NST Online: StreetsJohor
NST Online: StreetsJohor |
| Posted: 17 Oct 2011 10:40 AM PDT Johor Baru's coffee king Hong Say Tee tells of the good old days JUST as we listen to our elders talk about life in the old days, an audience gathered at the Red House in Jalan Tan Hiok Nee recently to share a nostalgic evening with Hong Say Tee, an entrepreneur who arrived in Johor Baru from Fukien Province, China, in 1935. In coffee shop circles, Hong is renowned as Johor Baru's coffee king.
Listening to Hong speak about the Johor Baru he knew was like turning back the pages of history for a glimpse of life in Johor Baru throughout the 1950s and early 1970s. Johor Baru Teochew Eight Districts Association director Tan Chai Puan, who gave a brief introduction of Hong, said that one of Hong's coffee shops was in Jalan Ibrahim Sultan.
In the 1960s, while Tan was in that area, he was involved in a motor accident and later realised that the rescuer who came to his aid was none other than Hong, the owner of the hai ping kopitiam (seaside coffee shop). The site of that shop is now occupied by a club.
If he was at first feeling rather awkward speaking into a microphone to a waiting audience, he soon calmed his qualms, speaking passionately as he warmed to the subject close to his heart. Using old photographs, his presentation in Mandarin was casual, with frequent breaks to listen to comments and answer questions from the audience. Johoreans, familiar with the annual tradition of the Chingay parade, were thrilled to see a faded black--and-white photo of the parade along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee in the 1950s. The parade is an annual tradition in Johor since the 1800s. The only year it ceased was when the Japanese invaded Malaya in 1942. As Hong discussed the history of the Red House on that road, he pointed it out in the photo's background. It was not yet painted red, but easily recognisable by the ornate design of its balcony. Hong is familiar with this area because his family members also owned coffee shops in Jalan Dhoby, Jalan Pahang and Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Aware of the preferences of the British in Johor at that time, Hong was an innovative pioneer who transformed traditional coffee shops into modern cafes and snack bars in the city. The mention of his former businesses in popular dining destinations such as Wato Inn and Wato Snack Bar along Jalan Ibrahim struck a familiar chord as many in the audience nodded their heads in recognition, probably because they once dined there. Interesting details in a photo of Jalan Wong Ah Fook bordered by Jalan Siu Nam and Sungai Segget depicted boats that used to transport goods such as fish, timber, pepper and charcoal. The river was then an important waterway, navigable up to where Tropical Inn is now, and bridges across the river allowed sampan laden with goods to pass through with ease. From a photo of the old market built with wrought iron in 1894 on a small triangular island where the Mara building now stands, Hong vividly described the market's various sections that sold meat, vegetables and other goods. Before the Causeway existed, the mode of transport between Johor and Kranji in Singapore was by ferry. Jetties were constructed along Sungai Segget's sheltered estuary. A photo of one such jetty with travellers on it gave the audience an idea of how elite men in Johor Baru used to dress. They liked the Western ensemble of linen trousers teamed with shirts, and many wore neckties and blazers in white suits. During the 90-minute talk that included poignant anecdotes of atrocities committed during WW2, more visitors to the cultural street found their way into the Red House. The event was organised by the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk Committee as part of its calendar of cultural events in the Red House and Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk to bring tourists into the heart of old Johor Baru. The Red House is at 56 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee. Enquiries on using the Red House for cultural and heritage events can be directed to the office of the Johor Chinese Heritage Museum. The landmark museum is at 42 Jalan Ibrahim. For more information, call 07-224 9633, fax 607-224 9635. You can also email heritage_museumjb@jb-tionghua.org.my Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Mobile healthcare units treat rural poor Posted: 17 Oct 2011 06:44 AM PDT Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman with Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin inspecting one of the MPVs equipped with medical supplies and equipment. — Picture by Zulkarnain Ahmad Tajuddin The national programme, which was launched last month, provides free health checks and medical treatment in rural areas to needy patients in hospitals using 10 Proton Exora multi-purpose vehicles. It was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and has been moving from state to state.
Johor Puteri Umno chief Norshida Ibrahim said at the initial stage, the movement focussed on 10 parliamentary constituencies which were regarded as grey areas. "Each constituency had 15 Puteri Umno members who mobilised the programme. Each MPV was manned by a doctor with two hospital staff.
Also present were Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, Biro Tatanegara director-general Datuk Raja Arif Raja Ali and Johor state assembly speaker Datuk Mohd Ali Hassan. Norshida said treatments for fever, rashes, cough, and flu and health checks for blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) were offered by the mobile units. -- By Ahmad Fairuz Othman |
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