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All-new Y Space within an old mansion

 

This morning, I received a WhatsApp message from my friend, Barney of Kluang Rail Coffee, who showed me a poorly taken photograph of my books, My Johor Stories, Books One and Two, shot through reflecting glass panels of an antique cupboard.

 

Books One and Two of My Johor Stories, 
displayed for sale at the Y Gallery in Y Space

He captioned this shot briefly with the words, Y Gallery.

 

I cannot help but shared his pride in spotting my books in this gallery because their Kluang Rail Coffee heritage trade story was featured in My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

 

It was just recently in July when I had the pleasure to witness the celebration held in the Kluang Railway Station where the Kluang Rail coffeeshop was recognised by the Malaysian Book of Records as the Oldest Railway Kopitiam in the Nation.

 

Such a recognition never failed to excite me because I had the privilege to document their family’s heritage trade story – along with stories of other Johor heritage traders – in My Johor Stories.

 

The forecourt of Y Space arranged for the
Ribbon-Cutting ceremony on its official opening

I quickly replied Barney with a (ahem!) better shot of my books that I saw, displayed within a charming antique cupboard (with the spotlights on!) when I was at Y Space the day before to celebrate its official opening.

 

Earlier, Think City Johor Baru – along with MPH Group Publishing Kuala Lumpur – who supported me in the publication of My Johor Stories Books One and Two, had informed me about their plan to place their small stock of my books at Y Space.

 

So it was good to see my books displayed in this wooden cupboard, an antique which reminded me of the old cupboards in grandfather’s house that were used to showcase a large collection of trophies including silver cups of various sizes, won in badminton tournaments.

 

Speaking of badminton, two family stories on Badminton Glory Days and Growing Up in Grandfather’s House, are shared under Memories in Book Three, the final instalment to complete the trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

When I arrived at Y Space for the event, I was warmly welcomed by Qun at the forecourt – now beautifully paved – unlike how it was when this property was used as a private school.

 

It was good to reminisce about a time when I used to come here every week day, driving in and out of this property on that steep slope of its driveway to pick up Brendon, my nephew, after his school hours.

 

I recalled that when my car appeared on the driveway, the children (who easily recognised my car with my name emblazoned on the spare tyre cover!) would shout, “Brendon, your mummy is here!”

 

And my nephew would reply with an equally loud shout, “She is not my mummy!”

 

He was right because I am his aunt…

 

It was so good to be back here again, this time to see the property tastefully restored to its former glory.

 

When I was introduced to Max Chia as a director of Y Space, I was pleasantly surprised when he reminded me that we had met before and that I had written a feature about his hotel in Muar!

 

I had an instant flashback to 2018 when I went on a road trip around Johor to meet with the subjects whom I had planned to feature in Book Two of My Johor Stories.

 

While I was staying in the Muo Boutique Hotel in Muar, I met with Max.

 

This stay-experience then developed into a travel story, More than a stay, published in Life & Times, a section of The New Straits Times, on 28 June 2018.

 

In our conversation, I told Max that I am familiar with this area because the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus – as it was originally called – located across the road from Y Space – is my alma mater where I spent 11 years, from Primary to Secondary school.

 

I was pleased to tell him that I have featured the Johor Baru Convent, proudly as the only Convent School in Johor Baru in Book Three, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now.

 

Watercolour artists drawing and painting a
side view of the building facade at Y Space

Still feeling amused by such a pleasant surprise of meeting Max again, I was told that the Malaysia Watercolour Society was holding their Annual Show right here at Y Space, the first time outside of Kuala Lumpur.

 

Their 2022 Annual Show in the theme, Borderless, was even more meaningful because it was a charity show where proceeds would benefit the Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofia, a charity foundation in Johor.

 

Then Qun directed guests to observe the artists who were sketching and painting a side view of the building façade.

 

As we approached them, one of the artists (who was wearing a mask) turned to me with a friendly greeting.

 

I had yet to recover from the pleasant surprise with Max so I did not hesitate to ask the artist to please remind me where we met before.

 

He was all smiles when he removed his mask and told me he was Lee Chin Chian, whom I recognised as one of the organisers of The Art Journey of Pekan Nanas in 2019.

 

Lee congratulated me on my soon-to-be-released Book Three of My Johor Stories, (because he follows me on social media!) so I responded by reminding him to get his own copy of this final instalment of My Johor Stories when it was released by MPH nationwide on 15 December.

 

My Johor Stories Books One and
Two among other books displayed
in an antique cupboard in Y Gallery

Qun then ushered the guests indoors and upstairs to await the arrival of the event VIPs, namely Johor Baru Mayor, Dato Haji Mohd Noorazam bin Dato Haji Osman, as the Guest of Honour.

 

In the moments when I stepped into this 120-year-old mansion, I politely asked Qun to show me where my books were displayed.

 

And she led me to where an antique cupboard with glass panels showcased a collection of books, including My Johor Stories, Books One and Two, that were published with the support of Think City Johor Baru.

 

Among other titles, I also saw the book, JOHOR Local History, Local Landscapes 1855 – 1957, by Datin P. Lim Pui Huen, the great-granddaughter of Johor pioneer, Wong Ah Fook.

