JOHOR : JOHOR BAHRU

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

22 JULY 2024

JOHOR

Derived from the word "Jauhar" which means "precious stones", Johor truly lives up to its name as it is a treasure trove of exciting holiday opportunities. The Southernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia, Johor is widely known as the "Southern Gateway" to Malaysia. With a land area of 19,210 sq km, it is also the third largest state in the Peninsular after Pahang and Perak. 

The only state in Malaysia with an unbroken coastline from the South China Sea to the Straits of Malacca, Johor is linked to Singapore via the Johor-Singapore causeway and the Second Link Expressway.

Refer:

Johor Tourism

JOHOR BAHRU

The State capital and one of the largest cities in Malaysia. Johor Bahru is about 330 km  from Kuala Lumpur. Commonly referred to as JB, the city is a thriving hub of commerce, shopping and entertainment. It is also known for its rich collection of historical buildings and heritage Architecture. From Johor Bahru visitors can enjoy a wonderful view of the Straits of Johor and on clear days, even neighbouring Singapore. 

My first experience with the city of Johor Bahru was in 1981 when I was assigned to a Royal Malaysian Navy Ship, KD Ganas, which was then based in Woodlands, Singapore.

First,I arrived at Johor Bahru Railway Station from Ipoh, Perak before being taken to Singapore by a Navy Truck that was already waiting. That was the first time I set foot in Johor Bahru.

The Rumah Pangsa Jalan Lumba Kuda, Johor Bahru also known as Flat Lumba Kuda, were the first flat to be built in the state of Johor, and was inaugurated by the late DYMM Sultan Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim in 1965. These flats were located adjacent to the Johor Bahru Railway Station at the time. 

The name "Lumba Kuda" translate to "Horse Racing" in Malay. The flats were closely associated with the "Sport of Kings" after the personal interests of the Johor Royal Family. The Sultans of Johor, particularly Sultan Ibrahim (who reigned from 1895 to 1959), were world-renowned horse lovers and polo players.

In 2003, the Flat Lumba Kuda was demolished. Today, the area has been redeveloped, and the government has constructed the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex on the site, naming it the Sultan Iskandar Building. 

Johor Bahru Railway Station, built in 1930, is the oldest Railway Station in Johor Bahru. It is historically correct to assume that the first railway in Malaya was built in Johor in 1869. During its early days, the railway was referred to as the wooden Railway of Keretapi Kayu Johor, as the rails were made from timber. It was also known as Keretapi Asap. 

While Stationed in Woodlands, Singapore, Johor Bahru was indeed a city where my friends and I often hung out on weekends when we were not on duty.

After the Royal Malaysian Navy base moved to Lumut, Perak, and the closure of the base in Woodlands, Singapore, I rarely go to Johor Bahru unless my ship is moored there.

The Old Johor Bahru Railway Station (officially the Johor Bahru Railway Station) is a historical landmark located along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak. It served as the southern terminus of the Malayan railway network for over 100 years before being replaced by the modern JB Sentral in 2010.

Key Historical Milestones

The station's history is deeply intertwined with the development of Johor and its connection to Singapore.

• 1909: The station officially opened, marking a major milestone in the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR). At this time, trains from the north ended here, and passengers had to take a ferry to Singapore.
• 1923: The completion of the Johor Causeway allowed trains to travel directly from this station into Singapore (Tanjong Pagar).
• 1931: The current colonial-style building was completed at a cost of approximately RM75,900, replacing a smaller wooden structure.
• 2010: The station officially closed its doors on October 21, 2010, when all operations moved to the adjacent JB Sentral hub.

This old Station was designed by architectural firm Swan & Maclaren,  the same firm responsible for many of Singapore's iconic colonial buildings.

Feature	Old JB Railway Station	JB Sentral (New)
Opened	1909 (Building in 1931)	2010
Style	Colonial / Heritage	Modern Integrated Hub
Status	Museum / Heritage Site	Active Transport Hub
Connectivity	Single track	Integrated with CIQ & RTS

2012 : COMING BACK TO JB

20 FEBRUARY 2012

After almost 30 years of leaving Johor Bahru, I finally returned to JB on 20 February 2012, where my friends and I from the Yayasan Jantung Malaysia Awareness Team left for Johor Bahru for the Johor Heart Week Program at AEON Tebrau City, Johor Bahru from 21 to 26 February 2012.

