DOWN MEMORY LANE : KUALA LUMPUR BUSES

SYARIKAT BAS LEN SENG SDN BHD

Also known as Len Seng Omnibus Company, one of the KL's most historic and iconic bus operators that served for over 80 years. 

• Established : 9 May 1938
• For decades, Len Seng was the main link between central KL and the northeastern suburbs including Setapak, Gombak, Wangsa Maju, Hulu Kelang and Ampang. 
• The company officially ceased operations 1 January 2019

BAS SRI JAYA

The backbone of public transport in Kuala Lumpur for nearly 40 years. 

• Sri Jaya Transport Company Limited (later S.J. Kenderaan Sdn Bhd) was established on 23 November 1959 
• It began by acquiring the General Transport Company (GTC), a British-owned firm that had operated in KL for 24 years. 
• The famous Malaysian filmmaker Tan Sri Yusof Haslam reportedly worked as a bus conductor for Sri Jaya in his younger days. 
• At its peak, Sri Jaya was one of the largest operators in the city, covering major areas such as Bangsar, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Kampung Baru, and Dato' Keramat.
• In 1998, the government restructured the chaotic bus system in KL. Sri Jaya, along with the famous "Bas Mini" was phased out. 

TOONG FONG OMNIBUS COMPANY

• Established in 1937, one of the city's pioneer bus operators. 
• Their main hubs in the city were terminals at Jalan Silang and Puduraya. 
• Served the areas of Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Sungai Besi, Balakong, Serdang, Jalan Peel, Kg.Pandan, Kuchai Lama, Cheras and Kajang.
• Along with other major operators like Sri Jaya and Len Seng, Toong Fong served the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur for decades. The company eventually ceased operations in the late 1990s as the city's transport system was modernized and consolidated under Rapid KL.

LEN OMNIBUS CO.BHD
A historic bus operator in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor that provided public transportation services starting as early as 1937. 

• Operated bus services connecting Kuala Lumpur to Northern regions including Tanjong Malim, Rawang, Batang Kali dan Kuala Kubu Baru. Within Kuala Lumpur, they served areas such as Segambut, Selayang Baru and Setapak Jaya. 

METROBUS NATIONWIDE SDN BHD

Commonly known as Metrobus, a prominent privately owned public transport operator in Malaysia's Klang Valley. 

• Founded in 1992
• Headquarters : Subang Jaya, Selangor (Jalan USJ 7/3)
• Service Area: Puchong, Subang Jaya and KL City Centre. 
• Ceased operation: 7 November 2017

PARK MAY CITILINER

• The model in the photo is a Mercedes-Benz OH1318
• Operated by Park May Berhad, later underwent a reverse takeover and became part of Konsortium Transnasional Berhad (KTB), the largest private stage bus operator in Malaysia. 
• Destination: Kotaraya via Batu & Gombak.
• The first bus operator in Malaysia to accept the Touch 'n Go card for fare payments. 
• 27 October 2003, Prasarana Malaysia purchased the Cityliner buses and routes from Park May Berhad. 
• By 2006, The "Park May" name was largely replaced in the public eyes by the KTB group brands like Transnasional, Plusliner and Cityliner. 
• In September 2022, KTB (which later rebranded to Epicon Berhad) proposed to dispose of its entire stake in Park May Berhad to Nadicorp Holdings Sdn Bhd for a nominal sum of RM1. This transaction was completed in August 2023, marking the end of Park May’s era under KTB as the group exited the express bus business to focus on construction and other ventures.

SELANGOR OMNIBUS COMPANY BERHAD

The Selangor Omnibus Company Bhd, a long-standing and iconic bus operator in Malaysia's Klang Valley.

• Established in 1937, one of the oldest private bus companies still operating in Malaysia. 
• Best known for connecting central Kuala Lumpur to northwestern suburbs including Kepong,Jinjang,Sg.Buloh,  Ijok and Kuala Selangor
• It is still operating as of April 2026.

INTRAKOTA

A prominent public transport service that operated in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley from the mid-1990's until early 2000's. 

