Kedah MB's 1979 speech on wartime refuge transcribed after 47 years

ALOR STAR: A speech by Kedah's fifth Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Syed Nahar Syed Sheh Shahabuddin, delivered nearly 47 years ago, has been transcribed from an audio recording, shedding light on a little-known chapter of the state's history during the Japanese occupation.

The speech was delivered on Dec 14, 1979, at the commemorative stone-laying ceremony for Kampung Lindungan Raja in Sedim, Kulim.

It recounts historical events in Sedim during the Japanese occupation, including how the late Sultan Abdul Hamid was given refuge in the village.

The transcription was completed on Oct 25 by Malaysian Historical Society Kedah branch chairman Syamsyul Anuar Ismail, who retained every word as recorded in the original audio.

"The audio recording is still kept by the Malaysian Historical Society Kedah branch. The language used is the everyday spoken dialect of the Kedah community," he said.

Syamsyul, who is also a senior lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), said the speech was historically significant as Syed Nahar recounted the origins of Kampung Lindungan Raja, which were closely linked to events when Japanese forces invaded Malaya in 1941.

The speech also recalled how the late Sultan Abdul Hamid was taken to Sedim for refuge after his journey to Penang was blocked by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and several companions.

"One of the interesting accounts in the speech was how Tunku Abdul Rahman and several of his companions stopped the late Sultan Abdul Hamid from travelling to Penang.

"At the time, the Sultan was travelling to seek refuge at the request of the British authorities following the advance of Japanese forces in Malaya," he said.

Syamsyul said that, according to the account, the Sultan was taken from Bumbung Lima to Kulim before being brought safely to Sedim on Dec 12, 1941.

"This event also reflects the loyalty of Sedim residents, who were willing to shelter the Sultan when Malaya was under threat from Japanese forces.

"Syed Nahar himself stated in the speech that he was still a young child and living in Sedim when the incident took place," he said.

Syamsyul said the transcription was important to preserve the recording's contents in written form and make them available as historical reference material, particularly on Kedah's history.