The Origin of the Name Batu Kurau, Perak
Many prominent figures were born in Batu Kurau, such as the late Dato’ Seri Hj. Kamaruddin B. Mat Isa, the fifth Menteri Besar of Perak (1970-1974), who hailed from Kampung Batu 16.
Additionally, the late Tuan Hj. Muhammad Saman B. Muhammad, better known as Hj. Mat Saman Kati (1922-1995), came from Kampung Relau Berdiri, Batu 16. He was a renowned Islamic scholar who served as the Mufti of Perak from 1978 to 1986. More recently, there is Datuk Ustaz Mohammad Kazim Elias, also known as UKE. He is a well-known independent religious speaker in Malaysia, often delivering lectures in a relaxed and casual tone, incorporating family-friendly humor to engage his audience.
Returning to the story of Batu Kurau, it is a mukim (sub-district) within the Larut Matang district, located approximately 20 km from the town of Taiping. According to local elders, Batu Kurau was established in 1850 when its first leader, Tok Amar Wan Kasa Bin Raja Hulubalang Pattani, was appointed as the Penghulu from 1859 to 1867. The history of the Batu Kurau mukim coincides with the development and progress of Taiping between 1850 and 1857, during the time when Long Jaafar was the chieftain of the Larut territory, now known as Taiping.
The origin of the name Batu Kurau is linked to both a stone and the kurau fish. It was named after a large rock resembling a kurau fish, located on the banks of the Kurau River (near the Kampung Batu 14 road bridge). This river originates from several tributaries in Kampung Sempeneh, Anak Kurau, and Changkat Lobak, flowing through to Kampung Pondok Tanjung, then towards Bukit Merah, and finally entering the estuary at Kuala Kurau in the Kerian district.
