KEDAH - LUBOK MERBAU, NAKA, GUAR CHEMPEDAK & YAN

By Hj Zulheimy Maamor

1 March 2024 : 9.09 pm

2013 - FELDA LUBOK MERBAU, KEDAH

Felda Lubok Merbau is a rubber and palm oil plantation area located in Sik, Kuala Nerang, Kedah. Merbau is the name of a type of wild tree that is abundant in this area, especially around Sungai Muda. It is administered by Felda officials.

Among the nearby areas are Nami, Kampung Sungai Bakap, Kampung Jurong, and Kampung Baru Nami. This area is irrigated by Sungai Muda. 

This area used to be a thick forest area that became a hiding place for communist terrorists. In 1964, the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) invited settlers consisting of poor and landless people from the hinterland. In 1968, a total of 178 settlers were placed in Felda Lubuk Merbau. Currently, there are 769 settlers ranging from level 1 to level 9 in FELDA Lubuk Merbau.

On January 5, 2013, my colleagues and I from the Awareness Team of the Heart Foundation of Malaysia coordinated a health screening program at FELDA Lubok Merbau, Kedah. The program received a good response from the residents of FELDA Lubok Merbau.

2013 - FELDA LUBUK MERBAU KEDAH

2013 - NAKA, KEDAH

Naka is a small town located in the Padang Terap district, Kedah Darul Aman. Naka is derived from "Na," which means 'Kubang,' and "Ka," the name of a type of herbal plant called "lengkuas" or 'kha,' which means a type of grass "nickname." Since it refers to the same place, Kubang is called Nickname in Malay and Naka in the Siamese language of Kedah.

Naka town is situated to the east of Alor Setar city and Pokok Sena town, and to the south of Kuala Nerang. In the past, Naka town was located in Kubang Julok Village and was known as "Naka Lama," and now Naka Town was originally called 'Simpang.'

Kampung Baru Naka (Siam) is a village located in Mukim Tekai Kiri and is the most developed Siamese village in Malaysia. Originally, Kg Baru Naka (Siam) was established as a new settlement to curb the influence of communists and bandits at that time. Most of the residents of Kg Baru come from Kg. Chang Deng (Mr. Kra) and Lamdin.

After the health screening program in Lubuk Merbau, we left the next day for Pekan Naka, Kedah, for further health screening.

The program started on January 6, 2013, where a total of 115 residents of Naka town attended a Health Screening test conducted by The Heart Foundation of Malaysia in collaboration with the Padang Terap District Health Office.

2013 - PEKAN NAKA, KEDAH

After the program in Naka, we continued our journey to Guar Chempedak, Kedah, for our next health screening program at SMK Agama Yan. The travel distance from Naka to Guar Chempedak is 51.1 km, with a travel time of 56 minutes.

Guar Chempedak is a small town in the Jerai parliamentary constituency. It is a rural community located halfway between Alor Setar and Sungai Petani.

On September 22, 1989, a fire tragedy took place at Taufiqiah Al-Khairiah Al-Halimiah, also known as Pondok Pak Ya, where 27 students, mostly girls, were killed in the incident.

Wikipedia: 1989 - Taufiqah Al-Khariah

We stayed at D'Aman Homestay, which is located in Taman Desa Aman, Guar Chempedak, Kedah, and is owned by one of the teachers at SMKA Yan.

2013 : SEK. MEN. AGAMA YAN, KEDAH

The health screening program was held for 2 days from January 7–8 at the school hall. A total of 189 students, including teachers and school staff, underwent the health screening test.

KEDAH 2013 : SMK AGAMA YAN

SMK Agama Yan, Kedah, was opened on January 1, 1997. The first headmaster was Puan Hjh Hindong bt Hj Ali.
In 2007, a student of SMK Agama Yan, Kedah Azali Azlan, made a big surprise when he achieved 21 A results in the SPM exam.

Return journey from Guar Chempedak to Kuala Lumpur

The journey back to KL takes 4 hours, 29 minutes, for a distance of 402 km.

Gunung Jerai (also known as Puncak Kedah) is a mountain in the state of Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia, located between the borders of Kuala Muda and Yan districts. It reaches a height of 2,107 meters.

Gunung Jerai is visible from the E & O Hotel in Penang, as the distance from Butterworth to Gunung Jerai is only 50 kilometers.

Gunung Jerai is referred to as the Hausberg (German) of the town of Sungai Petani, which serves as the district capital of Kuala Muda.

Pendang is a town in Kedah, located about 20 km from the state capital of Alor Setar. Previously, it was a part of Alor Setar and was known as Kota Star Selatan until the 1980s. In February 1975, Pendang became its own district.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

2/3/2024 : 12.02 pm

KEDAH -PULAU SAYAK & KUALA MUDA

By Hj Zulheimy Maamor

1 March 2024 : 7.12 pm

PULAU SAYAK

Kampung Pulau Sayak is located approximately 30 km from the hotel we stayed at, D'Vista Hotel Sungai Petani, Kedah. I can still remember the name of Kg Pulau Sayak because this is one of the places in Malaysia where the sighting of the new moon determines the start of the fasting month of Ramadan for Muslims in Malaysia.

I had the opportunity to visit Pulau Sayak when I was attending the Awareness Program Coordination Meeting at Central Square, Sungai Petani, on February 18, 2014. I never thought that I would be able to set foot in a place that I had often heard about before the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Thanks to my old friend Osman bin Desa, who resides in Tikam Batu, Kedah, for bringing me to Pulau Sayak to enjoy the famous Mee Udang (prawn noodles). Osman was my former shipmate at KD Ganas (RMN Ship) in Woodlands, Singapore, in 1981, when we both served with the Royal Malaysian Navy. Actually, this is not the first time I met Osman Desa. The first time I met him was in Gelugor, Penang, in 2012, and then in Kuala Nerang, Kedah, in the same year.

Usof Mee Udang is the best prawn noodles in Pulau Sayak, with a beautiful view near the seashore. The prawns are big and full on one plate, taste good at a reasonable price, and are highly recommended.

TSUNAMI MONUMENT

I took the opportunity to visit the historical place located in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah, which is about 8 km from Pulau Sayak.

The Tsunami monument which was built in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives on December 24,  2004. Located at Kampung Permatang Katong, the gallery features haunting photographs of the disaster's aftermath, which resulted in the loss of life and property. The Kota Kuala Muda was the worst hit in Malaysia with 10 villages devastated while some coastal areas of Penang, Perlis and Selangor were also affected. 

The monument commemorating the event was constructed using 26 fishing boats that were damaged by the waves. The number 26 signifies the date of December 26, 2004.

A small museum called Galeri Tsunami contains information about tsunamis in general, including how they are caused and the damage suffered in various countries around the Indian Ocean during the 26 December 2004 Tsunami.

Wikipedia : Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

1/3/2024 > 20 Syaaban 1445H: 8.50 pm