How Did Mambang Di Awan Get Its Name?
Mambang Di Awan is a small town located not far from the town of Kampar, heading towards Temoh or Teluk Intan. This town is not situated along the main road and is not visible to passersby unless drivers turn into the inner road.
Otherwise, one might assume that Mambang Di Awan is merely an imaginary location that has been exaggerated due to its unique name. This small town of Mambang Di Awan was established due to tin mining activities in the state of Perak in the past. Mambang Di Awan is located to the left of Kampar town. Today, this small town is mostly inhabited by the Chinese community as it was a former tin mining area. Some of these former mines have been reclaimed or converted into freshwater fish farming areas.
In terms of etymology, according to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Malaysia, the Malay dictionary defines 'mambang' as the reddish-yellow hue in the western sky during sunset (Kamus Pelajar Second Edition). In the past, elders used the word 'mambang' at dusk when the sky looked as if it were on fire, to encourage children to return home quickly before the Maghrib prayer time.
The second meaning of 'mambang' refers to a type of supernatural spirit believed to cause harm to humans, or a ghost. 'Mambang' is also used as a name for a type of fish, *Lutjanus sanguineus*, better known as the red snapper. In Malaysian literary terms, 'mambang' carries a meaning similar to that in fairy tales, featuring characters that do not exist in the real world, such as fairies, deities, and so on.
Makan tebu buku ditaruh, Buat ubat masuk cendawan, Bukit beradu gunung bertaruh, Riuh-rendah mambang di awan. - Kurik Kundi Merah Saga
According to a British official, George Maxwell, the place was named Mambang Di Awan because it was said that a 'mambang' or celestial nymph descended from Gunung Bujang, Melaka. In reality, it began with a group of tin miners who were exhausted from working hard all day, and while resting, they caught a glimpse of a nymph in the clouds. Therefore, it can be concluded that the original name was Batang Tonggang, which was then changed to Mambang Di Awan, and subsequently evolved into its current name, Mambang Diawan.
