Penang War Museum a grim reminder of World War II

The Penang War Museum is an outdoor living war museum that will appeal to enthusiasts of military history, and anyone with family members involved in the tragic events in South East Asia during World War II.

The entrance to the museum. There’s a Paintball Park now in an authentic battleground setting to attract the younger generation.

This sprawling museum is housed on a 20-acre site, originally a coastal fortress and gun battery built by the British in the run-up to the war to defend against Japanese invasion.

Sadly, despite many acts of individual heroism, Britain’s preparedness was inadequate to repel the Japanese, who inflicted a stinging defeat on Britain’s prestige and morale.

Under the brutal Japanese occupation which followed, many Allied prisoners of war were harshly treated, tortured and executed while Malayan civilians also suffered terribly.

Map showing the locations of 37 relics and points of interest in the museum. Footpaths are marked in red paint with arrows and numbers of the attractions for ease of getting around.

Many of the underground tunnels, bunkers, pillboxes, gun batteries and defences built by the British have been restored by the museum’s owners, and visitors can get a good idea how life must have been for the soldiers serving here.

Also the barracks blocks where the British, Indian and Malay soldiers were housed, and later imprisoned, remain in good condition and now serve as an exhibition space for the museum’s collections.

The War Museum was founded in 2002 by Johari Shafie.

The museum was founded in 2002 by Johari Shafie, who recognised the tourism potential of the former fortress that was left abandoned and forgotten for almost 60 years.

One can easily spend a couple of hours wandering around this complex. Here are some of the highlights.

Entrance to one of the ammunition storage tunnels.

Fearless young boys and girls might like to explore these dark escape and shelter tunnels.

A 6-inch breech loading gun would have been housed in this concrete-protected gun-firing bay. Being located on a hill top, the fort should have had a good view of approaching invaders.

A replica of the gallows used for the execution of General Tomoyuki Yamashita for war crimes following his trial in the Philippines after the end of the war.

Penang War Museum is among the Top 10 Most Haunted Sites in Asia.

With all the deaths that took place at the fortress and gun battery site where the museum stands, the Penang War Museum was listed in 2013 as one of the Top 10 Most Haunted Sites in Asia.

Night tours can be arranged for those who enjoy being scared out of their wits.

Picture of a soldier who perished here during World War II.

At the same time the museum is a sombre memorial to those who perished during the war and there are a number of touching tributes and photos left behind by relatives.

Shot of the brave men of the British Indian Army.

British Indian Army troops played a significant role in the construction and defence of the fortress. The hill was sometimes called Bukit Punjab in recognition of this.

Smoke rising from the cook house used by Indian Other Ranks creates a slightly eerie atmosphere.

View of the Penang Second Bridge from the site where the museum stands.

There is a good view of the Penang Second Bridge from the museum. Being located on prime seafront real estate, the museum is under threat from redevelopment and since this is a privately owned museum it may not enjoy protection from market forces.

Tourists are encouraged to visit this museum so it remains commercially viable, thus protecting this historic site for future generations.

Opens daily: 9am to 6pm.

Entrance Fees:

Adults RM30 (Foreigners); RM15 (MyKad)

Children RM15 (Foreigners); RM7.50 (MyKad) (Ages 5 to 12)

This article first appeared in malaysia-traveller.com