• Referred to locally as "Pekan Rider", established in 1994. 
• Owned by the Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom Berhad.
• Intrakota became known for its flat-fare system, often costing around 90 sen for adult passengers. Riders would drop coins into a counting machine next to the driver.
• End of Service: Following financial difficulties exacerbated by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the Malaysian government bailed out the company. Its assets and routes were eventually taken over by Prasarana Malaysia in 2003 and integrated into what is now known as RapidKL.

BAS MINI

Kuala Lumpur Mini-Bus Service, known as Bas Mini, operated from 23 September 1975 to 1 July 1998.

• Launch on 23 September 1975,initial fares were jun 40 cent with nearly 60 routes. 
• 1990: Deputy Minister of Transport, Datuk Paduka Rahmah Osman, standardised all mini buses to a distinctive pink and white livery. 
• They were notorious for the cry of conductors shouting "Masuk dalam, masuk lagi!" (Go in further!), packing passengers "like sardines" into a space meant for 20–30 people.

RAPID KL

Wikipedia: Rapid KL

Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras KL - established in 2004 to overhaul and integrate the public transport system in the Klang Valley. 

• Owned by Prasarana Malaysia Berhad
• Took over the routes of older bus operators like Intrakota and Cityliner. 
• Today Rapid KL in the largest public transport operator in Malaysia, managing:
• 3 LRT lines (Ampang, Sri Petaling and Kelana Jaya)
• 2 MRT Lines (Kajang, Putrajaya)
• 1 Monorail line
• 1 BRT line (Sunway Line)
• An extensive network of Rapid Buses routes across the Klang Valley, Kuanan and Penang (as Rapid Penang).

C&P

28 April 2026: 5.13 p.m

TAMAR JALIS : BERCAKAP DENGAN JIN

Siri "Bercakap dengan Jin" (SBDJ) merupakan karya sastera seram dan mistik yang paling ikonik di Malaysia, ditulis oleh Tamar Jalis @ Mohd Radzi Mahmud (1940-2018). 

Berikut adalah fakta menarik mengenai siri lagenda ini:

• Asal-Usul & Kandungan: Siri ini merupakan memoir autobiografi yang menceritakan pengalaman Tamar Jalis mengikuti datuknya, Kulup Muhamad Diah (Long Mat Piah), seorang pengamal perubatan tradisional di Perak. Sekitar 60% daripada kandungannya dikatakan berdasarkan kisah benar.
• Rekod Penulisan: SBDJ memegang rekod sebagai siri terpanjang di Malaysia dengan 284 episod yang disiarkan dalam majalah Variasari selama lebih 23 tahun (1981–2005).
• Tema Utama: Selain unsur seram, ia menekankan pembanterasan amalan khurafat, ilmu hitam, dan kepentingan berpegang teguh pada ajaran Islam.
• Adaptasi: Populariti siri ini telah membawa kepada adaptasi drama televisyen yang dibintangi oleh pelakon hebat seperti Dato' Rahim Razali dan Pekin Ibrahim.
• Siri ini mempunyai lebih daripada 200 siri (jilid) menjadikannya koleksi wajib bagi peminat tegar genre seram Melayu.
• Identiti Penulis: Tamar Jalis berjaya merahsiakan identiti sebenarnya selama hampir 30 tahun sebelum ia didedahkan kepada umum. Beliau telah meninggal dunia pada Ogos 2018.

