HOTEL MEMORIES (KUALA LUMPUR)

1999: DORSET REGENCY KUALA LUMPUR

Attending my wife's friend's wedding at Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur (now Dorsett Kuala Lumpur) at Jalan Bukit Bintang.

2000: RENAISSANCE HOTEL KUALA  LUMPUR

IEM 41st Annual Dinner on 15 April 2000, held at The Renaissance Hotel located at the corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail dan Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

The hotel was a premier venue for large-scale corporate and professional gatherings in KL during the early 2000's.

2001: MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL KL

The IEM 42nd Annual Dinner was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur City Center on 21 April 2001. 

The Guest of Honor was the then Deputy Prime Minister, Dato'Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. 

2002: ISTANA HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR

The IEM 43rd Annual Dinner was held at the Istana Hotel, located at Jalan Raja Chulan, KL, was a landmark of Malaysian hospitality for nearly 30 years.

The hotel was launched in 1992 by then-Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. 

Sadly the hotel ceased operationss on September 1, 2021, due to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry and increasing competition in the city center. 

The building has been undergoing a massive transformation. Following its closure, it was announced that the property would be rebranded and refurbished as the Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, marking the entry of the luxury Hilton-owned brand into the Malaysian market.

21-24 MAY 2006: BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE HOTEL KL

The 11th Asian Congress of Fluid Mechanics was held at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel, located at Jalan Imbi, Bukit Bintang, KL. This is a major international conference organised by The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia from 21-24 May 2006, to brings together researchers and engineers to discuss advances in aerodynamic, heat transfer and computational fluid dynamic. 

Berjaya Times Square Hotel was opened in 2003. I Stayed at room 38-04, a service suite style room, from my room at 38th floor, looking down at Pudu Prison, at the time in 2006 was still standing. Most of this complex was demolished in 2010 to make way for the Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) development. 

Location of Pudu Prison in 2013 (Wikipedia)

Pudu Prison in 2023 (Wikipedia)

27-30 AUGUST 2006: KL CONVENTION CENTRE

The 11th Asian Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering (APPChE) Congress held at KL Convention Centre from 27-30 August 2006. This event was a major milestone for the chemical engineering community in the region, it brought together 1,000 delegates to discuss the future of the industry.

The KL Convention Centre was opened in May 2005 as part of the Integrated KLCC development. It is owned by the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of PETRONAS). 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it served as a mass vaccination centre.

The date of 28 August 2006, when the 11th APPChE was held at the KL Convention Centre, coincidentally coincided with the wedding ceremony of Malaysia's top artist at the time, Siti Nurhaliza (Dato Sri later on), and Dato' Sri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, one of the most famous wedding ceremonies in Malaysia that was broadcast nationwide and was dubbed the "Wedding of the Century". The wedding was held at the ground floor of KL Convention Centre while our event was held at the 3rd floor. 

17 APRIL 2010: SIME DARBY CONVENTION CENTRE

The IEM 51st Annual Dinner was held at the Sime Darby Convention Centre on 17 April 2010. A milestone event celebrating the 51st Anniversary of IEM, which is the Primary professional body for engineers in Malaysia.

The Sime Darby Convention Centre is a premier event space located near the KL Golf and Country Club (KLGCC), Bukit Kiara, KL. It is a key asset of Sime Darby Property Berhad.It opened its doors in February 2006.

15.12.2013: HOTEL SUNWAY PUTRA, KL

The Poster Exhibition event held at the Sunway Putra Hotel KL on December 14 & 15, 2013 hosted by Yayasan Jantung Malaysia. 

Sunway Putra Hotel, a 5-star Hotel located at Jalan Putra, Kuala Lumpur, strategically situated in the "Diamond Triangle" area of Kuala Lumpur, opposite to World Trade Centre KL (WTCKL), formerly known as the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). The complex was originally known as "The Mall" dan "The Legend Hotel" when it first opened in the 1990's. 

27.2.2014: ISTANA HOTEL, KL

The Yayasan Jantung Malaysia celebrating its 30th Anniversaty Commemoration Dinner on February 27, 2014. 

