Penang War Museum, Batu Maung

Penang War Museum (26 October 2013)


Penang War Museum (GPS: 5.28142, 100.28872) or Muzium Perang Pulau Pinang, is a privately-run museum preserving the war relics in Batu Maung, Penang. It is located on the hills above the fishing village. It preserves the British war relics that dot the hill. The museum was officiated by Datuk Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism, on 14 October, 2002.

After going up the windy hill road, now named Jalan Muzium Perang, I passed through the gate, where I paid a reimbursable RM5 parking fee (this is to keep away people who simply use up the limited parking space without actually visiting the museum).

Before going off to explore the war relics, I was given a private briefing:

A brief introduction about the Penang War Museum

Map of sights at the Penang War Museum (26 October 2013)

The Penang War Museum is on the map of Jalan Muzium Perang

From 2002 to 2013

I visited the museum for the first time way back in 2002, just following its opening, and roughly eleven years later, on 26 October, 2013, I made a second visit to it. I was given a briefing about the museum (which you can see in the video), and then off I went to explore the sights.

Much has changed, but much has also remained the same. I see that the numbering of each points remain the same over the past eleven years, though there is now a proper covered walk over what was once a tarred road. It leads past the entrance to the tunnel (Point 29). You can see how it looks like in 2002 and 2013 below:

Entrance to the ammunition storage tunnel in 2002(14 October, 2002)


Entrance to the ammunication storage tunnel in 2013 (26 October 2013)

Exploring the Penang War Museum

Let me take you with me to explore the War Museum through photographs I snapped on the 2013 visit.

After paying the entrance fee, you go through this passageway, where there are interpretive boards explaining the advance of the Japanese during the Second War War, (26 October 2013)
A replica of a cannon, to be precise, a 6-inch breech loading gun that was originally installed in that spot, in 1941. (26 October 2013)


Corridor leading towards the various war relics. (26 October 2013)


Huts in the jungle? I am not quite sure what these are for. (26 October 2013)


View of the sharp bend between the corridor and the entrance to the ammunition storage tunnel. When I was a teenager (long before the Penang War Museum was opened), I could ride my motorcycle all the way to this spot. But I never had the guts to explore it. (26 October 2013)


The inside of the ammunition storage chamber, now an interpretation gallery for the War Museum/ (26 October 2013)


From the ammunition storage chamber, there is a tunnel connected to the staircase. It is an escape route leading to the top. (26 October 2013)


The ammunition hoist (26 October 2013)


Steep steps going up. (26 October 2013)


Replica of abandoned Senior British Army Residence during the war years. (26 October 2013)


Remains of a Pill Box (small fortification). (26 October 2013)


Shaft going down to the amunition chamber. When I was young, I used to ride my motorcycle all the way to here, the end of the hill road. (26 October 2013)


View of the Second Penang Bridge from the grounds of the Penang War Museum. (26 October 2013)


Gun Firing Bay. (26 October 2013)


An ammunition shaft. (26 October 2013)


Bobby Trap Zone. (26 October 2013)


Anti Aircraft Pit (26 October 2013)


The Tapioca Garden. During the war years, tapioca became a staple food as it is easily propagated. (26 October 2013)


The Penang Battery. (26 October 2013)


Quarters for officers on duty. (26 October 2013)


Cook House. (26 October 2013)


Staircase going down to the quarters of the Indian Army soldiers. (26 October 2013)


Open Theatre. (26 October 2013)


Intelligence Officer's Quarters (26 October 2013)


Doorway to tunnel, to the British Army underground command centre. (26 October 2013)


Visitors at the Anti Aircraft Pit. (26 October 2013)


The Exit. (26 October 2013)

My Experience with the Batu Maung British War Relics

I have been aware of the British war relics in Batu Maung from small. When I was a kid, I would explore the hills above the fishing village of Batu Maung with friends. From the hill slopes, my friends and I could watch planes landing and taking off from the Bayan Lepas airport. We would pass by durian and rambutan orchards where kind pakciks will let us eat our share of rambutans and durians, if we don't pluck them.

However, deep in this jungle and high in the hills, there are dark, mysterious tunnels. From the first time we came across those tunnels I knew they are World War II relics, but I have never been in it. There were talks that the tunnels were haunted, and by their look, they don't really dispell this rumour.

Later on, as a teenager, I would ride my motorbike up the windy path to the entrance of the tunnel, but I never dated to enter it, for fear of snakes. Nonetheless the relics were a source of much curiosity, excitement as well as fear.

