This is Malaysia’s first museum, constructed in 1883 under instruction by the British Resident of Perak, Sir Hugh Low. The museum has four galleries and the new COVID-19 protocol meant that you followed the arrows which nicely guided you around the whole museum.
The first gallery for temporary exhibitions was full of bling! This was a collection of nielloware that had belonged to Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham who was the first Resident general of the Federated Malay States. The items above are belt buckles, and the silver/black vessels on the left are the sort of items presented as tribute to Siam.
Next was the Natural History gallery, with some rather sad looking specimens of stuffed animals, plus one fine elephant skeleton.
Then we discovered an excellent display of Aboriginal Culture with plenty of useful information on the display panels. I particularly liked the masks, so this is what I will show you here.
There was also a gallery showcasing Perak Cultural Heritage, but this was very similar to displays we had seen in other State museums.
Outside the museum was a flighter plane; these also feature alot outside State museums!
Given that Taiping had the first railway in Malaysia, that had to be acknowledged here.
And there was no missing this chap… this is a memorial to Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker, erected by public subscription of the Sultans of Perak and Johore, amongst others. After a distinguished career in the government of Perak, he became the first commandant of the new police force known as the Malay States Guides in 1896.
As we were leaving the museum area, it was nice to see that he was getting a good wash!
Just across the road you can see the old prison peeping over the high wall.
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