The journey from Kuala Lumpur to Tebrau City Johor Bahru is 332 km and takes 3 hours 23 minutes. We stop at R&R Machap, Johor for Lunch. 

R&R MACHAP, JOHOR

Throughout the program we stayed at the Check Inn Hotel in Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru, which is just 1.0 km from AEON Tebrau City. 

JOHOR HEART WEEK 2012

AEON TEBRAU CITY

JOHOR BAHRU

21-26 FEBRUARY 2012

The Health Screening Program that was conducted at this complex from 21-26 February 2012. A total of 912 people underwent a health screening test, and 130  underwent an Electrocardiogram test during our 6 days here.

Among the tests carried out are the Blood Pressure Test, Cholesterol Test, Glucose Test, Body Mass Index, and Electrocardiogram (heart).

MAKTAB SULTAN ABU BAKAR

JOHOR BAHRU, JOHOR

16-17 APRIL 2013

The School Level Health Program for 2013 continues at Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar, located at Jalan Sungai Chat, Seri Gelam, Johor Bahru, Johor. A total of 275 students and teachers underwent the Health Screening test during the two-days program from 16 to 17 April 2013. This program was assisted by nurses from Puteri Specialist Hospital Johor Bahru.

Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar or English College JB (EC), the pride of Johor, is an old premier school in Malaysia. It is an all-boys school in Johor Bahru and has been awarded the status of Cluster School of Excellent by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia. EC is one of the ten oldest English Institutions in Malaysia and the oldest school in Johor Bahru. 

Established on 21 March 1914 by Sultan Abu Bakar, with 21 students selected from Bukit Zaharah School, the school was initially located close to the Sungai Chat Palace facing the Lido Beach in Johor Bahru. 

Further readings:

Wikipedia - English College Johor Bahru 

During the program at Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar Johor Bahru, my team and I stayed at CIQ Hotel located on Jalan Lumba Kuda, Tanjung Puteri, Johor Bahru which is located approximately 5.7 km from Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar.

AEON BUKIT INDAH SHOPPING CENTRE

BUKIT INDAH

JOHOR BAHRU, JOHOR

7-9 JUNE 2013

The Heart Week program for 2013 continues with this time being held at AEON Bukit Indah Shopping Centre, Johor Bahru from 7 June to 9 June 2013.

A total of 611 people underwent a Health Screening test throughout the 3 days of the program. This time the Malaysian Heart Foundation was also assisted by nurses from Puteri Specialist Hospital Johor Bahru and also from the Johor Bahru District Health Office.

Bukit Indah is a suburb in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru District, Johor. The town was launched in 1997 and won the Johor State Landscape Award 2001, The National Landscape Competition  2001 and the Best of the Best National Landscape Award 2005. 

We stayed at Princeton Hotel at Jalan Indah 15/2, Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru throughout the program at AEON Mall Bukit Indah. The distance to AEON Mall Bukit Indah is only 500 meters.

A few notes of memories in JB around 1981, 2012 and 2013 from me.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L.

23 July 2024 > 18 Muharram 1446H: 10.07 p.m

PULAU PINANG : BUKIT BENDERA & BKT MERTAJAM (2017)

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

20 JULY 2024

My friends and I from the Awareness Team of the Yayasan Jantung Malaysia arrived in Penang on 8 April 2017 to attend the Heart Disease Health Checkup Program at Apartment Permata, Bandar Baru Perda, which took place on 9 April 2017. The journey of 339 km took 3 hours and 23 minutes.

On the way we stopped at the house of Muhammad Nawawi, a member of our team in Simpang Ampat, Seberang Perai Selatan.

We stayed at BG Business Hotel located at Jalan Perniagaan, Jalan Perda Barat, Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Located within 4.6 miles of Sunway Carnival Mall and 7.2 miles of Penang Bridge, the hotel offers a convenient and comfortable stay for both business and leisure travellers. 

The hotel located right in the commercial heart of Seberang Perai during a period of steady growth for the area. 