The event was held at the iconic Hotel Istana at Jalan Raja Chulan, KL. The hotel officially opened in 1992, was launched by the then-Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. 

However, after 29 years of operation, the hotel officially ceased operation on September 1, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite serving as a quarantine hotel during the lockdowns, the management reported significant operation losses and determined the business was no longer viable. 

5 AUGUST 2017: GRAND SEASON HOTEL KL

Reunion of Class '73 from SRJK (Inggeris) Gombak 1 & Gombak 2 on 5 August 2017 at the Grand Season Hotel, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur.

SRJK Gombak was separated into two administration that is Gombak 1 and Gombak in 1971, sharing the same site at Km 8, Jalan Gombak, Kuala Lumpur. 

The Grand Season Hotel today had officially ceased operations on 28 February 2018 after over 20 years in business. During the pandemic in 2021, the building was temporarily repurposed as Rumah Prihatin @ Grand Season, a welfare centre and "Welfare Hotel" to thos in need an frontliners. 

Compiled by:

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

20 December 2025:1.28 p.m

KUALA LUMPUR: FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE MALAYSIA

Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), located at Kepong, Kuala Lumpur about 16 km from Kuala Lumpur city centre. Founded in 1929, the former Forest Research Institute became a full-fledged statutory body, governed by the Malaysian Forestry Research and Development Board (MFRDB) under the Ministry of Primary Industries, in 1985.

FRIM is a-must-visit for nature lovers  and outdoor enthusiasts.  It is the holder of 6 National Records and had been declaree a National Heritage in recognition of its conservation efforts. FRIM is the world's oldest and largest re-created tropical rain forest. 

The 486-hectare reserve providea a relaxing back-to-nature experience such as a waterfall, river, shady trees, ponds and landscaped gardens. Here visitors can enjoy spectacular vies and discover a wide range of flora and fauna from a 30m-high canopy walkway and various jungles trails. Those who wish to camp overnight in the reserve must obtain permissiona from FRIM.

Today, FRIM is home to 18 species of mammals, 182 species of birds, 57 species of snakes, 30 species of lizards, 7 species of tortoises and turtles, and 34 species of frogs.

https://selangor.travel/listing/forest-research-institute-malaysia-frim/

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

15/1/2025: 2.34 p.m

KUALA LUMPUR : JALAN TUN PERAK

Jalan Tun Perak, formerly Jalan Mountbatten (1961-1881), Mounbatten Road (1946-1961) and Java Street (1889 - 1946) was a major commercial road located in the historic centre of Kuala Lumpur. Along with Jalan Ampang it is one of the oldest roads in Kuala Lumpur. 

On 7 June 1974, Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Rahman Hashim was gunned down by 2 assassins at this road near the Lee Yan Lian building. 

Reference:

The Sun : Hero Cops Gunned down

I used to work at Jalan Tun Perak in 1996 at the Ubaidulla & Co office owned by the late Tan Sri S.O.K Ubaidulla, the first Chairman of PERKIM (1960-1964) and one of the founders of the MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress) party in 1946.

He was also Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1989, died on 22 January 2009 at the age of 90 years old. 

Allahyarham Tan Sri S.O.K Ubaidulla

UC Travels used to be the office of Ubaidulla & Co.where I worked in 1996. 

Shipping Assistant with Ubaidulla & Co (1996).

Masjid Jamek one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur was officially opened by the Sultan of Selangor in 1909, 2 years after construction was completed. Designed by A.B. Hubback,the mosque features distinctive elements of Moghul architecture, located at the meeting of the Klang River and Gombak River which gave rise to Kuala Lumpur's name "Muddy Confluence".

There are times when I will perform Friday prayers here as well as at Masjid India, both of which are close to my office.

Around Jalan Tun Perak there are Masjid Jamek LRT Station as well as the Mosque itself (Masjid Jamek), Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Panggung Bandaraya, Menara UAB-CIMB Bank, Maybank Tower, Masjid India etc. 

