Book Three completes My Johor Stories trilogy

 

On December 18, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now – the final instalment to complete an exciting trilogy of My Johor Stories books – was officially launched in a simple ceremony, officiated by Dato’ Dr Abdul Rahim Ramli.

 

My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now
was launched on 18 December 2022

Once again, I was honoured by the presence of so many friends and family members, titled, influential or renowned, former schoolmates and even former and current neighbours, who joined me in this third and final celebration for the launch of Book Three of My Johor Stories.

 

To everyone who came from near and far, please accept my deepest appreciation for being there for me and My Johor Stories.

 

From the photos, you will spot familiar faces who honoured me with their presence.

 

A section of guests at my book launch event

They included Guest of Honour, Dato Rahim, President of the Johor Royal Court Council, Tunku Fatimah Faridah Osman, a member of the Johor Royal Family, Dato Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim, CEO of Iskandar Regional Development Authority, and Mr Jeevan Singh, Singapore Consul-General in Johor.

 

While Johor Corporation, President & Chief Executive, Dato Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim had confirmed to attend, he decided that it was wiser to stay away as he was just recovering from illness.

 

I was just pleased that Johor Corporation was represented by Pn Hasnina Hafiz of their Group Corporate Communications section.

 

My mother [on wheelies] meeting with
Dato Abdul Rahim Ramli at the event

Also present were Think City Johor Baru representative, En Mohd Shahril Abd Manan, UTM represented by Dato Dr Prof Kassim Thukiman, Mr Ho Sow Tong, President of the JB Tiong Hua Association, Mr Cheng Chee Tong of the JB Kwong Siew Heritage Gallery, Pn Noorani Mohd Yassin and her husband, as well as Datin Patricia Lim, with whom I have a shared heritage linked through the Wong family of Johor.

 

Among the family members who honoured me with their presence, was Pearly our second sister, who came all the way from the United Kingdom, as well as my two Aunts with their spouses from Kuala Lumpur, cousins and relatives from our extended family including the Wong family in Johor.

 

A reunion of old friends!

Thanks cousin Shaun, for your transport and hotel arrangement for your parents to come to Johor Baru with Aunty Polly and Uncle Steven, to attend my event.

 

It was significant that Dato Rahim met with Aunty Sylvia again – they used to play badminton together – and her husband, Uncle Mok, who used to be Dato’s banker here.

 

My project on Book Three started back in 2019 but was delayed by the lockdown periods that stretched into two years (2020 and 2021). When conditions improved in 2022, I completed the manuscript for Book Three and published it with the support of MPH Group Publishing Kuala Lumpur.

 

And so, it was my great pleasure to invite guests, who included the Subjects featured in Book Three, as well as all who appreciate My Johor Stories, to come into my cosy ‘sitting room’ to let me briefly introduce the Contents in this book.

 

The Johor Storyteller introducing the
Contents of Book Three

My styling team led by Florence Liew, successfully created the cosy ambience of a sitting room on the small stage in the Level 9 event hall at Holiday Inn Johor Baru City Centre.

 

It was as if we were transported to a bygone era as she made use of relics in the décor. Among them, a dial-up landline telephone, an old radio, shaded lamps, my woven rattan cosmetic bag by JARO, my grandmother’s mirror, perfume and square face powder, and my dad’s faithful camera which he used to capture our Black & While photos.

 

The contents of My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, includes a section on Proudly Johor brands: established Johor brands that had expanded nationwide and exported abroad as well as promising young brands in Johor.

 

The JARO booth showcasing their products
for sale at my book launch event

From the cover design of Book Three, you will see the logo of a familiar brand, JARO the shortform for Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation, one of the oldest NGOs established in Johor to support the rehabilitation of people with disabilities.

 

It was my pleasure to have a team from JARO at my book launch event, invited to set up a booth to showcase their handicrafts to let my guests see for themselves the quality and beauty of such products that were made by people with disabilities.

 

Guests had the privilege to receive a sample of My Liberica Specialty Coffee in a drip bag which they could enjoy sipping, along with the taste of freshly baked cookies by Sedap Corner.

 

A section of the hall with guests at my event

Guests also received from Infinity8 Co-Working Spaces, a One-Day Free Pass to go to any of their co-working spaces for their own experience of this modern concept of a shared work space.

 

When I learnt that the award-winning Kun Seng Keng High Pole Lion Dancers and the dramatic drummers in the Art of the 24 Festive Drums were occupied with training for their highly demanded performances in this season, I arranged for videos of their skillful and entertaining acts to be screened for my guests to get a glimpse of these Proudly Johor performing arts.

 

My friends in JB Drums graciously obliged to provide a Chinese drum with drumsticks for display at my event so that guests may have their own drumming experience and capture some drumming photo/video mementoes.

 

Mrs A. Oliveiro [Left] with
our Aunty Polly, alumni of the
Johor Baru Convent School

You can easily recognize the logos of proudly Johor brands featured with their stories under the Proudly Johor section in Book Three.

