... still on Sungai Lembing

Sungai Lembing Recap...

Hi, still remember the name 'El-Dorado of The East'?
Yes...it's the famous Sg. Lembing ....

Was once known as the richest tin mining town in Pahang Darul Makmur. This was because the area was the second richest tin deposit in the world after Bolivia.

The history of modern Pahang started with the British colonization which linked to the development of Sungai Lembing. Mining began in the 19th century in 1888 when Sultan Ahmad agreed to the proposal by a London based mining concern to setup the Pahang Corporation Limited to commercially mine tin in Sungai Lembing. The Pahang Consolidated Company Limited, (PCCL), was given a 100-year lease to mine the 2,500 acres area for a norminal sum of one cent per annum.

Sungai Lembing was also the first town in the Malay States to be placed under the purview of a British mining company, the Pahang Corporation Limited. In 1915, the mining concession was taken over by the Pahang Consolidated Company Limited (PCCL), which was later changed to the Pahang Investment Public Limited Company (PIPLC).

Pit mining was not common in Malaysia as it was both dangerous and costly. But in Sg. Lembing there was sufficient tin to justify the costs. There were two main mines. Myah Mine is 700m deep, and Tabeto Mine 488m.
The mines were dug on many levels, with about 30m of rock between the tunnels. Miners dug into the rock face and broke the stones using iron hammers. The lumps of ore would be put into railway carts, which were taken up to the surface by lift.

For lighting the men used carbide lights, until they were replaced in later years by personal electric lights.
The battery pack was worn around the waist and connected by a cable to the headpiece mounted on the helmet. These lamps are still used by miners around the world today.

The mine employed 1,350 personnel, of whom half worked underground. The miners spend 6 hours underground, extracting the tin ore from the main lode and were paid $40-$44 per shift. End of their shift, the lift would transport them back to the surface of daylight and fresh air..

The total tunnel length is 322km, with a depth of between 610m and 700m. Being the deepest in the Southeast Asian Region. It is a reminder of the lengths the British would go to to make some money from the remote areas. PCCL managed the mine from 1906 until its liquidation in 1986 when world tin prices collapsed.

During the 100 years of mining, Sungai Lembing mines were able to produce approximately 13 million tonnes of ore (producing 150,000 metric tonnes of pure tin valued at $2 billion). It was the most prosperous and developed town in Pahang. The town has a cinema, hospital, school and practically everything a town should have. In 1942-1950. PCCL was responsible for the care of the township, providing the roads, electricity, schools and healthcare.

Today the old buildings and surface workings lie rusting in silence, and there is little to show of this once bustling place. However, a new museum has been set up to re-live the glorious days of Sg. Lembing as Pahang’s richest manufacturer of tin.

Its objective is to publicise the history and exhibit relics from the mine. The museum is housed in a refurbished bungalow, once home to the mine’s general manager. The almost century-old building is perched on a small hill with stunning views of the hills which surround Sg. Lembing. Preserving all original facade of the building despite the difficulty in getting custom-made wood panelling and other necessary materials.
The artifacts are arranged according to historical chronology and events. Visitors can see how the ore was extracted and brought to the surface. It was then filtered and sent to the smelter. Interesting items include a drilling machine, railway track, safety helmet and lamps as well as communication equipment.

Upstairs, there is a display of gems, minerals and rocks, with explanations on the geology. There are mining memoirs, and a room laid out as was used by visiting VIPs in those days, as well as the general manager's bedroom and bathroom.

A few panels highlight individuals closely connected to Sg. Lembing mining such as Sultan Abu Bakar, Tok Janggut and W.W. Abel. Outside the building are a few more items of mining equipment, as well as a Mini Mox car which was used by the managers. Old photos in the museum depict cricket matches and people cycling across the field.