Biografi Penulis:

• Nama sebenar : Mohd Radzi Mahmud
• Lahir : 13 September 1940 di Kampung Batu 36, Jalan Sitiawan, Beruas, Perak. 
• Pendidikan : Sekolah Teknik Ipoh, Perak
• 1959 - Juruteknik Rendah disebuah Jabatan Kerajaan. 
• 1960 - Menjadi buruh kasar membina jana elektrik di Cameron Highland, kemudian pada tahun yang sama menjadi pemberita sambilan untuk akhbar Warta Negara, Utusan Melayu, Berita Harian dan beberapa majalah hiburan di Singapura. 
• 1964-1966:berkhidmat dengan Askar Wataniah
• 1970-1977 : Kerani Pengedar di Utusan Melayu cawangan Ipoh
• 1977 - 1979 : penyunting akhbar Harian Watan
• 1981: Timbalan Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan Variapop Sdn Bhd
• Meninggal dunia : 26 Ogos 2018 (umur 77 tahun) di Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

C&P

28 April 2026: 6.12 a.m

7TH BATTALION, THE ROYAL MALAY REGIMENT (1953-1968) - 2059 PW11 MAAMOR BIN SUDIN

A historical account of the 7th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment where my late father served from 1946 - the late 1960s.

The Royal Malay Regiment began in 1 March 1933 with a small group called the 1st Experimental Company with 25 young Men chosen from1,000 people who wanted to join. This company started in Port Dickson led by Lt.Col. G.Mc Bruce and Captain K.G. Exham, and the Regiment Sergeant Major (RSM) was A.E.McCarthy and E.Oldfield served as its Quartermaster Sergeant.

When my late father joined in 1946, the Malay Regiment was in state of "Reconstruction". After the Japanese occupation, the British began expanding the regiment from its original pre-war strength of two battalions. 

The 7th battalion was formed on 1 October 1953 in Port Dickson. The first Commanding Officer was Lt. Col. A. Gordon, M.C. However, Lt. Col. Khalid Mohammad Yasin was the first Malay to command this battalion.

From its establishment until the late 1960s, 7 RAMDs were based in the following locations:

1.  1953 - 1954 : Port Dickson, N.S
2. 1954 - 1955 - Pahang
3. 1955 - 1956 - Kluang,Johor
4. 1957 - 1961 - Taiping Perak (I was born here 2nd July 1961)
5. 1962 - 1963 : Bukavu, Congo, Africa
6. 1963-1964 : Kem Sg. Besi, K.Lumpur
7. 1965-66 : Kem Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
8. 1966 -      : Tawau, Sabah

The 7th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (7 RAMD), today is known as Mechanized Battalion.

The Regiment was granted the "Royal" title by the First Yang DiPertuan Agong on April 9, 1958. 

MALAYAN EMERGENCY (1948-1960)

7 RAMD was involved in several operations during the Emergency in Malaya from 1948-1960):

• March 1954: involved in the operations at Sepang, Selangor
• 30 May 1955 : A platoon under Lt. Morris succeeded in killing a communist terrorist in Mengkarak.
• 6 October 1955 : Company B's subunit under Corporal 2876 Mohd Zain Ibrahim successfully killed a communist terrorist named Badur in Kajang, Selangor. He was awarded the Military Medal.
• 5 November 1955: Pte. 9469 Mohd.Sabu Mohd. Jusoh was killed in Action (KIA) at Sg.Pening Estate, Kajang, Selangor.
• 1 April 1956: Platoon 9 fought with communist terrorists in a swampy area where Pte. 7866 Jaafar was wounded.
• Throughout the Emergency, 7 RAMD successfully killed 4 communist terrorists, captured 2 and surrendered 2 more through operations conducted. The team lost one officer, 2 other ranks in 3 battles.

THE CONGO MISSION : GLOBAL RECOGNITION (1960-1963)

Shortly after gained independence in 1957, the 7th Battalion was selected to served under the United Nations in Congo (ONUC). They were sent to Africa to stabilise the country following the "Congo Crisis". My father and his comrades were some of the first Malaysian Soldiers to serve internationally. 

7 RAMD based in Taiping, Perak left the country on board the USNS Gen.R.M Blatchford on 17 February 1962 and arrived at Port Dar-es-Salam on 27 February 1962. The team was stationed in Bukavu, Congo.

The battalion was assisted by Malaysian military personnel from Squadron A, 1st Reconnaissance Regiment under the command of Major Harchand Singh.

During the service of 7 RAMD in Congo, the Battalion lost one member, Private 13560 Sionah bin Jantan, who died from drowning in the Bukavu River on 6 June 1962. The Battalion returned to the country on 8 January 1963.

