There is a certain humour in how Perak shares the name with the mineral perak (silver), when its true historical source of wealth was far less glamorous: tin. One has to wonder what it would be like if Perak were named Timah instead.
Intrusive thoughts aside, the glory days of Perak’s tin mining industry have ebbed. Yet traces of its rich industrial legacy still remain, scattered across the state. Among the few relics preserved today stands one that’s both monumental and fascinating, the TT5.
The (second) last of its kind
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What’s TT5? TT5 is short for Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5, the last survivor of its kind in Perak. In the whole of Malaysia, there are only two of these gigantic machines left intact. The second one is in Dengkil, Selangor, but it is currently not open to the public.
Meanwhile, the TT5 has become one of Perak’s newer tourist attractions, drawing both locals and foreigners alike to the sleepy town of Tanjung Tualang.
Built in 1938 by F.W. Payne & Sons in England for the Southern Malayan Tin Dredging Ltd, it was shipped to Malaya and began operations in the Batu Gajah-Tanjung Tualang area.
Weighing about 4,500 tonnes (over 4.5 million kg), this colossal floating factory is supported by a pontoon structure roughly 75 metres long and 35 metres wide. Despite its size, it manages to stay afloat on a mining pond, a feat of engineering that still amazes visitors today.
Tickets cost RM38 per person, with free entry for children aged 3 and below.
What to expect
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A full exploration of the TT5 takes about 30 to 45 minutes, possibly longer if you enjoy taking photos. The area can get hot, so it’s best to wear light, breathable clothing. Helmets are provided to visitors, as there are still low beams and sturdy metal frames to watch out for.
Safety measures are in place throughout the TT5, including railings and chains to prevent falls. If you’re bringing young children, supervision is a must. Although it no longer operates, its massive gears, chains, and machinery parts remain very real, and very heavy.
Visitors can explore the dredge on their own, or join a guided tour conducted in Malay, English or Mandarin. These tours provide insights into how the dredge worked, the roles of the workers, and the broader history of Perak’s tin boom.
Why the TT5 matters
It’s one thing to read about Malaysia’s tin-mining past, but standing on the TT5 lets you truly appreciate the scale of the industry that once fuelled the nation’s economy.
Back in the 1930s to 1970s, Perak was the epicentre of tin mining, home to over 60 percent of the country’s dredges (more than 100 in total).
The TT5 in fact was considered medium-sized compared to others at the time, yet it still required a team of around 70 workers operating in shifts to keep it running. While most workers were Chinese, it was a multiracial team overall. By the standards of the day, employees were provided with housing, transport, and medical care.
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Powered by a steam engine, the dredge worked tirelessly, scooping up silt and gravel to extract tin ore from the ground below. These tin ores would then be shipped by train to Penang to be smelted before being exported across the world.
As you explore the decks of the TT5, you will likely wonder what it felt like working here back in the day. The noise must have been immense, with gargantuan gears and wheels spinning for hours without end. In fact, it was reported that the TT5 could be heard from 8km away! Would this be the sort of work you could handle?
All things come to an end
For over four decades, the TT5 played its part in fuelling Malaya’s economic growth. However, the gears and wheels of TT5 have long since been idle. The tin mining industry collapsed in the 1980s due to reasons an economist would better explain than we can. Either way, the end of an era had arrived, and in 1982, TT5 fell silent after decades of faithful service.
For a time, the TT5 seemed doomed to be forgotten. In fact, it actually started to sink at one point after its decommissioning. Fortunately, in 2017, the TT5 was granted to MB Incorporated (Perak) through the state government to be restored and preserved for future generations.
Could more be done?
Today, the TT5 stands more than just a remnant of Malaysia’s industrial past. It’s a living museum, one that tells the story of how Perak’s prosperity was built, bucket by bucket, through the toil of thousands of miners.
There’s only so much left of that bygone era. If we don’t preserve relics like this now, it may be lost forever.
So if you ever find yourself in Perak, make a detour to Tanjung Tualang. Step aboard the TT5, walk its creaking decks, and let yourself imagine the thunderous hum of machinery that once echoed across the Kinta Valley.
Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5
Address: 9th KM, Jln Tanjung Tualang, 31000 Batu Gajah
Opening Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily
Contact: 017-7557301
Website & Tickets: www.tt5perak.com
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Feature Image Credit: Google Review
