PEKAN: Excitement was written all over the face of Muhd Afiq Anwar Jafriddin as he waited patiently to join an expedition to journey down the historical Laluan Penarikan (Penarikan Portage), a route of which Malay traders since ancient times have plied to travel between Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor.

The 20-year-old college student said that being part of the expedition will be an eye-opener for him as he will be discovering a 600m land route that allowed boats be carried over land from Sungai Serting in Pahang to Sungai Jempol in Johor, and vice versa.

For over two millennia, travellers and traders using the rivers have utilised the short cut over the land route to travel between Sungai Serting, which flows down to Sungai Bera and Sungai Pahang in Pahang, and Sungai Jempol which flows into Sungai Muar, which traverses from Negri Sembilan to Johor.

"History needs to be studied and appreciated by everyone especially the young generation.

"This appreciation is especially important now during the fast pace of modern life," said Afiq, a native of Johor Baru, who is currently studying at Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Ledang, Johor.

Excitement was written all over the face of Muhd Afiq Anwar Jafriddin (insert) as he waited patiently to join an expedition to journey down the historical Laluan Penarikan (Penarikan Portage), a route of which Malay traders since ancient times have plied to travel between Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor. Pic by NSTP/ Muhd Asyraf Sawal

Another history buff, Nurul Izzatie Mohamad Noorazwan, 20, said she regarded this as an opportunity to relive the lives of those who used the route to travel between the four states in olden times. In Form 5, she said, history was her favourite subject.

"This expedition is a way for us to relive the days of yore when men and women took the river journey by utilising Laluan Penarikan.

"I am excited to find out more about the lives of the people from back then," said the student, who is studying Diploma in Information System Administration at Kolej Yayasan Pahang, Kuantan.

Afiq and Izzatie were among some 45 participants present at the jetty at Sungai Pahang here today to join in the expedition, which began in Muar Melaka on Sunday.

The participants from all four states boarded several boats to undertake the river journey that is linked to the Penarikan Portege.

Among the places they will be travelling to are Bukit Ibam, Rompin, Olak Sepam, and Muar, before wrapping up their journey at Sungai Duyung, Melaka on Friday.

They were waved off by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Pahang health, human resources, and special duties committee chairman Datuk Norol Azali Sulaiman.

During a press conference, Idris said the expedition, which is a joint effort between the four states seeks to deepen the youths’ appreciation for history.

"Youths have romanticism for history, which can naturally give birth to love and patriotism for the country," he said.

He said the expedition can boost tourism in all four states as it can spark interest in the fascinating history of the Penarikan Portege which facilitated the growth of early civilizations in peninsular Malaysia.

He added that they also plan to compile a book based on facts gathered from the expedition.

(October 3, 2017 https://www.nst.com.my)