17 February 1962 : passage to Congo

2059 WO2 Maamor Bin Sudin at Bukavu, Congo, Africa

The UN Medals received by my late father.

THE MALAYSIA-INDONESIA CONFRONTATION (1963-1966)

The Battalion were deployed to Tawau, Sabah during Confrontation to prevent incursions by Indonesian forces. 

The 7th Battalion was known for its expertise in long-range reconnaissance and deep-jungle patrols, skills honed during the decade-long Emergency.

Souvenir from a Gurkha soldier to my father when in Tawau, Sabah.

Khukri, a traditional Nepalese blade used by the Gurkha Army, was given as a souvenir to my late father during his tour at Tawau, Sabah. 

Photo collection from my father, provides a fascinating glimpse into the social life of British Officers and their families during the final years of colonial rule in Malaya. The image capture a "Grand Chritmas celebration" . 

Social gatherings like the one pictured served as a necessary psychological reprieve from the pressures of jungle warfare and the political uncertainty of the time.

British officers serving in the RMR were actively engaged in counter-insurgency operations against the Malayan Races Liberation Army (MRLA).

That's a brief summary of my late father's involvement with the 7th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment. Actually, there are many more stories he told me during his earlier life, memories of serving with the 7th RAMD.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

26 April 2026: 12.14 a.m

SANSKRIT'S INFLUENCE ON MALAY LANGUAGE

The relationship between Sanskrit and Malay is one of the most profound linguistic influences in Southeast Asia. While Malay belongs to the Austronesian language family and Sanskrit is Indo-European, centuries of cultural, religious, and trade exchange—particularly during the Srivijaya and Majapahit eras—led to a massive infusion of Sanskrit into Malay.

It is estimated that thousands of Malay words are derived from Sanskrit, covering everything from governance and philosophy to everyday objects.

1. Key Thematic Examples

The loanwords are often grouped by the "higher-order" concepts they introduced to the region.

Category	Malay Word	Sanskrit Origin	Meaning
Governance	Menteri	Mantrī	Minister
	Raja	Rāja	King
	Negara	Nagara	Country / City
Religion	Agama	Āgama	Religion
	Syurga	Svarga	Heaven
	Neraka	Naraka	Hell
Philosophy	Bahasa	Bhāṣā	Language
	Cinta	Cintā	Love / Thought
	Bakti	Bhakti	Devotion / Service
Anatomy	Kepala	Kapāla	Head
	Bahu	Bāhu	Shoulder
	Lidah	Jihvā (via Prakrit)	Tongue

2. Linguistic Evolution

When Sanskrit words entered Malay, they often underwent phonological or semantic (meaning) changes to fit the local context.

Simplification of Clusters: Sanskrit often uses complex consonant clusters that Malay simplifies.

• Skt: Sthāna (Place) - Malay: Istana (Palace)
• Skt: Bhāgya (Fortune) - Malay: Bahagia (Happy)

Semantic Shift: Sometimes the meaning narrowed or broadened.

• Upavāsa: In Sanskrit, this refers to a general religious fast. In Malay, it became Puasa, specifically used for the Islamic month of Ramadan.
• Sakti: In Sanskrit, it refers to divine feminine energy/power. In Malay, Sakti refers more generally to supernatural power or magic.

3. Suffixes and Prefixes

Malay also adopted Sanskrit "honorific" prefixes and suffixes that are still used today to create new terms (even modern ones):

• Maha- (Great): Mahasiswa (University student), Maharaja (Great King).
• -wan / -wati (Possessor of): Angkasawan (Astronaut), Sastrawan (Literary figure).
• Prawira / Wira (Hero): Perwira (Officer), Wira (Hero).

4. Cultural Legacy

Even though the Malay world shifted toward Islam in the 14th–15th centuries—introducing a heavy Arabic influence—the Sanskrit layer remains the "backbone" of formal and literary Malay. You can see this in the names of national institutions (e.g., Seri Paduka Baginda) and even the name of the currency in Indonesia (Rupiah, from the Sanskrit Rupya, meaning wrought silver).

