The town that coal built

	By Shanti Gunaratnam July 24, 2011
	BATU Arang, a sleepy hollow that sits just outside Rawang, was once a bustling coal mining town. It exported coal all over the world, rivaling perhaps Newcastle in Australia, currently the largest coal exporter in the world.
	But today, though coal can still be found in Batu Arang, no one mines it anymore.
	The small town of more than 12,000 residents was also once famous for brick manufacturing until the kilns ceased operations.
	Long-time resident, Richard Thang See Ong, says Batu Arang was "built on coal and sits on coal".
	"It all started in 1910 when coal was discovered and three years later, a British coal miner, John Archibald Russell, set up Malayan Collieries Ltd to mine coal in this town.
	"Batu Arang became internationally famous for its coal, which was exported all over the world by the British as it was used to fuel trains and ships.
	"World War II and the arrival of the Japanese changed things."
	The British left and coal mining suffered during the Japanese occupation.
	Many of the people of Batu Arang were Chinese, who came from mainland China, to work in the open cast coal mines. There was also a large number of Indians working at the railways. There were only a few Malay families.
	"When the Japanese surrendered, the British came back and it was back to the good old days of coal mining for another decade or so," Thang added.
	In 1960, coal mining took a beating when people started to use diesel and petrol to fuel ships and trains.
	The lacklustre coal prices forced the British to close the mines and leave Batu Arang.
	The town, during its coal mining heyday, had its own airstrip. Railway lines linking the town, Kuala Lumpur, Port Dickson and Port Klang were dismantled in the 1970s.
	Batu Arang was also the biggest town then after Kuala Lumpur because it then had a population of more than 40,000.
	Today, many parts of the town are still very much how the British had left it. There are many old colonial houses, some well maintained, others run-down.
	Time appears to be at a standstill in Batu Arang. One can still see what's left of the open cast mines. There are also some tunnels, but they are off limits to the public.
	Coffeeshops, which used to serve the British, are still standing, with ownership passed down from father to son to grandson.
	The schools and quarters that were built by the coal mining companies for their staff and children are still there, too.
	Now, visitors still sometimes make their way to the town. There are many fruit farms there and their gates are open to tourists keen to sample local fruits.
	Watersports are held at the coal mining ponds. Many events are being planned for 2013 when Batu Arang celebrates its centennial.
	"This town does have a lot to offer. In its heyday, it had 13 mining sites," says Thang.
	In 1966, many Hindus thronged to Batu Arang when a statue of Lord Lingeshwara apparently emerged from one of the coal mining ponds there.
	"The statue first emerged for a few minutes on an evening in April, 1966. This happened for a few days. Everyone wanted to know why the statue kept coming out of the water. Some even took photographs of the statue.
	"After that, no one saw the statue again. A temple was built near where the statue emerged. Now, the temple is no longer there."
	One of the main pastimes of townfolk is chit-chatting over a cuppa at Teck Cheong Loong kopitiam. The shop is famous for its home-made butter cakes, toasted and steamed bread served with butter and kaya, and freshly brewed coffee.
	The kopitiam is run by the third generation of the Wong family.
	Wong Soon Guat, 77, who had lived all his life in Batu Arang and runs the kopitiam with his two siblings, says the butter cakes he makes every day is based on a recipe that was passed down by one of the coffeeshop's employees, who has since passed on.
	"In those days, British coal miners used to have their coffee and tea here and we served the cake and bread together with the beverages. The kaya is made by my sister, Sui Mui."
	"Many of the patrons are children of those who settled here during the coal mining years. Every day, we make five to six cakes to cater to these regular customers."