Sunday, April 27, 2014

the passing of kampar historian



The Kampar historian died recently
With him gone the Green Ridge in Kampar
Will be left to find another soldier
The unfinished business of a War Memorial

Chye Kooi Loong a retired teacher turned historian
He wrote a book about the Battle of Kampar 1941-42
The bloody exchanges of fire with the Japanese
The Green Ridge can be lost through development



Photo: Dedicated to Mr Chye Kooi Loong who thought me Geography but turned Historian to preserve the Green Ridge area where the Battle of Kampar was fought during the Japanese occupation. Many British and mainly Punjab Regiments who held the ground and delayed the Japanese Advance! Sad that many of my countrymen had died here but Mr Chye's efforts to build a War Memorial has been bluntly denied!  It is history denied. I put it to the Veterans to honour the dead who fought for the defence of our country!! The British must help too!  They have honoured Mr Chye with MBE/OBE. But where is the War Memorial??? The National Museum took all materials and relics which we dug out from the Trenches on the Green Ridge but where is it displayed? I would like to see it too!! Please show some respect to the Dead !!

borrowed kampar revisted




Kampar has progressed after the heyday of tin
With a university and college sitting on the land
The town of the old gradually changes into the second wind
Of the young students coming from other states and overseas

When Nizar was the MB it was hope he could do something
The former teacher of his school ACS Kampar....
But he had a short reign in Perak
So the Green Ridge remains a battleground forgotten

Chye Kooi Loong passing
The Green Ridge will be likely forgotten
The history of Battle of Kampar
It will be in his book to be remembered

Ashes of his time
Burying in the memories
The students, teachers, relatives and friends
Of a time Kampar had a historian

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