Go Back
Memorial Perang (Bank Kerapu), Kota Bharu (29 April, 2017)
Memorial Perang (GPS: 6.13185, 102.23545) is a museum housed in Bank Kerapu, a historical bank building in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The building was built in 1912, and originally housed the Merchantile Bank of India (the precursor of present-day Standard Chartered). It was the first bank to be opened in Kelantan.
Bank Kerapu held the distinction of being the first brick building erected in Kelantan. It stands on a plot of land belonging to a local leader, Nik Yusoff Nik Abdul Majid. The name Bank Kerapu means "bank with a rough surface". That's because the bank façade was originally finished with broken bricks, giving it a rough appearance.
The Bank Kerapu building was taken over by the Japanese during the Second World War, and turned into their headquarters. It was used for interrogation, incarceration and torture. After the Japanese surrender, the building reverted to its former use, however, it was taken over by the Hongkong & Shanghai Bangking Corporation (precursor to present-day HSBC).
In 1981, the Bank Kerapu building was given a new lease of life, as the Kelantan State Art & Handicraft Gallery. Another facelift in 1992 turned it into the Second World War Memorial Museum, and it remains as such to this day. Exhibited within the grounds of the museum are items associated with the second world war. There is the remains of a propeller, cannons, bunkers, and other related artifacts.
Interpretive board in front of the World War II Memorial (Bank Kerapu). (29 April, 2017)
War artifacts on the grounds of the memorial museum. (29 April, 2017)
War artifacts at the War Museum grounds. (29 April, 2017)
World War II Museum, formerly Bank Kerapu (1 January 2007)
Bank Kerapu on Google Street View
Bank KerapuBank Kerapu is 
on the Map of Kota Bharu
Back to Kota Bharu, Kelantan mainpage; list of Tourist Attractions in Kota Bharu, Tourist Attractions in Kelantan and Tourist Attractions in Malaysia
Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips
About this website
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.