Where the Japanese first landed .....

A little bird told me...


During the 2nd World War, Malaya was taken over by the Japanese, attacking from the state of Kelantan, which serves as their "frontline" state then, starting on Sunday, Dec 08 1941!   
Japanese attackers had poured down from ships and landing boats in bad weather to invade Kelantan.  They successfully overcame heavy gunfire from troops defending the beaches. Many Japanese soldiers died during this time. Some were drowned in the sea as the invasion took place during the stormy North East Monsoon which usually blows between the months of November - December., under the command of Lt -Gen Tomoyuki Yamashita, the infamous Tiger of Malaya.
Feb 15 1942- Singapore which was dubbed as an "impregnable fortress" fell to the Japanese. The chief planner of the invasion Tsuji actually targeted 100 days for the completion of the mission.. but it took less than a month , within 3 weeks, the whole of Malaya and Singapore fell.
          Today, remnants of the Japanese Occupation can still be found all over Kelantan, like pillboxes, railway tracks, old jetties, former iron mines, abandoned airfields, spent shells, bomb craters, old graves and stories of haunted houses and trees.
         With reference to the book published by an expatriate who has lived in Kelantan during this time, Datuk HL Wrigglesworth, he mentions that Kelantan was defended by the 8th Indian Infantry Brigade then under Brig-gen Berthold Wells Key.
     According to him, the troops in the Indian Regiment then were raw recruits, as young as 18, and had only fired only 50 live rounds at the shooting range. They were certainly no match for the experienced  and fierce Japanese Imperial Army, mosf of whom had already fought the war with the Chinese earlier on.
      These unites, named Dogras and Baluch manned the pillboxes along the beaches of Kuala Pa'Amat, Badang, Melawi, Bachok and Pantai Sabak, about 8km from Kota Bharu, along the coast  between Tumpat- on the northeast and Kuala Besut on the south east.  Built bu Indian engineers, about a km apart, they were manned by a rifle section, 2-3 Bren gunds, 15,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, 2days' rations and water.
   In Tempat, still evident  is a British pillbox, a triangular structure by the beach, the remnant of a sheltered harbour, many concrete pillars of a former jetty used by the Japanese.   There were also a concrete base of railway tracks, an iron mine tunnel, entrance to the shaft and a cable car station, with a Japanese sea plane base.  There is also a pillbox inside the Kota Bharu military camp and another by the Kelantan River close to the Lee Rubber Building now used for slaughtering and processing chicken.
    Close to the Pengkalan Chepa airpor, you will also be able to find a mass grave for the Japanese soldiers,  Incidentally, besides Japanese veterans who still come by to pay homage annually, you also see other regualar visitors like British and Australian veterans.  Their tour also covers Pantai Sabak, the pillboxes and War Museum or Bank Kerapu right in the heart of Kota Bharu.
     The War Musuem, built in 1911, is the oldest brick building in the state.  Visiting the War Museum would be a good place to get a good overview of the WW2 then.
    Worth a visit would be the Gullimard Bridge or Jambatan Kussial, built in 1923, which links Machang and Tanah Merah.  This bridge also acts as a rail and road bridge.  Unfortunately it was blown up by the British during WW2 and was repaired later by the British after the war.


ref: Travel Times - Apr 23 2004 By Sager Ahmad

Jan 28 -NST Property focus...The tin mine becomes a titan

Kuala Lumpur was a little tin mine frontier town, that grew into a mighty city and is now the epicentre of Malaysia.

It all began in 1847, when Chinese tin prospectors established an outpost near the confluence of Sungai Klang and Sungai Gombak (hen known as Sungai Lumpur). At the behest of Selangor ruler Raja Abdullah, they were to mine the rich tin depositories in the forest wilderness of Ampang, Pudu and Batu.

The tin mines prospered, elevating the simple settlement into a frontier town, initially dubbed "Kuala Berlumpur" before pioneer residents opted for a simplified version.

Lured by its economic potential, the township attracted migrant workers from across Asia and eventually drew the attention of the British empire in the 1880s.

Under British colonial influence, the wooden huts made way for brick masonry and KL began to take on a shape that is more reco

A little information on one of the oldest Malay settlement - Kg Baru

A little bird told me ....

2011- marks the 111yrs old for this Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) . Opened in 1899, it was gazetted by the British as a Malay Agricultural Settlement reserved for the resettlement of Malays in the city. The then Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Syah Raja Muda Musa awarded this piece of land on the banks of the Kelang river for the resettlement of the Malays dwelling in the city that was prospering because of its tin mining activities.

The same period also saw the construction of the iconic Royal Selangor Club, Victoria Institution and the Sulan Adbul Samad building. This gazettement included the formation of an administrative board which derived its name from the acronmyn MAS. Today it is known as the Kampung Baru MAS Board.

The board, like a mini version of the DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) is responsible for the maintenance of drainage, repair of bridges and the pruning of trees. Its duties also includes enforcing the village bylaws, approve and regulate the lots of houses to Malay applicants and store and update the approved Registrar of Residents which has the details of name transfers and land acquisations.

