“Let’s
meet on the bridge across Sungai Segget, where Jalan Ungku Puan meets Jalan
Wong Ah Fook,” was my request to participants who registered to join the first
Heritage Walk with My Johor Stories in the theme, Segget Waterway.
This
spot was our morning rendezvous on January 14, a much-anticipated Heritage Walk
where participants were escorted by me in an interesting and informative time together
on the Segget Walk, a promenade designed parallel to Sungai Segget.
My Johor Stories in Downtown Johor Baru
on Heritage Walk: Segget Waterway
As
our Walk was mainly outdoors to rediscover some sites along our faithful, wonder
waterway – now renewed and refreshed – I also reminded participants to wear
comfortable clothes and walking shoes, bring along a hat or cap, and an
umbrella if they so wished, as well as their own drinking water.
The
Walk should start promptly at 10am so I was there by 9.30am to welcome everyone.
On arrival, each participant was given a sticker to paste on the Top Right/Left
of their shirt or blouse to identify them as part of this special Walk.
The
first to arrive was our videographer, Chong Han Sun of JB Twenty-Twenty,
followed by Fairoz Md Said, a tour guide who told me he was there to learn more
about our local heritage so that he could share relevant info with his guests. 
A view of the renewed and
refreshed Segget River
Our
Japanese friend, Mihoku Yui, joined us shortly and she was quick to say that
she had devoted the day to joining my Downtown Johor Baru activities, first in
this Heritage Walk and would continue later, in my Book Reading session.
I
was more than delighted to hear this because the Heritage Walk experience would
be completed by the Book Reading where I would read portions documented in My
Johor Stories books that highlighted the same Subjects that we saw in our Walk.
For
a more personal experience, the Heritage Walk was limited to only 10 people
while the Book Reading – held in a hotel in Downtown Johor Baru – would
accommodate a maximum of 25 participants.
The
Book Reading session for January was arranged in partnership with the Amari
Johor Baru, the hotel that was built on the site of the former landmark
cinemas, the Rex and Lido, along with the Suasana Suites and Zenith Lifestyle
Centre.
Thank you Amari Johor Baru for
your partnership in my Downtown
Johor Baru Book Reading activity in
January 2023
Recently
while my friends in the BrandCulture PR Marketing & Communications team
were in the Amari Johor Baru for an assignment, they sent me a photograph of the
promotion poster for the activities arranged in January for My Johor Stories in
Downtown Johor Baru, that was displayed in the hotel lobby.
It
was just heart-warming to know that this hotel, which now stands on a
significant site in our city, continues to support My Johor Stories.
In
a few minutes, we were joined by Tengku Tarmizi Bin Tengku Aziz and his wife
with two young children.
I
was delighted to meet him and his family as I was recently e-introduced to
Tengku Tarmizi of the Sultan Ismail Library at Jalan Datin Halimah, by Datin
Patricia Lim through an email.
Then
a representative from Think City Johor Baru, Ms Nurul Nabila, also joined our
group.
On the route along Segget Walk
With
the participants promptly assembled at the meeting point, we started our comfortable
walk on the Segget Walk with short pauses to point out interesting sites along
this historical waterway.
I
enjoyed the spontaneous interaction among the participants, welcomed them to ask
questions and the privilege they gave me to share any knowledge or information.
However,
I did provide all the answers because some information was linked to the next
Heritage Walks planned in the coming months. So I encouraged the participants
to join me again to get their curiosity satisfied when we explored the other
Walks.
As
we looked closer at the bridges that spanned across Sungai Segget, I invited
the participants to close their eyes and imagine how brave pioneer planters
travelled by small boats – small enough to pass safely under the bridges – to
reach their destinations upriver and to start a new life here.
A wall mural along Jalan Trus as
a tribute to the landmark cinemas,
Rex and Lido
We
paused along the route to draw attention to how Johor’s pepper and gambier
heritage was proudly honoured at the Segget Walk with motifs engraved on chrome
pillars and boldly featured on the fence that bordered the refreshed river.
It
was encouraging to observe that the participants were getting fresh insights
into the sites I highlighted along the route, in particular their fascination about
the first wet market that was once located at the area we now know as Jalan
Segget.
On
a walk-through of the Zenith Lifestyle Centre and into the lobby of the Amari
Johor Baru, I had much pleasure to share with them about how the Amari Johor
Baru had fondly preserved the heritage of the two landmark cinemas, Rex and
Lido, by naming their function rooms by the very same names.
Locals,
familiar with these stand-alone cinema halls, would remember that these
affordable entertainment centres were easily accessible from Jalan Wong Ah Fook
and Jalan Trus. 
Participants with Mr Nagalingam at the Johor
Baru Public Toddy Shop, showing off their
limited edition My Johor Stories tote bags
As
a token of fond remembrance, I escorted the participants into the Zenith
Lifestyle Centre – which also enjoys similar accessibility – from Jalan Wong Ah
Fook and led them to exit to Jalan Trus.