The ancient mosque of Kuala Lumpur at Jalan Masjid India also called Masjid India was established in 1883. 

Beside Masjid Jamek, I sometime will perform Friday Prayer here which are located just behind my office at Jalan Tun Perak. 

Sultan Abdul Samad Building at Jalan Raja, just next to Jalan Tun Perak, opposite the Dataran Merdeka, this iconic building was completed in 1897. It was here the Union Jack flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight 31 August 1957. The Dataran Merdeka was officially opened on 1 January 1990 in conjuction with Visit Malaysia Year 1990. 

In front of this building is often the setting for Independence Day Parade and other national events. The flagpole which holds the Malaysian flag is also one of the world's highest at 100m. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

13/1/2025: 9.24 p.m

KUALA LUMPUR 2012 - DEMI PALESTINE

DEMI PALESTINE

TV AL HIJRAH

PUSAT ISLAM

JALAN PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR

23 DECEMBER 2012

TV al-Hijrah is holding a program for Palestine. The theme of this program is "Persaudaraan Bermula di sini" or 'Brotherhood Begins Here'.

Various events were held in conjunction with the program such as charity sales stalls, exhibitions, slots with celebrities, nasyid performances, donations for Palestine and so on.

Alhamdulillah, my wife and I were able to attend the "Demi Palestine" at the Al-Hijrah TV Islamic Broadcasting Center's Conference Hall.

Pusat Islam Malaysia (Malaysian Islamic Center) is an administrative centre for Islamic related activities, since Islam is the Official Religion of the country. 

Located next to the historic Keretapi Tanah Melayu building and the breathtaking National Mosque, Pusat Islam is an organisation to take care of the welfare of Islam devotees and other current issues related to the growth and development of Islam in this present time and setting.

TV Al-Hijrah is a state-owned Malaysia free-to-air Islamic television channel, owned and operated by Al-Hijrah Media Corporation. 

It is the Malaysia's first full-fledged and sharia-compliance free-to-air Islamic television network and broadcasts from its headquarters in the Islamic Centre Complex, Kuala Lumpur. 

TV Al-Hijrah began its operation on 1 November 2010 on a trial basis. The Station was officially launched on 7 December 2010 by the sixth Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak.

My wife takes a memorable photo with Irma Hasmi, who was a Malaysian actress, host and model.

Wife with Amie Sofia, winner of the first season of the Solehah Program in 2011, organized by Al-Hijrah TV.

Wife with Farah Adeeba, TV personality who is also a lawyer, activist and TV Producer.

Miss Khairunissa M. Aris, Host of Al-Hijrah TV program "Man Jadda Wajada" in 2011.

Personality TV Al-Hijrah

A well-know chef in Malaysia for his strong influence on Mediterranean cuisine, raised in Palestine and is a Malaysian at heart. 

NATIONAL MOSQUE

JALAN PERDANA

KUALA LUMPUR

The National Mosque located at Jalan Perdana, Kuala Lumpur has a capacity for 15,000 people. Completed in 1965, the mosque is a bold and modern approach in reinforced concrete, symbolic of the aspirations of a the a newly independent nation. 

The mosque was built on the former site of the Venning Road Brethren Gosple Hall, which was acquired by the government in 1961. The church was offered land on Jalan Imbi as a replacement and is now known as Jalan Imbi Chapel. 

The mosque was opened by the third YDP Agong, the late Tuanku Syed Putra of Perlis. 

MUZIUM KESENIAN ISLAM MALAYSIA

JALAN LEMBAH PERDANA

KUALA LUMPUR

27 APRIL 2013

Located in the peaceful surroundings of the Perdana Botanical Garden, this is Southeast Asia's largest museum of Islamic Art. It houses thousand of artefacts as well as extensive library of Islamic Art books. Art objects displayed here include the tiniest pieces of jewellery and one of the world's largest models of Mekah's Masjid al-Haram. A large collection of Asian art, including Chinese and Indian art is also on display. 

Hopefully, in the future, charity programs like this can be carried out for the benefit of the Palestinian people.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

8/1/2025: 3.05 p.m