 

Among the stories under Culture and Heritage, is my story on the Johor Baru Convent – the one and only Convent School in Johor Baru – and I was happy to see many of my former schoolmates as well as Mrs A. Oliveiro, President of the Past Pupils Association, at this event.

 

It was especially meaningful because I could share my JB Convent story with two former schoolmates – Mrs Oliveiro and our Aunty Polly – who were actively involved in school sports. Do look out for a much younger version of them featured in a group photo with this story.

 

I was pleased to acknowledge Tunku Fatimah, also alumni of the Johor Baru Convent School, for the gift of the land along Jalan Yahya Awal to build the school, presented by her great-grandfather, Sultan Sir Ibrahim and his consort, Sultanah Rugayah, in 1926.

 

With Tunku Fatimah Faridah,
Pn Nooraini Mohd Yassin 
and her husband

I was particularly pleased that Tunku Fatimah graced my event because my story on her namesake, Sultanah Fatimah of Johor, is featured in Book Three.

 

Very little is known about the third consort of Sultan Abu Bakar and I trust my story will share more insights into this gracious lady of Chinese origin.

 

It was so good to see my Japanese friends from the Japan Club of Johor present to witness this event because my story on the Japanese Legacy in Johor aims to share that there was a large Japanese community in Johor, long before the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation happened here.

 

Meanwhile Dr Anand Sachithanandan, who first shared with me about the First ICU in the Johor Baru General Hospital, was unable to come due to family commitments, but he was thrilled that I had documented his father’s commendable work in the Johor Baru General Hospital, in Book Three.

 

Autographing books for readers

I must admit that it was a challenge trying to track down members of the current Johor Baru chapter of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) known as Jaycees, whom I thought needed to know about the contribution of the Jaycees during the time of Dr Anand’s father, Dr. T Sachithanandan, who was a Jaycee then.

 

Almost at the proverbial 11^th hour, I managed to find a contact to reach Mr Lye, an entrepreneur in Johor Baru who was a Jaycee. Then he explained that the Jaycees were hosting their Installation event that same weekend and would try to arrange for representatives to attend my book launch event.

 

Eventually, Mr Lye attended, along with a number of the in-coming Presidents of various chapters of JCI in Johor including the JCI National President, Matt Ngai.

 

For health reasons, Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Malaysia’s foremost cartoonist, Lat, said that he was not able to travel when he declined to attend my event.

 

Datuk Lat showed me his shopping from MPH
NuSentral, my trilogy of My Johor Stories!

And when he wished me success on My Johor Stories Book Three, he also said [and I quote], “I am sure I can get your book soon and hope to meet you at another time in the near future.”

 

I am deeply honoured to have permission from Datuk Lat to use his classic cartoons to share my story on Unity Through Lat Cartoons under Memories in Book Three.

 

On Friday, Dec 23, I was happy to receive a message from him that read, “Got your books in KL today, Peggy (NuSental)” with season’s greetings and an emoticon with a bead of sweat on its forehead.

 

This update came with a photo showing the trilogy of My Johor Stories next to an empty MPH carrier bag.

 

My cousin Dennis, who is based in Melbourne, have been checking mphonline for my books and updating me on the number of units available, so I was aware that the book stocks seemed to be very few.

 

My Johor Stories books are available
for sale at JARO in Johor Baru

So at the book launch event, I told my guests – who already have Book One, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage, and Book Two, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People – to give themselves a pat on the back because these books are now Collectors’ Items.

 

Now with Book Three, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, they would have the complete trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

I am aware that MPH had closed many bookstores in the Klang Valley because in Johor Baru, all the MPH bookstores are now closed.

 

Meanwhile, I am receiving numerous queries from readers who wanted to know where they could get my books in Johor Baru.

 

With Qun of YSpace, where
My Johor Stories books are 
also available for sale

I had reassured them that my pop-up book sale would happen during the events planned for my Road Show as well as in my Downtown Johor Baru project from January in the first four months in 2023.

 

So for these keen readers’ convenience, I am pleased to share that from today, readers may buy My Johor Stories books from two (2) outlets here, which carry a small stock of Book Three.

 

1] Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation or JARO, located at No. 18 Jalan Sungai Chat, Sri Gelam, 80100 Johor Baru, Johor. Open from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Closed on Friday and Saturday. Tel: +607 – 227 5314.

 

2] YSpace, located at No. 2 Jalan Yahya Awal, 80100 Johor Baru, Johor. Open 11am to 7pm. Closed on Thursday.

 

My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now retails at RM50 (Hardcover) and RM35.90 (Softcover).

 

Limited stock of Book One and Book Two are available at RM32.90 (Softcover) so please don’t be disappointed as stocks are fast running out.

 

Thank you for your support of My Johor Stories. Happy Reading!

 

P.S. Look out for more info on the coming Road Show and activities for My Johor Stories in Downtown Johor Baru.