A budget-friendly 2-star hotel, it was a popular choice for those visiting the nearby KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital dna the Government offices (MPSP). 

HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAM

Apartment Permata, Bandar Perda

Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang

9 April 2017

The Health Screening Program takes place at Permata Apartments in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam, Penang. 

BUKIT BENDERA

PULAU PINANG

9 APRIL 2017

After completing the health screening program at Apartment Mutiara, we took the opportunity to visit the famous Penang Hill.

Penang Hill located in George Town, Penang is a must-visit tourist spot for several reasons. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the surrounding area from its summit, which we can reach by a funicular train ride. 

Penang Hill is located within the Air Itam suburb, 9 km west of the centre of George Town. Penang Hill or Bukit Bendera in Malay, actually refers to Flagstaff Hill. 

The top of the Flagstaff Hill is accessible via the Penang Hill Railway from its base station at Hill Railway Station Road.

The stone archway, part of the Station Building constructed during the British colonial era. The year 1923 inscribed on the building marks the year the funicular railway first opened to the public.  The railway had an informal opening on 21 October 1923 and was originally inaugurated on 1 January 1924. At the time it was the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. 

This station celebrated the 100th Anniversary in October 2023. 

The 4th Generation Funicular train, manufactured by Doppelmayr-Garaventa of Switzerland and arrived in Penang in August 2010. They officially entered service in April 2011. 

This coaches can travel from the base to the summit non-stop in 5 to 10 minutes eliminating the need for passengers to change trains at a middle station. 

Each train was designed to hold up to 100 passengers, significantly increasing the  hill's capacity compared to the 80-person limit of the previous 1977 "red" generations. 

The most convenient way up to Penang Hill is by means of the Penang Hill Railway, a funicular railway from Air Itam to the top of the Flagstaff Hill. The 2,007 m journey used to take about half an hour and the train may stop at intermediate stations upon request.  

The first generation Train coach which operated from 1923 to 1977. 

The first generation of the Penang Hill funicular railway operated for 54 years from its opening in 1923 until its retirement in 1977. The carriages were made of wood and featured an "open-concept" design. 

This generation was designed by Arnold Robert Johnson, an engineer with the Federated Malays States Railway, based on a Swiss Design. 

While trial operations began on 21 October 1923, the railway was officially opened on 1 January 1924 by Sir L.N. Guillemard, the Governor of the Straits Settlements. 

Penang Hill is one of the highest points in the whole island, so one of its biggest peak is the amazing views that you'll get from the surrounding area, including George Town and even Butterworth in mainland Malaysia and the Penang Bridge. On a clear day, you can even see Pulau Langkawi in Kedah. 

Bel Retiro is a government bungalow on Penang Hill. It was built in 1789 by Captain Francis Ligfht,  for the Governor of Penang. 

The nama Bukit Bendera in Malay actually originates from the flagstaff located outside the Bel Retiro. The British would hoist flag here to signal the arrival of ships to the officials in George Town below. 

It was favourite retreat of the first Yang DiPertuan Agong and Tunku Abdul Rahman (first Prime Minister of Malaysia) whenever they visit Penang.  

The 32 pounder cannon, weighing 2,500 kg, the majestic cannon was capable of firing a 32-pound cannon ball at a velocity of 1600 ft per second. 

The Penang Hill Police Station was built in 1929 and the building is still standing here on the same site. One of the highest Police Station in Malaysia, located near a red Victorian pillar box, which is still operational today and remains a popular spot for visitors to mail postcards from the summit. 

Bel Retiro mosque built in 1966 on Gun Hill, it is the only mosque on Penang Hill. The mosque catches one's attention easily with its gold dome, minarets and islamic architecture - a big contrast to the British colonial building and atmosphere. Just a short distance from the Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple. 

Penang Hill is definitely worth a visit if for nothing else, its beautiful nature. If I had to describe our visit to Penang Hill in two words it would be Peaceful and Eventful. Seeing a mosque and a Hindu temple standing side-by-side at the highest point of the island is often cited as a symbol of Penang’s multicultural heritage.

Thank God !!

Even though I have been to Penang dozens of times, this is the first time I set foot on Bukit Bendera.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 July 2024 > 15 Muharram 1446H: 12.13 a.m