Decades ago, before Cameron Highlands became over-developed, it was
a popular holiday retreat for Europeans in tropical Malaya, reports
NEIL KHOR JIN KEONG.
Much has been written about Cameron Highlands. Lately, stories about
uncontrolled development, illegal farming and water woes have cropped
up in the press. It is therefore timely that we look to the past to
recapture some of the lost charms of the highland.
Cameron Highlands, known among locals as "Camerons", is
named after British surveyor William Cameron, who used to work for
the Perak government. Althought he probably never laid eyes on this
plateau named after him, he is credited for "discovering"
the highlands in 1885.
Interestingly, Cameron Highlands, nestled in the main range that forms
the spine of the Peninsula, straddles Perak and Pahang. One travels
to the sleepy town of Tapah in Perak before making one's way to the
town of Ringlet in Pahang.
The highland was not exploited economically until the Great Depression
(1929-1931) when the
British colonial administrators decided to develop it.
This was one of the many "imperial belvederes" that the
British constructed throughout its empire. The biggest and most impressive
was in Simla, India. The very first one, in Penang Hill, dates back
to the 18th century.
The British thought the cool mountain climate and fresh air would
restore their men's battered health due to conditions in the tropics.
The "convalescent bungalow" in Penang Hill was among the
earliest structures built for sailors recuperating from long voyages.
Cameron Highlands is the site of the largest of the hill stations
that the British constructed throughout Malaya. The highlands was
turned into a miniature England. Strawberries and other temperate
flowering plants were grown in gardens while fireplaces kept the bungalows
warm. By the mid-1930s, Cameron Highlands had become known as a famous
holiday retreat.
Another popular attraction of Cameron Highlands is its golf course.
Malaysia's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman was fond of golfing
here.
In the 1950s, the Cameron Highlands was an unspoilt paradise with
small inns and bungalows. The Boh tea plantation was probably the
biggest employer there. Tanah Rata merely had a single row of shophouses
at the time.
Ironically, these highland escapades, developed for the purpose of
rejuvenation, are now threatened by human activity. While development
is inevitable, it might be wise to consider the fragility of the highland
environment. It would be in our interests if, 50 years from now, people
would still be able to vacation in Cameron Highlands as our forefathers
did in the past. - THE STAR
