The Memorial Perang Bank Kerapu (Bank Kerapu War Memorial), often simply called the War Museum, is a site of significant historical gravity in Kota Bharu. The building itself predates the conflict, established in 1912 as the first commercial bank in Kelantan, “The Mercantile Bank of India Limited.” Its local name, Kerapu, refers to the rough surface of its exterior walls.
Its most defining historical role came during World War II. From 1942 to 1945, following the Japanese landing in Kelantan, the building was commandeered and used as the headquarters for the feared Japanese secret police, the Kempeitai. This site became notorious for interrogations and torture of prisoners.
After the war and subsequent use as a regular bank and later an art gallery, the building was officially converted into the World War II Memorial in 1992. Today, it houses artifacts, photographs, dioramas, and memorabilia related to the Japanese occupation, the initial landing at Pantai Sabak, and the wider Pacific War’s impact on Kelantan. It serves as a poignant reminder of the region’s wartime experience and the sacrifices made.
