Gunung Matsurat, Kinta's Heritage Mountain

Gunung Matsurat is located within the borders of Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh, and under the administration of the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) of Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh. It is situated in the Mukim of Ulu Kinta, Kinta District, Perak Darul Ridzuan.

This mountain is also officially known as Gunung Masoorat, as stated in the plans at the Kinta District and Land Office, Perak, though local residents know it as Gunung Matsurat. Additionally, the mountain is known as Gunung Tunggal Tiga. This area is categorized as a protected forest and inland forest.

This heritage mountain is famous for the Myth of Sang Kelembai's Curse. According to elders, in ancient times, Gunung Matsurat was an 'ancient palace' inhabited by a King and his Queen. As the story goes, they held a grand celebration inside this 'ancient palace,' creating a deafening commotion. Suddenly, Sang Kelembai arrived, reportedly disturbed by the noisy atmosphere, and cursed everything inside the mountain to turn into stone, including the King and his Queen.

After cursing everything into stone, Sang Kelembai is believed to have vanished. The stones, believed to be the result of Sang Kelembai's curse, still exist and can be seen inside Gunung Matsurat to this day. Among the cursed stone objects still visible inside the mountain are shapes resembling a king, queen, frog, elephant, snake, and boat. All these objects are located in the main chamber, which resembles a grand hall inside the mountain.

Gunung Matsurat is also rich in archaeological heritage, with various prehistoric findings inside, including ancient paintings made from black monochrome charcoal. These ancient images depict various forms, including animals, plants, and humans.

The mountain is located approximately 500 meters from the Kinta River, which was the main entry and exit route for Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh via the river flow. According to elders, this route was once administered by Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa (one of the Orang Besar Enam Belas), who was the captain to the Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja (one of the Orang Besar Lapan). Toh Senongsa was responsible for managing all trade passing through this route on behalf of the Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja, including the collection of trade taxes.

Gunung Matsurat has always served as a symbolic landmark for the borders of Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh, where the village's expanse began from Gunung Cheroh and ended at Gunung Matsurat. The distance between these two mountains is approximately 3km. Today, Gunung Cheroh is no longer within the village's borders due to several local factors, while Gunung Matsurat remains a part of it. Efforts to restore Gunung Cheroh to the borders of Kampung Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh will always be a priority for local community leaders to complete the heritage value of this village and pass it on to future generations.

Main references:

• "Genealogy of Panglima Kinta Seri Amar Bangsa DiRaja (Pasak Kepayang - Pasak Paloh) and Toh Senongsa Seri Nara Wangsa", compiled by Fazil Shuhaimi Talib, published by the Kulop Kinta Family Association (PK3).
• "Perak Archaeological Heritage", Editor Nik Hassan Shuhaimi bin Nik Abd. Rahman, published by the Malaysian Archaeological Association, 2011.
• "Tanah Secupak - Behind Kampung Kepayang", directed by Faizal Zainol, published by ContinuallyBebas, 2011.
• “Getting to Know Kampung Kepayang”, directed by Mukriz Mahader, published by Astro Awani, 2019.