References:

1. Reddit: Integration of Sanskrit Words into the Malay Language.
2. Scribd.com : Malay Words of Sanskrit Origin.
3. Ling.App : Malay Words From Sanskrit: A Linguistic Analysis with 20+ Vocabulary.
4. Wikipedia: Senarai kata Serapan dari Bahasa Sanskrit dalam Bahasa Melayu. 

C&P

25 April 2026: 10.51 a.m

PALAVVA SCRIPT AND EARLY MALAY LANGUAGE

The Pallava script (also known as Pallawa) is an ancient South Indian writing system that served as the foundational "mother script" for almost all modern Southeast Asian alphabets, including the earliest forms of the Malay writing system.

Here is a breakdown of what the script is and how it shaped the history of the Malay people.

1. What is the Pallava Script?

• Origin: It originated from the Pallava Dynasty of Kanchipuram (South India) around the 4th century CE.
• Ancestry: It evolved from Brahmi, the ancient script of India.
• Mechanism: It is an Abugida, meaning each consonant has an inherent vowel (usually "a"). To change the vowel or remove it, you add small marks (diacritics) to the main letter.
• Aesthetics: The script is known for its beautiful, flowing, and rounded strokes. This circular nature evolved because people originally wrote on palm leaves; straight horizontal lines would have caused the leaves to tear along the grain.

2. The Connection with the Malays

The Pallava script is the first known writing system used for the Malay language. Before the arrival of Islam (and the Jawi/Arabic script) or Europeans (and the Roman/Rumi alphabet), the Malays wrote using Pallava.

A. The Birth of "Old Malay"

The earliest surviving evidence of the Malay language is written in Pallava script. These artifacts date back to the Srivijaya Empire (7th–11th century CE), a powerful Malay maritime kingdom based in Sumatra.

Key historical inscriptions include:

• Kedukan Bukit Inscription (683 CE): Found in Palembang, it describes the journey of a King (Dapunta Hiyang) to establish a kingdom. It is the oldest known document in the Malay language.
• Talang Tuwo Inscription (684 CE): Describes the creation of a park (Sriksetra) for the public good.
• Kota Kapur Inscription (686 CE): A "curse" stone intended to warn those who might rebel against Srivijaya.

B. Linguistic Influence

Because Pallava was originally designed for Sanskrit and Pali, its use led to a massive influx of Sanskrit loanwords into the Malay language. Words we still use today, like raja (king), negeri (state), bahasa (language), and setia (loyal), entered the Malay vocabulary during this era.

C. Evolution into Local Scripts

Over time, the Pallava script didn't just disappear; it "localized." It evolved into several descendant scripts across the Malay Archipelago:

• Kawi Script: A more specialized "Old Javanese" script that was also used for Old Malay.
• Rencong and Rejang: Indigenous scripts used in parts of Sumatra.
• Baybayin: The ancient script of the Philippines.

Summary Table

Feature	Pallava Era (c. 4th–10th Century)
Primary Use	Royal decrees, religious texts, stone inscriptions.
Language	Old Malay (mixed with heavy Sanskrit).
Media	Stone (Prasasti), copper plates, and palm leaves.
Legacy	Provided the first literary structure for the Malay language.

In short: Without the Pallava script, we wouldn't have a written record of the early Malay civilizations. It was the tool that transformed Malay from a purely spoken language into a language of government, law, and high culture.

References:

1. Mind Map AI: History of Malay Writing Sysems Evolution
2. Scroll.In: The Journey of Pallava Script from Tamil Naidu to South East Asia.
3. Reddit: Script Spotlight - Grantha and Pallava
4. BiblioAsia: Unveiling Secrets of the Past Through the Passage of Malay Scripts.
5. Reddit : The Sound of the Old Malay Language (Kedukan Bukit and Kota Kapur Inscription - 7th - 14th century.

