Call to study WW2 bunker at Ipoh airport grounds

IPOH: The National Heritage Department has been urged to conduct a study on a World War II air shelter which was recently discovered at the grounds of Sultan Azlan Shah Airport ( LTSAS), here, including when exactly it was built.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir yesterday said such a study was important before the state government could decide on any move to turn it into a new tourist spot.

“If this area has the potential of becoming a heritage tourism spot, we may develop the area but this is subject to confirmation on the status of the bunker.

“We also need to discuss the matter with the relevant authorities including the police and federal departments to ensure the place is safe to visit,” he told reporters after visiting the bunker, constructed from concrete and located within the airport’s maintenance area.

Zambry said the state government did not set a time frame for the study to be completed as it wanted the study to be done meticulously.

At two metres deep, the bunker which was discovered by airport staff, is believed to be the first of its kind in this country and used by the British to protect their soldiers and civilians when the Japanese bombed Ipoh on Dec 15, 1941.

In an initial study conducted by the Malaya Historical Group, the bunker was found to be 19.4 metres long and 19.4 metres wide ( 30 ft x 30 ft) and could accommodate 40 people at any one time. — Bernama