Go Downtown Johor Baru with My Johor Stories

 

On 18 March 2020, when the nation’s borders were closed, some of us naively thought that it was only for about two weeks.

 

A refreshed Sungai Segget bordered 
by a very walkable Segget Walk

These two weeks stretched to two months and eventually, it was two years before the borders were reopened again.

 

It was a challenging time for many as everyone went through an unprecedented time of health crises and future uncertainties.

 

While we stayed home to stay safe, life as we knew it (except the Healthcare sector!) ground to a halt.

 

As we patiently waited until it was safe to be out there again, I shared a glimpse of Our Silent Streets (2020) and Blue Skies in Johor Baru (2021), that showed photos in stark contrast of how the city looked like compared to pre-pandemic times.

 

Sungai Segget is crossed by bridges that
were built for boats to pass underneath

When the nation reopened its international borders in April 2022, the economy and travel gradually reopened.

 

And as the city awoke from its slumber, the economy in Johor Baru is seeing a revival with families united and visitors thronging our streets and malls again.

 

In the heart of the city, many changes had taken place.

 

One was the refreshed Segget River, our main waterway through the city, improved with a parallel promenade for pedestrians which I had dubbed, the Segget Walk.

 

Sungai Segget is bordered by comfortable
walkways with benches to rest on along the way

In my story, Sungai Segget – JB’s wonder waterway (The Iskandarian June 2016), I shared among other things, about a bygone era when this river was the main mode of transport from the Johor Straits.

 

I said, “Immigrant Chinese with a strong pioneering spirit, arrived by small boats through the Straits of Johor and sailed up Sungai Segget to claim their sites close to rivers throughout the state.”

 

Just close your eyes and let your imagination soar: Picture how these 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.

 

Among the features designed on the refreshed
Sungai Segget is a small waterfall
 

I had mentioned, “The names of major settlements like Kangkar Tebrau and Kangkar Pulai, remain to this day as a memento of this rich era in Johor history.”

 

In my feature, JB’s first industry – a steam sawmill (The Iskandarian, April 2016) I shared that, “The virgin jungles of Johor were the state’s earliest resource.  The rainforest provided many kinds of jungle produce such as dammar, rattan, wood oil, camphor, ebony, wax, sandalwood and other types of wood, that were traditionally collected by the jungle people.”

 

James Meldrum, a Scotsman, was the son-in-law of Reverend Benjamin Keasberry, a tutor of Sultan Abu Bakar. In 1860, Meldrum set up Johor Baru’s first industry, the Johor Steam Sawmill at the mouth of Sungai Segget. 

 

In this sector close to Johor Baru City Square,
Sungai Segget remains virtually concealed

He left his legacy in Johor and is remembered by roads names like Jalan Sawmill, Jalan Meldrum and Jalan Bukit Meldrum in Johor Baru.

 

I was pleased that Johor’s pepper and gambier heritage is honoured at the Segget Walk with designs engraved on chrome pillars and its iconic identity featured on the fence that bordered the refreshed river.

 

I had the pleasure to share about Johor’s iconic pepper and gambier plants (The Iskandarian, September 2014) to remind us of how these plants earned its place of honour in Johor.

 

In a recent WhatsApp chat with my cousin Karen, I told her about the activities in the awareness campaign planned for the My Johor Stories in Downtown Johor Baru.

 

Attractive arches to walk 
under at the sector close to 
Zenith Lifestyle Mall

She calls me, Cheh a respectful title equivalent to Malay for kakak, and replied: “What a great effort Cheh, to promote Johor heritage. I feel Johor Baru itself has so much to offer to tourists.”

 

Karen, who is based in Kuala Lumpur for her business at First Tempo Music, The Popular Music Store, was thrilled when I told her that my activities planned for one Saturday each month from January to April, include a Heritage Walk to different destinations in Downtown Johor Baru in the morning with a Book Reading session held in a hotel in the afternoon.

 

The Heritage Walks are planned for Saturdays, from 10am to 12pm in four different routes: January 14 – Segget Waterway, 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.

 

A wall mural by local artist Mulo to celebrate
two landmark cinemas, the Rex and Lido

The hotels are the Amari Johor Baru on January 14, the Holiday Inn Johor Baru City Centre on February 18, the DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru on March 18 and the GBW Hotel Johor Baru on April 15.

 

I shared with Karen that these activities will be recorded and documented by photographs and videos in partnership with BrandCulture PR Marketing & Communications, the same team who produced the Merdeka Day video in August 2021 that used the music created by Karen, exclusively for My Johor Stories.

 

While we may only use the Intro and Outro segments of her music, Karen was more than thrilled that her music will also be part of the My Johor Stories in Downtown Johor Baru project.

 

The team at BrandCulture have been supporting My Johor Stories in various projects including my recent book launch event for My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now in December 2022, the final instalment to complete the trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

A wall mural and info plaque
at Jalan Ngee Heng

As our city is being renewed with the refreshed Sungai Segget and Segget Walk, it is timely to explore and rediscover our city again at the start of the year.

 

So check your calendars and come join me for the Heritage Walks and Book Reading sessions planned for one Saturday each month.

 

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 415 9272.

 

This is where you can raise
a glass or two...

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.

 

So let Downtown Johor Baru come alive for you in an exciting experience hosted by My Johor Stories, only for four Saturdays early this year.

 

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.