C&P

25 April 2026:10.26 a.m

ASIA TENGGARA DULU DIKENALI SEBAGAI KEPULAUAN MELAYU DALAM PETA ABAD KE-16

Sumber: PERTIWI

BANGI, 15 RABIULAKHIR – Orang Melayu tidak pernah menjadi ‘pendatang’ dan pihak yang membuat dakwaan sedemikian jelas sekali tidak memahami sejarah negara atau rantau ini, kata Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican.

Profesor Sejarah Sosial dan Intelektual di Institut Antarabangsa Pemikiran dan Tamadun Islam (ISTAC), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) itu berkata, untuk memahami perkara itu, orang ramai perlu ketahui terlebih dahulu maksud disebalik nama Malaysia di rantau ini serta identitinya sebagai negara bangsa.

Menurut beliau, istilah Malaysia yang merujuk kepada pulau-pulau Melayu sebenarnya telah wujud dalam peta-peta abad ke-17 yang dilakarkan oleh orang Itali dan Perancis yang mana namanya ditulis sebagai Malesia.

Malah, beliau berkata, istilah kepulauan Melayu juga digunakan oleh sarjana dan sejarawan Amerika sejak 1800 dalam beberapa buku sejarah sebagai merujuk ke rantau ini.

“Dalam sejarah Britain, mereka menyebut Malaya, mereka tidak sebut Malaysia. Yang menggunakan istilah Malaysia selain daripada Perancis dan Itali ialah sarjana dan sejarawan Amerika.

“Malaysia. ‘Sia’ dalam bahasa Latin merujuk kepada pulau. Jadi Malaysia yang disebut dari abad ke-17 itu merujuk kepada rantau Melayu sebelum negara bangsa Malaysia diwujudkan.

“Jadi, itu adalah identiti. (Ini menunjukkan) identiti Malaysia telah wujud berkurun lamanya,” katanya kepada TV Pertiwi.

Mengulas lanjut, Prof Murad berkata, kewujudan identiti ini juga diperkukuhkan dalam kalangan para sarjana yang memerhati dan mengkaji intipati Melayu di rantau ini termasuk daripada aspek bahasa yang dipertuturkan.

Menurut beliau, asal usul identiti Melayu itu telah wujud sekitar 2,000 hingga 3,000 menerusi prasasti batu-batu bersurat seperti yang dikaitkan dengan Kedah Tua, di Sumatera dan Pulau Borneo.

Jelas Prof Murad, meskipun ia ditulis dalam huruf kawi atau jawa kuno selain penemuan skrip huruf palava dan nagari yang berasal dari India, namun bahasa yang digunakan ialah bahasa Melayu.

“Jadi jangan kita keliru di antara skrip dan bahasa. Ia bukan bahasa tamil ataupun bahasa sanskrit. Skrip itu bahasa Melayu. Jadi itulah asal usul bahasa Melayu dan itu merupakan kewatanan rantau ini.

Malaysia sebagai negara bangsa.

Mengulas mengenai satu lagi perspektif identiti Malaysia sebagai negara bangsa, Prof Murad berkata, idea itu sebenarnya mula tercetus sejak 1948 sebelum ia direalisasikan menerusi pembentukan sebuah negara antara Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak – dan Singapura untuk seketika waktu.

Beliau berkata, idea itu dicetuskan oleh Allahyarham Tun Ghazali Syafie ketika beliau sedang melanjutkan pelajaran di University of Wales di Aberystwyth yang mana beliau mengkaji undang-undang Welsh, Inggeris dan Scottish.

“Justeru, beliau mendapati terdapat tiga sistem undang-undang yang wujud dalam satu entiti dengan konsep Persekutuan dan beliau menasihati Tunku Abdul Rahman – Perdana Menteri Malaysia pertama.

“Ini permulaan kepada Malaysia sebagai negara bangsa. Istilah Malaya antara 1957-1963 itu sebenarnya bermaksud Malaysia dan intipati induk Malaya itu ialah Malaysia ataupun gagasan Malaysia yang muncul dalam sejarah, budaya dan geografi pada abad ke-16, ke-17 itu induknya ialah Semenanjung (Malaysia).