Covering a total of 90ha, it is made up of seven Malay villages namely, Kg Periuk, Kg Pindah, Kg Hujung Pasir, Kg Paya, Kg Masjid Kampung Atas A and Kg Atas B, its residents are already in its 4th - 5th generations.

Many of the roads in Kg Baru were name after high ranking British officers, Examples

Jln Raja Muda Abdul Aziz -- Princess Road

Jln Haji Yahya Sheikh Ahmad - Watson Road

Jln Raja Abdullah - Hale Road

Jln Raja Alang - Perkins Road

ref: NST Jan11 2011- Streets

Street Stories

A little bird told me ....

Interesting read....

Street stories : Aug 31 2010 New Straits Times

Here are some of the streets in the Klang Valley and the people whom they are named after : ( Names in brackets are the earlier names of the streets)

1. Jalan Syed Putra ( Lorney Drive)

Honours Raya Syed Putra Syed Hassan Jamalullail, the third Yang di- Pertuan Agung. He was the last king of Malaya and the first king of Malaysia and the only king that Singapore ever had in modern history, as Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965.

2. Jalan Tun H S Lee ( Jln Bandar or High Street )

Honours Malaysia’s first Finance Minister ( 1957 – 1959) Tun Sir Henry Lee Hau-Shik

3. Jalan Cheng Lock (Foch Avenue)

Pays tribute to the first President of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)

4. Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin (Jln Silang or Cross Street )

Honours Malaya’s first Minister of Commerce and Industry and third President of the MCA. He was the son of Tun Tan Cheng Lock

5. Jalan Tun Sambanthan ( Jln Brickfields )

Named after Tun VT Sambanthan, the 5^th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and one of those who fought for independence along with Tan Cheng Lock and Tunku Abdul Rahman

6. Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi

Named after Burhanuddin Muhamad Nur al-Hilmi, a former President of Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS)

7. Jalan Tun Dr. Ismail

Recognises the contributions of Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, who was elected Vice President of UMNO in 1951. He was Malaysia’s first ambassador to the United States of America. In 1970, he became the second Deputy Prime Minister of the country

8. Jalan Travers

Named after the State Surgeon of Selangor from 1891-1987, Dr Ernest Aston Otho Travers

9. Jalan Loke Yew

Named after a famous businessman, tin miner and philanthropist, Wong Loke Yew. Thamboosamy Pillai, Yap Kwan Seng and Loke Yew were instrumental in setting up Victoria Institution.

10. Jalan Belfiedl

Named after the British Resident of Negri Sembilan and later of Selangor.

11. Jalan Stonor

Named after Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor, the British Resident of Selangor

12 . Jalan Athinahappan

Recognizes the contributions of Senator Tan Sri Athi Nahappan who was MIC’S deputy President in 1976 and also a Law Minister. He headed a Royal Commission to gather feedback on the need to continue with local council elections.

13. Jalan PP Narayanan ( Jalan 222)

Named after Malaysian Trade Union Congress President PP Narayanan who was known as “Bapa Pekerja Malaysia”.

14. Jalan Aminuddin Baki

Honours the former General Counsul of Education Malaysia (today’s Education Director-General) who is generally considered the ‘Father of Education”.

15. Jalan Kia Peng

Named after Choo Kia Peng a businessman.

Thaipusam

A little bird told me.....

Thaipusam is round the corner. Once again, Batu Caves which is approximately 15km north of KL will be filled to the brim with both devotees and tourists (local and foreign) with plenty of activities abound.

What exactly is the story behind this massive celebration? Perhaps this article from the New Straits Times would shed some light particularly to those who are rather curious with this phenomenal turn out annually.....

Celebrating power of good over evil

2010/01/29

By Ling Poh Lean and Nusaybah Mohd Asri

PETALING JAYA: Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by Hindus during the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai which is usually in the month of January or February.It is celebrated in conjunction with the birth of Hindu god Lord Muruga, the youngest son of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati.

Mythologies have it that a long, long time ago, the world was torn apart by an infernal war between the Devas (celestial beings) and the Asuras (evil forces or demons).

Tired of constant attacks from the Asuras, the Devas paid homage to Lord Shiva and asked for his protection. Moved by their plight, Lord Shiva agreed to help the hapless Devas.

Lord Shiva opened the central eye on his forehead, radiating six sparks of fire. At the convergence of these sparks and through a series of celestial transformation, Lord Muruga appeared.

Lord Muruga brought forward this powerful divine personality to defeat the tyrannous Soorapadme -- the meanest and most powerful of the Asuras.

Armed with a Nyanya Vel (golden spear) presented to him by Lord Shiva, Lord Muruga went into battle with the evil forces.

Finally, Lord Muruga slew Soorapadme. The divine converted one portion of the slain enemy into a peacock as his vehicle and the other portion into a cockerel adorning his banner.

Lord Muruga is considered the very manifestation of valour, beauty, youthfulness, vitality, masculinity and the abode of happiness.

Thaipusam celebrates the very essence of Lord Muruga and the power of good over evil.

Lord Muruga is also known by many other names such as Lord Subramaniam and Lord Arumugam.

