1987, 1989 - 1991: INDONESIA

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

14 March 2024

Indonesia, officially Republic of Indonesia,is a country in Southeast Asia and Ocenia between the Indian and Pacific Ocean.It consist of 17,000 islands including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and part of Borneo and New Guinea. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state and the 14th largest country by area. 

My experience with Indonesia was when I served on a Royal Malaysian Navy ship. I have sailed to Indonesia several times for operational visits or during training with the Indonesian Navy.

1987 - BELAWAN, MEDAN & DANAU TOBA

The first time I went to Indonesia was in 1987, when I served with the Royal Malaysian Navy ship KD Sri Negri Sembilan during the OSTEX 87 exercise with the TNI-AL (Indonesian Navy) in Medan. We moored at the Port of Belawan in Medan, Indonesia. 

Port of Belawan is the most important in Sumater, lies at the confluences of the Sungai Belawan and the Sungai Deli. its constitutes the most northernly of the city of Medan. 

Medan, about 23.5 km from the Port of Belawan is the capital and the largest city of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The nearby Straits of Malacca make Medan a regional hub and multicultural metropolis. Medan is one of the four main central cities in Indonesia, alongside Jakarta, Surabaya and Makassar. 

Istana Maimun or Maimun Palace is a Royal Palace of the Sultanate of Deli and a well-known landmark in Medan.

Built by Sultan Ma'mun Al Rashid Perkasa Alamyah in the years 1887 - 1891, the palace was designed by the Dutch Architect Theodoor van Erp. This is the last surviving Malay Palace, the rest having been destroyed in the 1946 social revolution.

LAKE TOBA, MEDAN

At over 1,145 sq km and up to a depth of 450 metres in places, Lake Toba is actually more like an ocean. About 111.33 km from the Port of Belawan, it is the world's largest crater lake as well as being the largest lake in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest in the world. 

This lake offers plenty of things to do for people exploring the island of Sumatra. Its a relaxing place to simply relax, get away from it and do nothing. 

1990 - TANJUNG PINANG, RIAU, INDONESIA

Tanjung Pinang is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Riau Islands.It covers a land area of 144.56 sq km, mainly on the southern Bintan Island. 

Tanjung Pinang is full of diversity with multiple ethnic communities. 

I had the opportunity to visit Tanjung Pinang with the navy ship KD Lekir, which was patrolling the surrounding area.

Kantor Pos dan Giro located at Jalan Merdeka No. 17, Tanjung Pinang.

GUNUNG DAIK & PULAU PANDAN

Gunung Daik and Pulau Pandan is well known in Malay folklore especially in the Malay Pantun :-

Pulau Pandan jauh ke tengah

Gunung Daik Bercabang Tiga

Hancur badan dikandung tanah

Budi yang baik di kenang juga

In English: 

Pandan Island far in midst,
With the three peaked Mount Daik;
While the body decomposes in earth,
Good deeds remain to be remembered.

"Gunung Daik bercabang tiga" > translate into "Mount Daik has three peaks", migh not have sound odd at all. The distinctive summit of Mount Daik is a most and recognisable of features of Pulau Lingga, an island that is thought by some as the Malay world's motherland.

1989 - 1991 : SURABAYA,INDONESIA

Pelabuhan Tanjung Perak, located in Surabaya, Indonesia, is the second busiest port in the country after Port Tg. Periok in Jakarta. This port serves as a connection between Surabaya and other port cities in Indonesia. Adjacent to Pelabuhan Tanjung Perak is Pelabuhan Ujung, which operates as a ferry port for transporting passengers to Madura.

The city of Surabaya is the capital of East Java Province, Indonesia. This city is the second largest city in Indonesia and is also known as the City of Heroes because of the history that involves this city in the struggle of the Indonesian people to seize independence from the colonialists.

My first visit to Surabaya was in 1989. While serving at KD Lekir, the Royal Malaysian Navy Corvette, I have visited Surabaya three times in 1989, 1990, and 1991.