And
then we were off to Jalan Sulaiman, a short road which links Jalan Trus with
Jalan Wong Ah Fook, and where the Johor Baru Public Toddy Shop was located.
Mr
Nagalingam Chelladurai, who operates the business now, told us that he has the
documents that proved that this property had existed since 1920.
A taste of fresh toddy with
light refreshments on our visit
A
small metal plaque affixed to the building read as, JKR467, proof that it was
Government property that ran a business that was originally operated by the Royal
Malaysian Customs, Johor Baru.
When
we arrived, it was interesting to observe a tourist – complete with luggage bag
– who bought a takeaway bottle of fresh toddy and was making his way out.
Mr
Nagalingam graciously welcomed us in and served light refreshments of homemade
curry-puffs and vadai along with jugs of fresh toddy for us to sample.
This
was our final destination in the Segget Waterway Heritage Walk and to close the
activity, I presented each of the participants with a limited edition My Johor
Stories tote bag filled with an autographed copy of My Johor Stories 3: Proudly
Johor, Then and Now, along with an exclusive My Johor Stories bookmark.
After
a short break, I was back at the Amari Johor Baru again by about 1.30pm, where
my Book Reading session was arranged in a function room on Level 21.
Book Reading session at the
Amari Johor Baru, January 2023
It
was significant that this activity was held in this hotel that was built on the
site of the former two landmark cinemas in Johor Baru.
As
registered participants trickled in, Mihoko also arrived, just as she said she
would.
I
was deeply encouraged by the presence of Ms Lucy Cheng, who was visiting Johor Baru
from the UK with her husband. Someone had shared the information about my
Downtown Johor Baru activities that day and she was keen to join.
She,
however, had a prior commitment to attend a temple ceremony that morning so she
had no alternative but to miss out on the Heritage Walk but she made sure that
she was there for my Book Reading session.
With Ms Lucy Cheng at the
Book Reading, Amari Johor Baru
I
was also much encouraged by the presence of my friend, Barney J T Lim of Kluang
RailCoffee, who came all the way from Kluang to participate in this activity.
I
was honoured by the privilege to document his family’s heritage trade in My
Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People and it was
significant that last year, Kluang RailCoffee was recognised by the Malaysia
Book of Records as the Oldest Railway Kopitiam in the nation.
The
presence of another friend, Haji Shafie Ahmad, formerly of Yayasan Warisan
Johor or the Johor Heritage Foundation, was very encouraging as this made
up an eclectic group of participants who provided a lively interaction of sharing
and reminiscing about the Johor they each experienced and cared about.
Among
the participants was Rita Abd Rahim, a staff of the Amari Johor Baru, who has a
personal interest in sharing about Johor heritage with their hotel guests.
With Haji Shafie Ahmad
And
because she is not from Johor, she found our time together – discussing Johor
heritage – most meaningful and memorable.
The
conversations continued over refreshments and everyone paid high compliments to
the hotel culinary team for the tasty and generous refreshment spread.
Each
participant then received a limited edition My Johor Stories tote bag filled
with an autographed copy of My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now,
along with an exclusive My Johor Stories bookmark.
The
Heritage Walks are planned for Saturdays, from 10am to 12pm in four
different routes. After the Segget Waterway activities on January 14, the next
are planned for February 18 – Heritage Traders, March 18 – Teochew Heritage and
April 15 – Cantonese Heritage.
My
Book Reading sessions based on these Walks, from 2pm to 4.30pm are
arranged in hotels located in Downtown Johor Baru that has particular relevance
to the Walk routes and destinations.
With Barney JT Lim of
Kluang RailCoffee
After
the Amari Johor Baru on January 14, the next on February 18 would be held in
the Holiday Inn Johor Baru City Centre, with the DoubleTree by Hilton Johor
Baru on March 18 and the GBW Hotel Johor Baru on April 15.
So
clear your calendars and come join me for the Heritage Walks and Book Reading
sessions planned for one Saturday each month, up to April 2023 only.
Let
Downtown Johor Baru come alive for you again in an exciting experience hosted
by My Johor Stories, only for three more Saturdays early this year.
Participation
in each event is by registration, priced at only RM50 per person to receive a
limited edition My Johor Stories tote bag, one book of My Johor
Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now and an exclusive My Johor Stories
souvenir bookmark.
Spaces
are limited to 10 people for each Heritage Walk and 25 people for
each Book Reading session. For more info, Tel: +6016 727 5537.
Participants may also buy more copies of Book Three, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now at the book sale set up at my Book Reading sessions and get them autographed too.
The
activities planned for the My Johor Stories in Downtown Johor Baru is an
initiative under the Downtown Johor Baru Grants Programme: Arts, Heritage and
Culture, a collaboration between Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)
and Think City, supported by Majlis Bandaraya Johor Baru (MBJB).
Focusing
on the heritage core of Johor Baru, the grants programme aims to support
community-based initiatives to reactivate Downtown Johor Baru.
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