The Legend of Sang Kelembai

t is said that Kampung Batu Sawar has been established since the 1920s where many of its early residents are the natives of Pahang who came from different areas such as Jerantut, Kuala Krau and Temerloh. According to the narration of the old folks here, there is a stone in the Pahang River which takes the form of sawar – traditional equipment used to catch fish. Popular belief said that the stone came into existence because of Sang Kelembai. Sang Kelembai possessed the power of transforming anything he greeted or cursed into stone.

It was narrated that when Sang Kelembai was crossing Sungai Pahang he discovered a sawar at the middle of his journey in the river. Annoyed, he cursed the sawar and it transformed into a stone resembling its former shape. The stone was thereafter known as Batu Sawar and gradually the village was named after it. This unique stone could be seen especially during low tide.

Sang Kelembai and his cursing power is not a foreign tale to the people of Pahang. In addition to Kampung Batu Sawar there are several places that are related to the tale of Sang Kelembai namely Batu Papan, Gua Kota Gelanggi and Batu Katak.

The tale of Sang Kelembai has been a legend passed down from father to son. Now, hundreds of years have gone by, many have forgotten about it.