Wongtee: Bits of Bukit Mertajam in Taiping

This is the process of the unstoppable "progress" that a society has to undergo. Sometimes bits and pieces of a particular community will undergo changes and disappear from the memory of its residents. That's part and parcel of progress and it is inevitable. But fortunately, there are people around who like to "preserve" some of these bits and pieces from disappearing altogether. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon bits and pieces of the old Bukit Mertajam railway station in Taiping town. The old railway station at Bukit Mertajam has been torn down and has been replaced by a 'modern' one. This is something which is happening to all the old railway stations on the west coast of this country They have to make way for a modern double-track railway system. And, they are all being razed down and are being replaced by modern ones, except for two - one in Batu Gajah, and another in Taiping. I have often wondered what happened to the "remains" old these old landmarks? Well, I discovered that the First Gallery in Taiping does have an interest in preserving such 'relics'. So, they have brought bits and pieces of Bukit Mertajam old railway to their backyard. I don't know if these bits and pieces will be re-assembled or not, but they are left there - safe from total extinction, at least for the time being. The First Gallery in Taiping must be congratulated for acquiring these bits and pieces, which I am sure, are not wanted by Bukit Mertajam's folks. Whether they are a gift or whether they were purchased as scraps, the First Gallery people must be commended. They have preserved a piece of the past, which can no longer be seen elsewhere, for the future generations to see and appreciate.