DOWN MEMORY LANE: KUALA TERENGGANU

BY HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

16 JUNE 2024

Kuala Terengganu colloquially referred to as 'KT',  located 449 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, is also Terengganu's Royal Town and largest city. Besides being a major political and economic centre to the state, the city is also tha main gateway to many of the state's tourist destination. 

In 1996, my mother and I followed a group from our residential area to explore Terengganu and Kelantan. This included Kuala Terengganu. However, there weren't many memorable photos taken during the visit.

Photo during my visit to Kuala Terengganu in 1996

While working with Yayasan Jantung Malaysia, I have been to Kuala Terengganu several times to coordinate the Health Screening program there. 

Among those programs are:

1. 14 February 2015 : Dewan Perhimpunan Tionghua, Kuala Terengganu

2. 25 April 2016 - Kolej PTPL Kuala Terengganu

3. 17 July 2017 - MSU College, Kuala Terengganu

4. 2 April 2018 - MSU College, Kuala Terengganu

2015 - KUALA TERENGGANU

On 14 February 2015, at the Tiong Hua Assembly Hall in Kuala Terengganu, the Malaysian Heart Foundation, in collaboration with Lion Heart of Terengganu, organized a Heart Disease Health Check for the public. This program has received a favorable response from nearby residents.

Lebuhraya Pantai Timur (East Coast Expressway) is an interstate controlled-access highway running parallel to the northeastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The currently operational 433-km segment of the expressway runs through Karak, Pahang and Kuala Nerus, Terengganu. 

After the program, we took the opportunity to tour around KT,visiting places such as the KT Museum, Crystal Mosque, and others.

THE CRYSTAL MOSQUE

The Crystal Mosque or Masjid Kristal, a mosque in Wan Man, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. A grand structure made of steel, glass and crystal, the mosque is located at the Islamic Heritage Park on the island of Wan Man. The mosque was officially  inaugurated on 8 February 2008 by the 13th Yang DiPertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu. 

The Crystal Mosque is able to accommodate up to 1,500 worshippers at a giving time and also made its name internationally for its beauty. 

ISLAMIC HERITAGE PARK

Taman Tamadun Islam in Malay, is a famous tourists attraction in Kuala Terengganu located at the Island of Wan Man. It was opened on 2 February 2008. The park features 20 representations of monuments from all over the world including the Taj Mahal, Al Hambra Citadel Granada, Masjid An-Nabawi Madinah, Masjidilharam Mecca etc.

TERENGGANU STATE MUSEUM

The biggest museum complex in Southeast Asia with four main blocks besides having a maritime museum and five traditional houses. It was built with a beautiful garden landscape and resembling Terengganu's glory which is rich in cultural history until today. Located on a 27 hectare land on Bukit Losong Kuala Terengganu, exposes an attractive architecture which is an inspiration from the old castle in Terengganu. 

Terengganu Inscription Stone (Batu Bersurat Terengganu)  is a granite stele carrying Classical Malay inscription in Jawi script that was found im Tersat River in Kuala Berang, Hulu Terengganu, in 1887 CE by a Terengganu nobleman, Pengiran Anum Engku Abdul Kadir bin Engku Besar and his tin-prospector friend, Saiyed Husin Ghulam Al Bukhari. 

In 2009, a meeting of the UNESCO's International Advisory Committee (IAC) held in Barbados, included the Inscribed Stone of Terengganu in a heritage list of Memory of the World Programme, making it the fourth heritage recognition accorded to Malaysia after the Hikayat Hang Tuah, Sejarah Melayu, and the correspondence of Sultan Abdul Hamid in 2001.

PASAR PAYANG KUALA TERENGGANU

The main and largest market in Kuala Terengganu, opens daily from as early as 7.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m. Located on the side of Terengganu River and is the most well-known tourism destination in Kuala Terengganu. The market offers various kinds of traditional handcraft products such as batik, silk coin, songket, brocade cloth, metal products and fresh vegetables. 

2016 - KUALA TERENGGANU

In 2016, The Heart Foundation of Malaysia conducted 2 Health Screening programs in Kuala Terengganu namely:

1. 25 April 2016 - Kolej PTPL Kuala Terengganu

2. 22 July 2016 - SJK (Cina) Chung Hwa Wei Sin, Kuala Terengganu

KOLEJ PTPL KUALA TERENGGANU

22 APRIL 2016

PTPL College Kuala Terengganu (now known as MSU College) is located in Jalan Sultan Omar, Kuala Terengganu. The distance from our accommodation at Intan Beach Resort, Batu Burok Beach is 2.9 km, taking only 7 minutes to travel.

During the course of the program, a total of 129 students and staff underwent a health screening test.

SJK (CHINA) CHUNG HWA WEI SIN

22 JULY 2016

The Community Program in collaboration with The Lions Club of Kuala Terengganu took place at SJK (Chinese) Chung Hwa Wei Sin in Kuala Terengganu on 22 July 2016.

SJK (Chinese) Chung Hwa Wei Sin located on Jalan Sultan Mohamad in Kuala Terengganu was established on 1 May 1915 under the name of Chung Hwa Wei Sin. A total of 119 people underwent the Health Screening throughout the program.

We stopped at R&R Paka in the Dungun District of Terengganu. 

MSU COLLEGE, KUALA TERENGGANU

17 July 2017

The Health Program in Kuala Terengganu was held at MSU College (formerly PTPL College) on 17 July 2017, located at Jalan Sultan Omar, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.

A total of 104 students, lecturers and staff have undergone the Health Screening test.

2017 - KG. LOSONG, KUALA TERENGGANU

Kampong Losong in Kuala Terengganu is well-known as a fishing village and also for its "Keropok Lekor". Here, you can sample a variety of Keropok Lekor using many type of fish. 

Keropok Lekor is a traditional Malay fish cracker snack originating from the state of Terengganu. It is made from fish and sago flour and seasoned with salt and sugar. 

MSU COLLEGE, KUALA TERENGGANU

2 APRIL 2018

On 2 April 2018, we conducted a health screening program at MSU College Kuala Terengganu (formerly known as Kolej PTPL). MSU College Kuala Terengganu is located at Jalan Sultan Omar, Kuala Terengganu.

R&R PERASING

Rest and Recreation area at Perasing, located in the Chukai district of Terengganu. There are many horror and mystery stories told by drivers who stop here. Thank God We didn't have any horrifying experiences while stopping here.

KUALA TELEMUNG

Kuala Telemung is a mukim in Hulu Terengganu District, we stopped by to refuel on our way to Kuala Terengganu and Setiu for Health Screening Program. 

The name of the town Kuala Telemung reminds me of the history of Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, a Malay religious scholar and fighter feared by the British colonialists and regarded him as a rebel. 

I Love KT

Despite the rapid modernisation Kuala Terengganu retains plenty of charm. Here you'll find one of eastern Peninsular Malaysia's prettiest and most interesting Chinatowns, and old kampung-style stilt-houses can still be found just across the river. 

However, from October to January is highly unsuitable to visit Kuala Terengganu as rainfall is very high reaching about 342 km in the month of December. 

Further Readings:

1. Things to do in Kuala Terengganu

2.  Malaysia: Why you shouldn't Skip Kuala Terengganu

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

19 June 2024 > 13 Zulhijjah 1445H: 9.12 p.m