Balayogi Swamigan, the head of Thirumurugan Thiruvakku Thirupeedom, who is also the national adviser for Hindu temples and societies said apart from carrying offerings for Lord Muruga on Thaipusam day, devotees could also start presenting their offerings 10 days before the actual day.

"But of course, presenting offerings on Thaipusam day itself is always better because on that day, the sun, moon and Pusam (Jupiter) will be aligned in a line according to celestial calculations."

Devotees offer, among others, milk, curd, sugar, flowers, sugar cane, fruit juices, sandal wood paste and honey while rose water is used during the holy bath of the gods.

According to Swamigan, different offerings will bring different blessings to the devotees.

"Milk gives knowledge and long life, sugar is believed to relieve devotees of debts, sandal wood paste will bless the devotees with children and yellow flowers symbolises prosperity."

Swamigan also said that unlike Deepavali, Thaipusam was a religious ceremony where the main purpose of the festival was to bring offerings to God and celebrate the birth of Lord Muruga.

He said the offerings were carried using the kavadi. "Devotees are required to fast before they carry the kavadi and some devotees pierce their cheeks with skewers," Swamigan said, adding that devotees would usually fast for either three, 15, 30 or 45 days.

He added that they would fast during the day and consume only vegetarian food at night.

Swamigan added that the purpose of fasting was to ease the devotees' mind so that they could relate better with God.

However, he added that the size of the kavadi, the number of days they should fast or the offerings were not the main elements to show devotion.

"We must carry the offerings of love to God and not show off that we are strong by carrying a big kavadi or being pierced with a long skewer. It is all about faith."

On Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum

A little bird told me.....

Located near to the A Formosa fortress gate of the Porta Santiago, this replica of the Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum would provide a good insight into how magnificent and cool the palace would be in the days of the Malacca Sultanate. It is indeed ironic that the Sultanate started off in the state of Malacca and now, there is no more Sultan in Malacca.

By the might and will of the sultan 2009/11/06 New Straits Times GOMATHY RAMASAMY

Royal items of personal adornment like combs and jewellery are among the exhibits in the museum.

GOMATHY RAMASAMY tentatively steps inside the Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum, a resplendent building that has ancient treasures, rare artifacts, precious gems — everything, it seems, except an ordinary nail to hold it all together

‘Guards’ are everywhere as expected in a palace, where only members of the royal family and the gentry were allowed to move freely.

The royal dress codes are preserved and exhibited in beautiful glass cases. — Pictures by Rasul Azli Samad

MALACCA: In a World Heritage City filled with historic buildings and architectural landmarks, the Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum stands out. Not for its roofs, although they are grand and steep enough. Not for its enclosed porches, even if it has seven of them.

It is its simple act of standing that is the cause of wonder, for the exquisite example of Malay architecture was built without the use of a single nail.
Add to that the equally improbable fact that the museum's design and construction were based entirely on a description contained in the book Sejarah Melayu, or The Malay Annals (Sulalatus Salatin), and one realises that one is about to enter a remarkable building indeed.

Its curator, Nurazimah Mat Ali, said the Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum is a clone of Sultan Mansur Syah's palace, which was built around 1465, as described in Sejarah Melayu.

"Only high quality wood was used to build the museum, and no nails at all. The walls are made of cengal, the floors of resak. The roof is built with the most expensive wood of all, belian," Nurazimah said.

The museum was built in 1984 and named the Cultural Museum. It was officially opened by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed on July 17, 1986.

"Although Malacca no longer has a sultan, the country's monarchy system has its roots in the ancient Malacca sultanate.

"We therefore built a replica of a Malay palace in the city to represent a significant period in the history of the state," she said.

Some contemporary architecture and décor have been adapted to suit present conditions. But these small concessions to modern times have neither diminished its grandeur nor called into question its authenticity.

Wood is predominant throughout. Apart from providing the shell and structure, it is carved into fine and detailed traditional decorative pieces to add beauty.

There is a magnificent throne room filled with art pieces and artifacts, lavish bedroom suites, a royal treasury and a "forbidden garden" for the sultan's exclusive use.

The istana did not only serve as the home of the sultan, but it was also the centre of the state's administration. This is clearly depicted at the Balairong Seri at the entrance of the museum.

Other sections display recreated scenes of historical events like the battle between Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, and palace activities in its heyday. There are also miniature replicas of traders from Java, Arab, Gujarat and Siam.

"The forbidden garden with colourful flowers was once the playground of princesses," said Nurazimah.

"The istana would also have a wall or fence that is guarded by sentries under the charge of a bentara. It was off-limits to the common folk.

"Only the immediate relatives of the sultan and members of the gentry were allowed to move freely inside the istana.

"But since this is a museum, we don't need the walls."

The museum is open daily from 9am to 5.30pm. The entry fee is RM2 per adult and 50 sen per child.

'Beijing' mosque a tourist attraction

A little bird told me.....

Hm.. some interesting facts about mosque in Kelantan..

Even though Kelantan is a state where the majority of the population are

Muslim based, what impresses me about Kelantan is that it can

boast of other religious places of worship that is unique.. !

One of which is this article below......

NST Online 'Beijing' mosque a tourist attraction