Kangsar, Taiping and Kuala Kangsar have to vie for visitors.

The Perak Man was founded by Prof Dato Zuraina Majid and her team from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1991 disclosing one of the longest records of early man in a single locality and the oldest outside the African continent. Featuring open air and cave sites with palaeolithic tool workshops and evidence of early technology it was therefore a great discovery. On our visit we were shown several sites that suggested the presence of a fairly large semi-sedentary population dating to prehistory. Yes you could certainly read more by clicking your mouse for further information.

We were here to know about the discovery and the locality but more specifically to be briefed regarding the proposed museum or site preservation of the area. Recognized and acknowledged by UNESCO therefore it requires a permanent display centre or museum that would attract international as well as national visitors to the sites It therefore calls for architects to submit proposals.

One of the prehistoric sites at Lenggong

Therefore it calls for further visits if need be. Nevertheless it does give a new direction and approach. 

   We had to walk through this mangrove area to get to the site situated at cave.

     A view of the present museum at Lenggong

Yes there was a huge interest shown by the number of attendance at the briefing session

 Dato Prof Siti Zuraina Majid the archaeologist and founder of Perak Man with Hjh Wan Fatimah. Prof Siti Zuraina delivered an account of the Perak Man while briefing the needs for a larger Museum and other site centres at Lenggong.
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    As seen in the Lenggong Museum a replica of a cave site. At the moment of writing Perak Man has not yet returned to his home town though we understood that arrangement has been made to bring him home.

Around the Lenggong area you will still be rewarded with quint homes like this. However it won't be for long as development moves in. Land cost is still affordable and you won't be troubled even if to buy 2 -3 acres of land.

For the night we lodged at Tasik Reban Resort.

Limestone caves like this would be your destination if you want to visit the sites where diggings have disclosed the historic discoveries.

An outcrop surrounded by fallen leaves. A distraction? Maybe not.


You may have visited Borobudur , Angkor Watt , Indus and Euphrates's  Valleys and other world sites however do make a visit here and the Batu Pahat Site at Merbok in Kedah to learn of Malaysia's early history.