Section 05: The Story of a Small Town

The predecessors who came from the south of China to Bahau all had the ideal of 'striking it rich.' Leaving their hometowns behind, they arrived at their destination only to realize that things were not as expected, and in some cases, completely different. Despite this, many of them decided to stay. Some held onto the belief that since they had come all this way, they might as well make the best of it. Some took it step by step, while others thought that returning home would offer no better prospects than staying and trying their luck here. With conflicting emotions, our predecessors in Bahau worked tirelessly, shedding blood and sweat to contribute their efforts to the development of the area.

During the British colonial era, Bahau was a simple society with a monotonous industry. The main occupation was tapping rubber in the plantations, and the most distinguished individuals were the rubber plantation contractors. To become a contractor was considered a great achievement.

During the colonial period, every sector was controlled by the British, and with the prevalence of contract labour, it was all about who had the most power and influence. Those with protection and support could monopolize a particular area. Although rubber tappers made up the majority in terms of numbers, they were the weakest link. They formed the poorest group in a society where the rich became richer and the poor became poorer.

"During the Japanese occupation that lasted for three years and eight months, the old post office in Bahau served as the Japanese military police headquarters and an intelligence center. Those unfortunate enough to be detained there faced dire consequences. At that time, Japanese soldiers were stationed on every street corner and alley in Bahau. They wore military uniforms, donned peaked caps, sported shiny military boots, and carried firearms. Every resident passing by them had to stop and bow, or they risked being slapped or kicked.

What was even more terrifying was when the Japanese military received incorrect intelligence suggesting that someone was part of anti-Japanese forces or aiding them. Those wrongly accused endured inhumane torture by the Japanese military to extract information. Many people were tortured to death as a result.

It is said that on one occasion, the Japanese military received false information that there were anti-Japanese forces in Bahau. This created a climate of terror, with everyone in Bahau gripped by fear. Fortunately, at the last moment, a Chinese leader stepped forward and spoke to the Japanese military, which helped avert the crisis. Otherwise, Bahau might have experienced a massacre similar to what happened in Sungai Rui Incident.

At that time, the people lived in a constant state of fear and uncertainty. They never knew what the next day would bring, and there was a constant threat of being arrested by the Japanese military, accused of being part of anti-Japanese forces, or forced to work on the death railway in the Thai-Burma border. There were no good days to be had.

It is said that the Japanese military officer who ruled Bahau was General Saeki. Some claim that he once resided in Kampung Rata, and there are even remnants of his residence at the end of Fourth Lane in the village.

After the peaceful resolution in August 1945, Bahau was liberated, but the British forces had not yet returned. It is said that the former Japanese military police station in Bahau was occupied by members of the Malayan Communist Party, numbering around 10 individuals. It wasn't until 1946, when the British regained control, that the communists were driven away. However, shortly after, the British government faced threats from the communist insurgents, and the situation remained turbulent and unstable.

In 1948, the British government enacted the Emergency Regulations to gather all scattered households together for better control and to prevent anyone from aiding the communist insurgents.

Present-day Kampung Indah (formerly known as Kampung Cina), Batu Bakar, and Zhu Wad in Bahau were settlements that were formed during that scattered household period. When they were established, some of these villages had fewer than 30 households, but they gradually expanded to become the densely populated areas we see today.