6. Evidence Of Chew Boon Juan’s Tin Mining Activity At Gua Puncak, Gunong Lanno

Chew Yew Kong (l) and Ignatius Chew, grandsons of Chew Boon Juan dismayed that the entrance to Gua Puncak has been closed. At back is Gunong Lanno

In 2001 a European speleological team made an expedition to Gunong Lanno. One of the caves of Gunong Lanno that they explored was Gua Puncak which they stated was the largest cave in Gunong Lanno in terms of length of 1584, depth of 66m and passage size.

The team found evidence of mining whereby the cave chambers were enlarged to enable mining activity.

Liz Price a veteran caver who has documented Malaysian limestone caves and fauna had been into Gua Puncak. She stated that although Gua Puncak had been mined for tin she could not find any mining records for this site.

1907- Charles Alma Baker's mining works...from the book '20th Century Impressions of Malaya'... possibly the entrance to Gua Puncak?

2001. Entrance area for Gua Puncak..from the book 'Expedition Gunong Lanno Malaysia"

Quarrying partly blocked the entrance to Gua
Puncak.2006. Photo Liz Price

She said the entrance passages to Gua Puncak were small but had been enlarged by miners.

Additionally various mining relics could still be seen such as a concrete dam, parts of a palong and some tools and light bulbs

She added that an excursion in April 2006 reported that quarrying partly blocked the entrances to Gua Puncak and the cave was in danger of being lost forever.

The 2006 excursion was reported by a local daily and it stated the mining activity was done ‘by Chew Boon Juan the contractor of Charles Alma Baker in the early twentieth century’. It further reported that mining tool and implements were found within the cave.

The 2006 local daily report that said "mined by Chew Boon Juan the contractor for Alma Baker"

In my earlier post I had reported that Charles Alma Baker, immediately after his mines successful start-up, had applied for another 120 acres cliff land running around the base of the hill and a further 170 acres covering the remaining area of Gunong Lanno.

In all probability it was the mine of Charles Alma Baker and Chew Boon Juan even though there was no concrete evidence.

Found in Gua Puncak, a concrete dam..photo: Liz Price

parts of a palong or railway track..photo Liz Price 

above and below, tools, light bulb, misc..photo Liz Price  

Phillip Leong with the
Chew cousins

In 2017 Ignatius Chew Eng Lin together with his cousin Chew Yew Kong both grandsons of Chew Boon Juan went in search of the entrance to Gua Puncak. Phillip Leong the former President of the Malaysian Karst Society who led the 2006 excursion would show them the way.  

Unfortunately the entrance had been blocked and covered up due to extensive quarrying.

The words of Liz Price rang true that ‘further blasting’ from quarry works would completely seal the entrance to Gua Puncak forever.

Possibly with continuous quarrying Gunong Lanno too may be history one day. Time will tell.

End

Next. Chew Boon Juan's mother dies, third brother Chew Boon San comes over. and the birth of Chew Choon Siew.