Empang Simen (Sluice gate)

Some of us who were born and bred in Lipat Kajang know this Empang Simen (sluice gate) very well. We passed the site every day (well almost) when we went out of the kampong by road (in the old days just track, then unmetalled muddy road and now nice macadamised road) to go to Kerdau (either walking, or by bicycle or now by motorcycle or cars or similar modern transport) to Pekan Sari Kerdau (in the old days), or to catch a train in Kerdau Station (then, before it was closed) and now to go to Pekan Sari in Simpang Empat or to catch a bus (if you have no transport of your own) to go to Temerloh or the other kampongs along that road or to go to Kuala Krau or Jerantut. Its a long story.

Anyway that Empang Simen is actually the life line, the main artery of water to irrigate the vast sawah (or 'paya' as we call them in Lipat Kajang), which was very productive in the old days (say about 45 years ago) but now has been neglected because we rather buy our rice supply from Chinese shops in Town. And when its flood time (monsoon season in Oct. to Dec.), then the road on the bund of that canal which is controlled by the Empang Simen gets drowned and impassible. Lipat Kajang will then be isolated for days, unless you swim across (which is dangerous) or hire a boat to take you across. But if you drive a car, then ......... you yourself may get through but the car will remain on which ever 'bank' you come from.

Now I am told that even in moderate flood one can still get into Lipat Kajang by car by using the Kerdau/Bukit Panchor road, crossing the Sungei Chalang (?) by the rickety (seemingly dangerous unmaintained) wooden bridge.

This is the Empang Simen. During the British time I remember that it was maintained and operated, but after Merdeka it was left alone after some time (am I correct?). Do I observed some construction here?


This is the canal from which water gets in or out of the vast (you have to visit the place to really see how vast it is) sawah land to Sungei Pahang. The big "blood vessel".


In between is the bund with the road (you can see some part of the road in the photo). To the best of my knowledge (I stand corrected) this canal has not been maintained for over 50 years (?) till now? I have a very fond memory of this canal, I used to follow my late grandmother and all relatives and the kampong folks to catch fish in the canal, walking all the way from the entrance of the Empang Simen to near the mouth of Sungei Chalang. We used to catch quite a big amount of fish in those days, we only used small nets and 'tanguk'. It was not so much of getting the fish that we looked forward to, it was more of a 'picnic' like atmosphere.

Will the Empang Simen be used in the future to improve the economy of Lipat Kajang folks? To get them self sufficient in rice?


Lipat Kajang people (or decendents) are encouraged to participate& contribute (Orang Lipat Kajang, atau keturunan, di jemput memberi sumbangan idea)