The Origin of the Name Sitiawan
Sitiawan, or the alternative spelling Setiawan, is a town located in the Manjung district, Perak. Nearby towns include Lumut, Ayer Tawar, Kampung Gajah, Tronoh, Batu Gajah, Seri Iskandar, Bota, and Ipoh.
The Early History of the Name Sitiawan
The early history of how Sitiawan got its name is said to have originated from a herd of elephants passing through this village when one suddenly went missing from the group.
A male elephant went to look for its companion, only to find that a female elephant had become stuck in the Dindings River. The female elephant tried to move, but kept sinking deeper.
The male elephant loyally waited for its companion and tried to help. Eventually, both elephants died in the river.
Kampung Setia Kawan
Initially, the village was called Kampung Gajah Mati (Dead Elephant Village). However, its name was later changed to Kampung Setia Kawan (Loyal Friends Village) to commemorate the death of the two elephants. Starting from Setia Kawan, the pronunciation gradually evolved into Setiawan, and eventually became Sitiawan.
In the 19th century, this village developed into the administrative center of the Dindings district. Around the 1870s, steamships entered the port to manage the export of tin and rubber. The port administration at that time was under the British Resident Government in Penang.
There are also reports stating that an individual named Haji Daud was one of the founders of the area (the origin of Kampung Setiawan), along with his cousins and people from Aceh and Kelantan, such as Haji Mohd Ali.
Haji Daud Bin Osman, said to be of Bugis descent from Kuala Selangor, opened up an area named Tebuk in Perak. He developed the Tebuk area and later resided there.
The Economy Begins to Flourish
The arrival of the Chinese community migrating from China further developed the area. A booming economy subsequently advanced the Simpang Empat area, turning it into a town.
Today, Sitiawan consists of Sitiawan, Seri Manjung, Lumut, and the Lumut Port, which have developed rapidly into the Manjung district, the most developed district in Perak.
Sitiawan is a town located in the Manjung district, Perak. Nearby towns include Lumut, Ayer Tawar, Kampung Gajah, Tronoh, Batu Gajah, Seri Iskandar, Bota, and Ipoh.
Loyalty and Friendship from the Elephant Incident
The town's name is believed to have originated from the combination of two Malay words, 'Setia' (Loyal) and 'Kawan' (Friend), which were shortened to Setiawan and eventually pronounced as Sitiawan.
Conclusion
An interesting fact: Did you know that the communist leader, Chin Peng, was born in Kampung Koh? Many new villages were burned by communists during the Emergency era. However, Chin Peng denied that all of it was the work of his forces. It's typical, isn't it? Who would want to admit fault after doing something wrong?
That is the origin of how Sitiawan got its name. As a writer, I also lived here for 8 years, and there are many interesting places here. I have also been able to witness the development that has taken place throughout my time living here.