KD Lekir involved in the Malindo Jaya Joint Naval Exercise between the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Tentera Nasionalis Indonesia - Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL). 

Surabaya is home of the Indonesian Navy's Koarmada II (Fleet Command II) and the major Naval Base at Ujung. 

The former passenger Terminal the Gapura Nusantara, which is the main facility for sea travelers in the 90's. Operated by PELNI (Pelayaran National Indonesia).

The Iconic Statue of Jalesveva Jayamahe Monument, located in the naval base area adjacent to the port.The monument depicting a naval officer standing ready, symbolizes the pride and commitment of the Indonesian Navy, reflecting the motto "On the Sea We are Victorious".

The Tanjung Perak Port Administrator Office located at Jalan Kalimas Baru No. 194 in Surabaya is now known to be the location of the main harbor master's office (Kantor Syahbandaran Utama Tanjung Perak). 

with Surabaya girls who came to visit the ship

One of my best memories is meeting the same girl in 1989 and 1991 at Tanjung Perak Port. She runs a food stall with her family in front of the port.

MASJID SUNAN AMPEL / MAKAM SUNAN AMPEL

The tomb of Sunan Ampel in Surabaya, East Java taken in 1989. Sunan Ampel is one of the reverend Walisongo (Nine Saints) who played a pivotal role in the spread of Islam in Java, especially after the decline of the Majapahit Kingdom. His birthname was Raden Rahmat (or Raden Ahmad Rahmatullah). 

The tomb is locate within a large religious complex behind the Ampel Mosque, founded in 1421 AD. 

The large earthenware jars visible in the foreground contain water often associated with the ancient well (sumur tua) found within the complex, which is believed by some to be connected to the Zamzam Well in Mecca. These jars are a common sight at the complex.

Masjid Sunan Ampel

Makam Sunan Ampel

It is highly probable that the visit to Makam Sunan Ampel in Surabaya was a port call during the KD Lekir's 1989 deployment, allowing the Malaysian sailors to visit this culturally and religiously significant site in the neighboring country of Indonesia.

PASAR TURI, SURABAYA

Pasar Turi located in Surabaya is one of the most historically significant and famous markets in Indonesia. It is strategically located in North Surabaya, close to the Pasar Turi Railway Station. 

Among the ones I bought at Pasar Turi, Surabaya

Surabaya is one of the places you should highly consider going to, from its rich history and culture to its vibrant food scene and stunning natural beauty. Surabaya truly has something for everyone. 

Visiting Surabaya is a cultural experience that you will not find in other major Indonesian cities. 

Tunjungan Plaza is one of Surabaya's most iconic and oldest modern shopping malls.It first opened its doors in 1986 with Tunjungan Plaza 1,making it a relatively new and popular destination when I visited in 1989. 

The Surabaya Main Post Office (Kantor Pos Besar Surabaya) situated at Jalan Kebonrojo No. 10 (formerly Regentstraat). The building was designed by G.P.J.M. Bolsius and constructed between 1926 and 1928. 

CERTIFICATE - CROSSING THE EQUATOR

A certificate commemorating a sailor's first Equator Crossing is given to a sailors. Those onboard who've experienced the passage, willb be called shellback, perform an elaborate of those who hadn't - the pollywogs. 

The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing the Equator. 

For more detail about Crossing the Equator, kindly refer:

1. Wikipedia - Crossing the Equator

2. Hj Zulheimy Maamor Blogspot - Memory Pelaut, crossing the Equator (in Malay language)

The equator is an imaginary line that circles the Earth at the midway point between the North and South Poles. It has a latitude of 0 degrees and separates the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere. The length of the equator is 40,075.16 kilometers.

While the equator is at 0 degrees latitude, northern latitudes increase as they move away from the equator and toward the North Pole, which is 90°; southern latitudes decrease as they move away from the equator and toward the South Pole, which is –90°.

Where is the equator? The equator map above details its location. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

15 March 2024 > 4 Ramadan 1445H: 5.13 pm