So for over twenty years, those tunnels were tucked away in the deep recesses of my mind. It was only recently - October 14, 2002 to be exact - that news emerged in the newpapers that those tunnels have been rehabilitated and turned into Penang's newest museum - the War Relic Museum.

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, after a rather uneventful trip to visit the World Fish Centre open day, I detoured to this museum. A worn-out track zigzaged uphill into the jungle clearing. Entrance fee in 2002 was a hefty RM5.00 (By 2013, the price has increased to RM35 for foreign guest and RM20 for MyKad holders!) Considering I have come all the way here, I reluctantly parted with the money.

The war museum is a monument to the mistake made by the British in thinking that the enemy would attack from the sea, and thus they constructed the bunkers and enforcement with cannons aimed to the sea. As it turn out, the Japanese invaded by land, coming down the Peninsula, and rendering the preparation moot.

The British defense consisted of light machineguns and Bofors anti-aircraft on Bukit Batu Maung, or more correctly, Bukit Punjab. The guns are aimed at protecting the Butterworth airfield. There are several pillboxes built to protect the island from sea landings. The entire complex covers an area of 20 acres. The British Royal Engineers and a work force comprising of local labourers blasted and dug into Bukit Punjab to create a fort.

As it turned out, on December 16, the British evacuated when the Japanese started bombing the island and seized many ships and boats in the harbour the day before. The Japanese came ashore at dawn of the following day. They arrived on small boats and seized the island without losing a single soldier. They were surprised that the British did not even destroy the radio station in Penang before evacuating, so they used it to broadcast their propaganda to Malaya and Singapore.

From under Japanese Occupation, it Batu Maung Fort was used to protect Japanese shipping from Allied attack. After ww2, it was abandoned. Another 60 years would have passed before the Penang Government decided to restore the complex and turn it into the Penang War Museum.

As you explore this museum, you get to see the pill boxes, tunnels, observation tower, lock up and even cook house used by the British soldiers. If you are keen to rediscover how it was during the Second World War, then you should pay a visit to the War Relic Museum. Otherwise, it may not be worth the while to allow the mosquitoes in this place to feast on you. And by the way, bring insect repellant!

Entrance to the Penang War Museum in 2010. (26 October 2013)

Getting there

The most convenient way to reach the Penang War Museum is by private transport, as it is located on a hillside about half an hour's walk from the main road.

Penang War Museum is on the Map of Batu Maung, Penang

Photos from the Penang War Museum in 2002

Here are shots I took of the Penang War Museum in 2002, shortly after it opened to the public.

Penang War Museum Chamber (2002)


Staircase leading down to another tunnel closed to the public, Penang War Museum (2002)


Photographs of British prisoners-of-war, Penang War Museum (2002)


Indian Barracks, Penang War Museum (2002)


Barracks in the jungle, Penang War Museum (2002)


Restored British military installation, Penang War Museum (2002)


Kitchen of the British military installation, Penang War Museum (2002)

List of Museums in Penang and Museums in Malaysia

Private Guided Tours of Penang

If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

Adakah anda mempunyai hartanah untuk dijual atau disewakan? Adakah anda ingin membeli atau menyewa hartanah? Hubungi saya. WhatsApp saya (Timothy Tye) di 012 429 9844, dan saya akan menugaskan salah seorang ejen hartanah saya untuk berkhidmat kepada anda. Saya akan pilih ejen untuk anda, mengikut keperluan hartanah anda. Oleh itu, apabila anda menghantar mesej kepada saya, berikan saya beberapa butiran tentang apa yang anda perlukan, sama ada untuk menjual, untuk membeli, untuk disewakan atau untuk disewakan, dan jenis hartanah apakah itu kondo, pangsapuri, rumah, kedai, pejabat atau tanah.

您有待出售或出租的房产吗？ 您想购买或租赁房产吗？ 与我联系。 WhatsApp 我 (Timothy Tye) 012 429 9844，我将指派一名房地产经纪人为您服务。 我会根据您的房产需求，为您选择代理。 因此，当您给我发消息时，请向我提供一些您需要的详细信息，无论是出售、购买、出租还是出租，以及房产类型，是公寓、公寓、房屋、商店、办公室还是土地。

 New Properties in Penang

Looking to buy property in Penang? Get the e-brochures right here without having to visit or contact individual developers.

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Share your travels and/or ask a travel-related question

Join the Penang Travel Tips Facebook Group to share photos, tips and anything related to your travels, or ask travel-related questions.

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Discover with Timothy

Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Songs about Penang

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.