“Dari situ kita dapat lihat bahawa induk Malaysia ialah orang Melayu sebab orang Melayu telah wujud di ‘dunia’ ini dan tidak pernah menjadi pendatang.

“Ini penting sebab apabila dikatakan orang Melayu sama pendatang seperti Cina dan India, itu tak betul,” jelas beliau.

Justeru, Prof Murad berkata, sebelum wujudnya unit-unit politik di rantau ini, telah wujud entiti geografi, sejarah, budaya sebagai satu gagasan kolektif memori, pengalaman antara rumpun Melayu di kepulauan Melayu.

“Apabila (rantau) ini diduduki oleh bangsa Melayu, maka kita tak boleh katakan bahawa orang dari Jawa telah merentasi Indonesia ke Malaya.

“Mereka merantau bukan hanya orang Minangkabau, orang Jawa, orang Bugis, tetapi terdapat satu rangkaian perantauan dalam ruang geografi kepulauan Melayu. Itulah tanah air,” tambah beliau.

C&P

24 April 2026: 6.36 p.m

DOWN MEMORY LANE: MEKKAH AL MUKARRAMAH

Mekkah or Mecca (officially Makkah al-Mukarramah) is the holiest city in Islam, located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. The birthplace of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and the site where the first revelations of the Quran occured. 

The city is centered around Al Masjid Al Haram (The Grand Mosque), which encloses the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that Muslims worldwide face during their five daily prayers. 

Every year during Hajj Season, Mekkah welcomed 19.3 million international visitors for Hajj Pilgrims, making it one of the world's most visited cities.

Mekkah is considered a sacred sanctuary, only Muslims are permitted to enter the city. 

Mekkah in 2012 (during Umrah)

Areej Al Falah Hotel where I and my Umrah group stayed in 2015. Sometimes spelled Arij Al-Falah, was an active economy accommocation for pilgrims in Mekkah, situated on Ibrahim al-Khalil Road in the Ash Suhubaikah district. 

The hotel was approximately 200 to 400 meters from the Masjidilharam, roughly a 5-8 minute walk.

Mekkah in 2015 (during Umrah)

Abraj Al-Janadriyyah in 2017 (during Hajj)

During my Hajj in 2017, I stayed at Abraj Al-Janadriyyah, a primary accommodation and the headquarters for the Malaysian Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) during the Hajj season. In 2017, it housed multiple maktabs (accommodation groups) for Malaysian pilgrims including Maktab 74,75 and 87 (my group).

Mekkah in home to several iconic landmarks, primarily centered around the spiritual heart of Islam, Masjid al-Haram,but extending to historical mountains, cultural districts and modern architectural marvels. 

Kindly refers to my blog on my Journey of Faith (Hajj 2017)

1. Journey of Faith : Abraj Al Janadriyyah (2017)
2. Journey of Faith: Wuquf at Arafah
3. Journey of Faith: Muzdalifah
4. Journey of Faith: Mina, Mekkah
5. Journey of Faith : Rami Al-Jamarat
6. Journey of Faith: Tawaf Ifadah & Saie and Tawaf Wida
7. Journey of Faith: Mekkah and Masjidilharam
8. Journey of Faith: Madinah & Prophet Mosque
9. Journey of Faith : Mekkah Tours (2017)
10. Journey of Faith : Madinah Tours (2017) 
11. My Travel Info : The Red Sea & Masjid Ar Rahmah, Jeddah
12. Hajj Guide: Step by Step Guide to performing Hajj
13. Pilgrimage to Mecca: The Journey of a Lifetime

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

21 April 2026: 2.09 a.m

References:

1. Britannica : Mecca
2. Rustic Pathways : 7 Special Fun Facts About Makkah (Mecca Facts)
3. Book My Umrah : Top Must-Visit Places to Visit in Makkah for Every Pilgrim
4. Dream Ziarah : Famous Places in Makkah that Inspires Faith, History and Reflection