My Kuala Lipis

Rumah Residen, Bukit Residen

I was brought up in Kuala Lipis for 7 years (1980 - 1987) and it was with a nice feeling that I returned to that sleepy town few days ago.

Truly I am proud to be brought up in Kuala Lipis not for its famous Siti Nurhaliza but rather for its rich history.

Do you know that Kuala Lipis used to be the state capital of Pahang before it moves to Kuantan sometime in 1950s?

And the name of Lipis is derived from a local folklore about a white crocodile named Pis was 'ditegur' by Sang Gedembai or Kelembai. From "Cis Pis!" slowly after years it turned into Lipis.

I still miss the thick local dialect of Lipis which somewhat different and always misconstrue as kelantan dialect; which is not.

Digest this famous lines:

kaih nak kaih sebet!

and you might think that they are talking about Carlsberg and yet the actual meaning of what they are saying is " kalau saya nak saya sebut(beritahu)" or " gua bagitau lu la nanti kalau gua nak"

If you happen to be in Kuala Lipis, do wander around. Check out the old government mansions in Jalan Bukit Bius or the old Pahang Club (built in 1867) just right behind the Kuala Lipis Hospital. The mini museum at the Rumah Residen (built by Hugh Clifford) I believe is still there and you might have a chance to see the display of a mysterious brick found in the bottom of Tasik Chini and said to be the remnant from the sunken Kerajaan Champa many centuries ago.

Kenong Rimba Park is quite nearby too. The infamous rumah rakit along Sg Jelai and its special treats of kelantanese and siam girls are no longer there. The river seems dry now.

Rumah Rakit along the riverbank of Sg Jelai