TEMERLOH: Unknown to many, an abandoned and overgrown structure at Kampung Tok Embun near Mentakab here is the house where popular entertainer, the late Datuk Sudirman Arshad spent his childhood.
The premises was left vacant for several years before it was damaged in a fire in 2008, and now the dilapidated house is only left with its concrete staircase on the original site.
The property had been left "unnoticed" until recently when several eyebrow-raising images went viral on social media, with some quarters questioning why nothing was done to restore the building for tourism purposes.
Kampung Tok Embun Village Development and Security Committee chairman Rahman Omar said this year marked 30 years since the death of Sudirman, who was once the country's number one entertainer.
"Previously, the Temerloh district officer who was serving here had planned to repair and revive the house as a heritage site but nothing came of it.
"I am a disappointed that nothing has been done over the years to rebuild the house which might offer an invaluable insight about Sudirman's early life.
"Just like the P. Ramlee house in Penang, which has now been turned into a tourist attraction, perhaps the authorities can build a gallery at Sudirman's childhood house to allow visitors to obtain more information about him," he said.
Rahman said restoring the iconic wooden house would certainly turn the site into a tourist attraction as Sudirman's grave is also located nearby, in Kampung Chengal in Temerloh.
"There is a need to look into efforts to rebuild the house with cooperation from his family. I am sure many people especially youngsters will be interested to know more about the legendary and multi-talented performer," he said.
Neighbour Mohamad Aliff Fikram Bahari, 31, whose house is located some 100m from Sudirman's deserted house said the place was now overgrown with bushes and surrounded by huge trees.
"People used to stop over and ask for the location of the house but not many dared to enter the area as it is covered with trees.
"About two years ago, some university students visited the house to conduct research for their studies.
"According to my late grandmother, Sudirman grew up at this house when he was attending school here until he went to university.
"He used to often return to the house until he passed away in 1992," he said, adding that the house was damaged in a fire in 2008.
It was previously reported that the fire, which occurred on Dec 4, 2008, was believed to have been started by lit candles left by drug addicts who had been occupying the empty house.
Prior to the fire mishap, the house grilles were reported missing and drug-taking items including syringes were found there.
Sudirman was born at a house at Jalan Ibrahim in Temerloh before he moved to stay at Kampung Tok Embun, where he grew up and completed his secondary school before moving to study law at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur in 1976.