The Origin and History of the Name Gopeng Town
Gopeng town is located about 20 kilometers from Ipoh, the capital of Perak. Gopeng is actually a very strategic location as it is surrounded by major cities. Besides Ipoh, Gopeng town is also within the circle of Kampar to the south and Batu Gajah to the west.
Due to its strategic position, Gopeng town is never far from the hustle and bustle of the local community's daily routine. In Gopeng, there are also limestone caves that are safe to explore, namely Gua Tempurung and Gua Kandu. This time, orangperak.com would like to share the story behind the origin of the name Gopeng town. It is said that the name was derived from a prominent individual in the area during the time when tin mining activities were actively being carried out. The individual's name was none other than Goh Peng. Goh Peng was a miner from China who came to Tanah Melayu following famine and major floods in China a long time ago.
Goh Peng's arrival in the area known as Gopeng town today opened a new chapter in the development of the region. Before the name Gopeng existed, the area was better known as Gunung Mesah. The area was very rich in natural resources, namely tin ore. Tin production in the Kinta area, including Gunung Mesah, was very lucrative at one time, and as such, it attracted the influx of Chinese people to work and settle in the area.
Tin mining activities were very active there until a new settlement was established, which is known today as Gopeng town. Who exactly was this individual named Goh Peng that the area was named after him? Goh Peng was an individual highly respected by the local residents. He was likened to a leader for the miners in the local area. If there were problems involving workers and tin mining activities, Goh Peng was the individual sought after and consulted to resolve all issues. Through hard work, Goh Peng would take appropriate measures to solve all the problems faced by the local residents. He also became one of the successful miners there, to the point that his name became widely known.
Traces of tin mining activities in Gopeng town can still be seen today through the monuments that were erected. Among them is a 15-kilometer-long large water pipe that functioned to channel clean water from the mountain area to the tin mining sites.
Large pipe monument in Gopeng town
was built in 1908 to serve as a landmark of the glory of the tin mining industry in Gopeng town in the past. However, the name Gopeng has another story regarding its origin.
There are also oral traditions stating that the name of Gopeng town was taken from a type of Pulai fruit that could mostly be found in a 'gopeng' state. The 'gopeng' state referred to here means it has been bored into by squirrels.
Pulai Fruit (Alstonia Scholaris)
However, no record was found in the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka dictionary to define the word 'Gopeng'. Perhaps it refers to the word 'Gepeng', which means flat (due to being pressed), squashed, or a flat object. We are all aware that the Pulai Tree (Alstonia Scholaris) is easy to find in the surrounding area, to the extent that there is an area named Simpang Pulai. Pulai fruit is widely used for medicinal purposes. Sources and references:
- Sinar Harian Online Perak
- Oral Story by Ahmad Tarmizi
- Kamus Dewan Fourth Edition
