Districts In Malaysia

District: Kuala Lumpur (Federal Territory) Towns in the district: Bukit Bintang , Chow Kit , Brickfields , Bangsar , Setapak , Wangsa Maju , Sentul , Kepong , Cheras , Titiwangsa , Mont Kiara , and others Last time I was there: Well, I live right on the KL/Selangor border The story: One of my most memorable trips to KL was back in 1988, when the school’s prefect board went on an official visit. YAM Tunku Majid was with us -- he was the timbalan kapten -- so we even had an outrider escort all the way from JB ! We stayed at Rumah Johor in Kenny Hills , which felt rather grand, ahem. We visited a few schools, including the legendary Victoria Institution . But let’s be honest -- the real highlight was dropping by St Mary’s and CBN . For a bunch of boys from an all-boys school, that was definitely the moment of the trip. We did a bit of jalan-jalan around KL too, but those stories… well, let’s save them for another day!

Division: Miri, Sarawak Towns in the division:  Miri & Marudi Last time I was there: August 2023 The story: If you know me, you’ll know that I once lived and worked in this beautiful part of Sarawak back in 1996–97, during my stint in the judiciary. So yes, Miri will always have a special place in my heart. Chewah! But let me tell you a story about Marudi -- a small town about 70km from Miri. Back then, there were just two of us serving as magistrates in Miri, and part of our duties included sitting as circuit court judges in outlying towns, Marudi included, once a month. At a long house in Marudi There were no roads linking Miri to Marudi in those days. You either took a boat -- a two-and-a-half-hour journey -- or flew in on a MAS Twin Otter . The town itself was so small you could walk from one end to the other in about ten minutes. National newspapers arrived a day and a half late, and there were only two decent hotels in town. That detail became relevant on one particu...

  District: Kluang, Johor Towns in the district: Kluang Town , Paloh, Renggam, Machap, Layang-Layang Last time I was there: A regular stop now whenever I drive back to JB The story: Growing up in JB, Kluang was just a name I’d heard -- one of those Johor towns people said had great food, a relaxed vibe, and plenty of keluang (bats) flying around. These days, it’s become a near-automatic stop whenever I’m on the road south. The first order of business? The legendary Kluang RailCoffee , the original railway canteen from 1938 that still oozes rustic charm. Its roti bakar , steamed buns , and strong, aromatic coffee are the stuff of local legend.  After that, it’s usually a stroll through Laman Kreatif Kluang , the mural-lined lane perfect for “just one more photo.” Founded in 1915 as a humble railway town, Kluang has kept its soul -- a warm, unhurried blend of old kopitiams , friendly faces and small-town stories that never seem to age. It’s no surprise that Kluang was named M...

District: Northeast, Penang Towns in the district: George Town ,   Ayer Hitam, Paya Terubong, Penang Hill , Gelugor, Batu Ferringhi, Tanjong Bungah, Tanjong Tokong and others Last time I was there: December 2021 The story: Allow me to go back in time. Penang Hill in 1976 felt like a world apart -- cooler air, gentler pace, and sweeping views over George Town and the sea. The old funicular with its creaking wooden carriages was our gateway up the steep track. I was only five, clutching my seat a little too hard, thrilled and slightly scared by the slow climb into the clouds. We were there as an extended family, gathered from Johor and Singapore and packed into my grand uncle’s house on Argus Lane . It was a noisy, happy base filled with shared meals, jokes, and the excitement of discovering new places together. At the summit, colonial bungalows , quiet gardens, and viewpoints made it feel like stepping into another time. That holiday became a trip of many firsts -- the funicular...

  District: Arau, Perlis Towns in the district: Arau town , Tambun Tulang, Oran , Sanglang , Kurong Anai Last time I was there: 2012 The story:  A few instalments ago, I shared my Kangar experience when I was there to host an episode of Malaysia Hari Ini . The actual TX location that day was Kampung Tambun Tulang  in Arau. I was up at about 4.30 a.m., and by 5.15 a.m. we were already on-site, getting ready for the broadcast in the cool, quiet Perlis morning. Nurul Syuhada , Ally Iskandar and I co-hosted the show, and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable broadcasts of my hosting stint. The Aman Kampus participants and kampung folks surrounded us, creating a lively, colourful atmosphere -- and our “set” was a very cool gazebo right in the middle of it all.  The highlight, though, was the kayak race between Team M.Zul and Team Ally . We knew next to nothing about kayaking, but it was all in the name of good TV! Decked out in full baju Melayu , we hopped...