 

Datin Pat, as she is fondly called, is a historian by profession and the contents of her book provides invaluable information that helped readers piece together a clearer picture of Johor in a bygone era.

 

A section of the original wall 
was carefully preserved under
a protective acrylic sheet

When the VIPs were welcomed into the upstairs event hall, I was delighted to see Datin Pat walking in after the Guest of Honour, Mayor Dato Haji Mohd Noorazam.

 

The event kicked off with Words of Welcome by Max and his speech opened formally with salutations that acknowledged the names and titles of the Guest of Honour and a list of other VIPs…

 

… and I was deeply humbled when I heard my name mentioned at the end of his list.

 

Next, Qun introduced the meaning of “Y” in Y Space which sounded similar to, “Why?” in a presentation that explained the reasons why they restored this old mansion into an attractive and functional space.

 

Y Space was restored and refurbished in consultation with Think City Johor Baru and it was interesting to see how they have wisely preserved a section of the original wall in the building for visitors to see and touch – through a hole opened on a protective acrylic sheet – for a feel of the texture of the clay-brick wall with lime plaster.

 

Two views of the old mansion: As it looked
before and its restored facade as Y Space

In the Past Story of Y Space, a presentation by Mr Gan of Think City Johor Baru, he shared old photographs and historical facts on the building to provide a better understanding of this old mansion built on Bukit Kurnia, along Jalan Yahya Awal.

 

From their research into the background of this building, they discovered that the property was once a residence, then used as a restaurant before it accommodated different schools including a secondary school, an art school and a private school.

 

And now this old building was revitalised with new life as an inspired space in Johor Baru that offers endless potential and possibilities for creative use.

 

A chart with the timeline for Y Space since 1902

From a map featured in Datin Pat’s book, JOHOR Local History, Local Landscapes 1855 – 1957, he pointed out that this old mansion was already a landmark building indicated on this 1902 map.

 

At the close of his presentation, Gan graciously invited Datin Pat to share a few thoughts so she used this old map and pointed to several buildings to share a clearer perspective of the development in that bygone era of Johor.

 

She explained that life revolved around the Istana Besar or Grand Palace, designed with a collection of palaces and mansions built in the same compound as meeting halls and residences for the Johor Royal family and included a palace for Sultanah Fatimah.

 

Datin Pat Lim shared a few thoughts with
reference to the map from 1902

I was pleased that she mentioned Sultanah Fatimah because very little is known about this Chinese lady who was the third consort of Sultan Abu Bakar while he was then Temenggong Abu Bakar Sri Maharaja.

 

To better appreciate her role in Johor heritage, I have featured a story on Sultanah Fatimah under Culture and Heritage in Book Three of My Johor Stories.

 

When Datin Pat ended her time of sharing, she mentioned that she and her late husband, Dato Dr Lim Kee Jin, had a life-long passion in caring for the disabled community through the NGO, Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation or JARO.

 

Incidentally, JARO is among the proudly Johor brands featured in Book Three.

 

Johor Baru Mayor, Dato Haji Mohd Noorazam
declared Y Space officially opened

Datin Pat was pleased to present her book, One-Legged Football and Other Stories, inspirational stories on people with disabilities, to the Guest of Honour, Max and Qun of Y Space and Gan of Think City Johor Baru.

 

I am familiar with this book because I had the pleasure to review it when it was published and my review of One-Legged Football and Other Stories, was featured in The Iskandarian on 21 January 2021.

 

In his speech, Mayor Dato Haji Mohd Noorazam, who was formerly the District Officer for Muar, declared that he was proud to be involved with the restoration projects that Max was challenged to accomplish in Muar and now in Johor Baru.

 

He thanked Datin Pat for the fresh insights he received from her sharing and spoke about the importance of preserving old buildings and heritage sites in the city.

 

Electrical switches from a bygone era
carefully preserved in Y Space

Among other things, he discussed the deplorable state of the Johor Baru Jail, a landmark building located diagonally across the road from Y Space and expressed his desire for this precious relic in Johor history to be restored and given a new life.

 

[Incidentally, Datin Pat’s great-grandfather, Wong Ah Fook was the building contractor who was credited for building the Istana Besar and the Johor Baru Jail.]

 

In 2005, I had the privilege of a conducted tour of the Johor Baru Jail when it was briefly opened to visitors and have documented my experience in a story which is also published in Book Three of My Johor Stories.

 

At the close of his speech the Mayor formally declared Y Space as officially opened.

 

Then Max escorted the Mayor and VIPs on a tour of the premises that ended at the forecourt of the building for the Ribbon-Cutting ceremony.

 

Finally, in a traditional opening ceremony where a pair of performing Lions danced to the beat of drums and crashing cymbals, Y Space was officially opened to welcome visitors and organisers to host their events here.

 

Y Space Johor Baru is located No. 2, Jalan Yahya Awal, 80100 Johor Baru, Johor.


Open from 11am to 9pm daily. Closed on Thursday.

 

For enquiries on planning and hosting your events at Y Space, email to: info@yspace-jb.com

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