Not a mistake to name it Pak Silap

	By TN Alagesh Kampung Bukit Pak Silap seems like it is in the centre of a maze. Many simply cannot find their way to the traditional Malay village, located just 2km from Temerloh, Pahang.
	While the Japanese had a field day terrorising the rest of the nation during World War 2, the village surprisingly "escaped" as outsiders could not locate it.
	Locals would seek shelter at the village during the invasion and once, three Japanese soldiers who were chasing a young girl were driven out by villagers.
	The locals had sleepless nights but no one came their way.
	Its unique name has attracted many curious visitors since.
	Stories that the name could have come about following a mistake committed by villagers is not true, as far as Noraini Mahmood, 58, is concerned.
	Born and raised in the village, she said the area along Sungai Semantan was dense jungle and had served as a perfect hideout for the Malay villagers during the Japanese invasion in 1941.
	The mother of four said to escape from the brutal Japanese army, people from various parts of Temerloh would take their families to hide there as the place was surrounded by thick forest.
	"My ancestors and two other families were the first to set foot in the area. They found the area suitable to start a new village and chose to settle down. It was still without a name then.
	"Japanese soldiers were killing the innocent and committing all sorts of atrocities at the time and people were trying to escape."
	Noraini said several other families who were related to her ancestors began moving into the village and they built wooden houses facing Sungai Semantan, which flows through several villages.
	The river has remained very important to the villagers' livelihood.
	She said the village then was sandwiched between two other villages -- Kampung Bangau and Kampung Tanjung Lalang -- but people often lost their way trying to get there as there were no proper roads.
	"One had to walk through a narrow path to reach the village and during the night, one could end up walking in circles.
	"The villagers used to work at padi fields and when the harvest season arrived, they would slog the whole day.
	"Once a month, they would spend time watching movies shown on large outdoor screens."
	She said it was only when the Japanese soldiers left the country in 1945 that the villagers, including young girls, began to go out to the town. However, outsiders were still confused about the location of the village.
	"It was then we decided to name the settlement Kampung Bukit Pak Silap. People still miss the turning into the village and during wedding receptions, we will have to send someone to nearby Temerloh town to guide the guests here.
	"Upon arriving, they would say, 'Oh, di sini rupanya, macam mana boleh tersesat' (Oh, this is the place, how did I get lost). Hidden by thick bushes, people driving along the road will usually drive by several times.
	"Sometimes they will find Kampung Bangau and Kampung Tanjung Lalang but not this village.
	"Even the teachers at schools used to express their surprise when pupils wrote their address as Kampung Bukit Pak Silap. Some would jokingly ask, 'Kamu pasti yang alamat ini tak silap?' (Are you sure that this address is not wrong?)"
	She said the only landmark for visitors to Kampung Bukit Pak Silap now was the Seri Malaysia Hotel, which is some 500m away from the turning into the village.
	Due to the small population of about 100, Rosli Ismail, 51, the headman of Kampung Tanjung Lalang, is also in charge of Kampung Bukit Pak Silap.
	Rosli admitted that it was difficult to locate the village as it was sandwiched between several other bigger villages, including a new Chinese settlement.
	"The village is partly hidden by thick forest and since it is located towards the end of the road, people seldom drive there. The road connects to other villages and this has caused confusion.
	"Some of the village elders wanted to stay back in the village but their children insisted they stay in town. Also, some of the wooden houses in the village have been left vacant for several years."
	Rosli said one of the first traditional wooden house in the village belonged to the late Ismail Hassan, who was the first imam at the Temerloh mosque in the 1960s.
	"Sadly, his house, which was once lively with children and adults attending Quran recital classes, has been left vacant."
	He said former Temerloh district officer Abdul Khalil Wahab was the first person from the village to enter Universiti Malaya before returning to serve at the district office in 1986.
	Now, 90 per cent of the occupants are outsiders renting homes there.