Districts In Malaysia

  District: Kubang Pasu , Kedah Towns in the district: Jitra , Changloon , Darulaman , Kepala Batas , Kodiang , Padang Sera , Tunjang , and others Last time I was there: 1991/92 The Story: I played for my university basketball team for four straight years in the early ’90s -- so yes, I was a “jock”, okay? Haha. In my first year, the MASUM university games were held at UUM in Sintok, Kedah . I don’t remember much about the journey, but the moment we arrived, my first thought was, “Jauh gila tempat ni… how do people survive?” Maklumlah, our own campus was in PJ . But UUM itself was beautiful -- at least that’s how it lives in my memory. As for the games, I’m pretty sure we lost all three, but honestly, just being part of the team and soaking in the whole experience was a blast. P.S.: In the above pic, I'm standing on the far left. Our coach (a minister-to-be) is 3rd from the left -- any guesses who?

District: Rembau, Negeri Sembilan Towns in the district: Rembau, Chengkau, Pedas, Kota, Chembong , and others Last time I was there: August 2025 The story: Rembau (about 84 km from home) was our weekend stop on the museum trail this past August. After a smooth drive along the North-South Highway , we made a random breakfast stop after the Linggi toll -- a small roadside spot that turned out surprisingly good.  The highlight, of course, was Muzium Rembau , a stunning wooden replica of Raja Melewar ’s original palace. It showcases Adat Perpatih , Minangkabau migration stories , and recreated wedding and throne room scenes -- all within a peaceful, leafy compound. Just nearby is Makam Raja Melewar , resting place of Negeri Sembilan ’s first ruler who founded the state’s unique elective monarchy system in the 18th century. We rounded off the trip with lunch at the viral Zamira Dapur Kayu , feasting on authentic Negeri Sembilan dishes by the river as live buskers played in the backg...

Division: West Coast Division , Sabah Towns in the division: Kota Kinabalu ,  Penampang , Kota Belud, Papar, Tuaran, Ranau Last time I was there: October 2000 The story: Coincidentally, the last time I was in KK , the state general elections were just around the corner. We were there for the launch of a new news portal, which turned out to be quite the grand affair. Because of the situation back then, we needed special letters to travel -- it was also our first flight after air travel had been grounded for a while due to the pandemic . And if you remember, state borders were closed not long after as COVID-19 cases spiked dramatically, with the state elections being one of the contributing factors! But my most memorable trip to KK was actually back in 2012, when I ran the 10K at the Borneo International Marathon . I brought the whole family along, and we turned it into a lovely 3-day, 2-night getaway in the Sabah capital. I rented a car, so we managed some relaxed jalan-jalan ...

District: Kangar, Perlis Towns in the district: Kangar, Kuala Perlis , Bintong , Sena , Kayang , Indera Kayangan Last time I was there: 2012 The story: I was pretty excited to head up north for a special broadcast of Malaysia Hari Ini in Arau back in 2012. Flew Firefly to Alor Setar on a Thursday, then hopped into a taxi for the 40-minute ride to Arau. The driver took the scenic kampung route instead of the highway -- and there I was, city boy in awe, jaw half-open as endless paddy fields and distant hills rolled by. We checked into the old but charming Soo Guan Villa Hotel -- nothing fancy, but clean, comfy and, best of all, right next to a paddy field. My balcony view looked like a postcard.  After a nap, it was food-hunting time, and first on the list was the famous laksa Perlis ( laksa kola ). With co-host Nurul Syuhada leading the way to a stall near her old school, we filmed a quick VT and ordered the “laksa special.” The gravy was rich, tangy, and perfectly balanced...

District: Pekan, Pahang Towns in the district: Pekan Town , Nenasi , Kuala Pahang Last time I was there: March 2022 -- on the way back from Kuantan to KL The story: I made my first stop in Pekan, Pahang back in 2022, just to try the “viral” Kafe Belibis for lunch. I parked near Muzium Sultan Abu Bakar and took a short walk to the riverside café. The food was decent, but the ambience was absolutely charming. You’re supposed to be able to dine inside the train cabins , but every seat had been reserved that day — ah well. After lunch, we drove around a little, taking in the historic charm of this royal town, from its old streets to its quiet riverside corners. A short, pleasant stopover that felt like a gentle pause in a long drive -- a small taste of Pekan’s heritage before hitting the highway again.

Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 1970s vs now District: Johor Bahru , Johor Towns in the district: Johor Bahru City , Skudai , Tebrau , Pasir Gudang, Bukit Indah Last time I was there: Well, it's my hometown! The story: Where I was born and bred -- a place filled with a million and one memories: good, bittersweet, and everything in between. With both my parents no longer around, each trip back to JB now feels like a warm walk down memory lane, a chance to share stories of my growing-up years with my own family. The city has changed so much -- more highways, high-rises , malls , and weekend spots -- but thankfully, the old-school makan places are still around! So whenever I’m home, it’s a makan marathon: Mee Rebus Hj Wahid , Goreng Pisang Mawar , Haji Kacang Pool ,  Tepian Tebrau  etc. And the people -- still friendly, still unmistakably Johorean . No matter how much it changes, JB will always be home. I've also written plenty about JB over the years on various platforms. Read some of t...

Oh yes, I’m doing this -- exploring every district ( daerah ) in this beautiful country of ours, Malaysia . Insya-Allah. Why not, right? There’s so much to see, taste, and experience in this amazing land. Over the years, my work has taken me to every state in Malaysia, and after the pandemic, I’ve made it a mission to wander through the smaller towns and lesser-known districts I’ve never visited before. These road trips (with my loved ones, to boot) have been fun, eye-opening, and full of delightful surprises. So, why not document it all in a simple blog? And so... tadaaa!  And here's what ChatGPT has laid out for me: 📊 Malaysia’s Administrative Areas (2025) 🇲🇾 Total: 110 Areas (Districts + Divisions + Federal Territories ) 🧭 Peninsular Malaysia — 90 Districts Johor (10) | Kedah (12) | Kelantan (10) | Melaka (3) | Negeri Sembilan (7) | Pahang (11) | Perak (12) | Perlis (3) | Pulau Pinang (5) | Selangor (9) | Terengganu (8) 🌴 East Malaysia — 17 Divisions Sabah (5) | Sarawak ...