CONGRATULATION MALAYSIA! WELL, NOT SO FAST

Edited 07062020, 7.53 am. Point #11 for Muslims.

To me, Covid-19 is a gift from Allah for humankind. I do not wish to disregard all the hardships, worries, stress and sadness that we had gone through or facing but at the same time, it is also a reality check for all of us. These are my wishes for mankind especially Malaysians moving forward.

1. To value the family relationship more

2. To continue to be clean conscious and to keep Malaysia clean and healthy. We messed up big time when we collectively had spoilt many of our beautiful rivers, tourist areas and parks in Malaysia. Oh! all those public toilets that if not vandalised smell like everyone thinks that he is just the only one need to dump

3. Beginning to live as Malaysian. I am of the generation that in my life really know how this feel. To really feel all of us are Malaysians. We were not Melayu, Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Kadazan or whatever. Somehow, somewhere along the road somebody or group of people messed this up.

4. Love nature more and please, please, please do not cut down more trees, make a flat land of those beautiful hills and valleys. We need the natural habitat for living creatures of God.

5. To forgive more as it is so humbling now when before, all the time you feel you are the greatest creation

6. To be honest, as Covid-19 has proven that lying can kill. Not to be self-centred and consider others more.

7. Politicians to just shut up and do your work for the people. For once stop talking but start doing. Go out to find all those really poor - economic, social and technology poor, and help them. Covid-19 is proof that access to well-being means the ability to access technology as well.

8. Government and corporations should work more to enable connectivity to the technology poor and rural areas. This is a social business that the profit is not in a monetary sense

9. To those armchair economists and politicians to spend 90% of their times contributing by doing more rather than sitting pointing fingers

10. For Malaysians to really understand that Malaysia is ours to destroy or prosper

11. To all my Muslim brothers and sisters because of COVID-19 and the subsequent MCO we now realised and have to admit that so far we have been wasteful during Ramadhan with excessive food from Bazaar and Buffet. Worse we continued this with endless and mindless open houses. Even worst we considered visiting and sillatulrahim during syawal require an invitation from the host.

Now, the bucks stop with us - to stop COVID-19 it is you and me, to stop non-Malaysian to take our business opportunities you and me and to make Malaysia break or great it is you and me

Bangi - Tampin - JB Sentral - Singapore and Back, Sept 19-21, 2019

I will do anything and take whatever opportunity presented to me to be on the train. This is one example when mere mortal (ha ha ha) would not even think about doing it.

Sept 19, 2019 - Bangi - Tampin/Pulau Sebang, Komuter

I looked out of my window when I was doing my work at my desk and it was not a promising outlook. The haze was as thick as the day before and travelling engulf by it was not something I look forward to. But as I said to my good friend, life has to go on despite the challenge. I had printed out my tickets the night before and I took a snap of it and sent it out to my trains buddies to share with them my travel plan. One of them came back immediately that there was an electrical problem between Sg Gadut and Gemas resulting in delays for Komuter and ETS services along the route. Thus, I had to readjust my departure from Bangi from 1745 to 1639 just to make sure I could catch the shuttle to JB Sentral. In fact, I was actually thinking of leaving even later so that I could arrive at Tampin at 2000. I did want to risk it and rather be waiting and running to catch the train. 

For whatever reason KTMB retime their southern sector rail services instead of the Tampin - JBS shuttle leaving at 1400 it was now departing Tampin at 2130. The first train out of Tampin to JB was 0530. No way I could catch that first train. Being a train nut as I am and since I missed being on one already I just bought the ticket. One miscalculation though. I was counting that my friend could get me a return ticket for shuttle Tebrau but it was sold out for the weekend. Lessons learnt. Should have bought that tickets first. I was destined to cross the border by bus then which I had experienced to be horrible before. At that time I almost missed my Express Sutera to KL.

I boarded the Komuter train at Bangi at 1639 to Tampin/Pulau Sebang and it was a journey through the haze. Some people were not bothered to put on a mask but I did not want to risk it. The Komuter train glided confidently towards Tampin and me with surgical mask thinking and writing. 

We reached and I disembarked at Tampin at around 1800 and took the stairs down to go to the cafe outside the station for a drink. Since my next train to JB would be at 2105 I drank my Nescafe slowly and started to feel a bit bored. Partly, the atmosphere around me creating the tension. Gloomy that my unconscious mind started to react to it. I just could feel it. I persisted to stay longer and toiling with my feeling. It was until I heard the 'kakak' owner behind me clearing her table that I realised I had overstayed. I duly paid for my drink and walked towards the station. I took the lift to level one and turn left as I step out. The surau was obviously empty and a bit dark. It was cooler than the outside and parked myself next to the available power plug point and plugged in my charger to charge my handphone. I waited for maghrib. Closed to 1900 slowly fellow passengers joined me in the surau.

As I was to start my takbir when I saw my train had arrived and was already at platform 4. A good two hours of rest before making the return journey back to JB. Still a lot of time for me. Once I did my jama qasar I walked out to join the rest of the passengers to wait. Only then I remembered I forgot to buy water for my journey and there would not be ABC on the train I was to board.

Shuttle 45, Tampin - JB Sentral, R2 8A

We were called to board at 2035, 30 minutes to departure. Coach R2 was right in front of me when I step down the stairs. I walked in and my body immediately shivered because of the air condition was on and with no one else inside to create warmth. I immediately prepared myself for a very cold journey. I was sitting alone in coach R2 Seat 8A facing backwards to the movement of the train. We departed Tampin sharp at 2105. I like the INKA coach built by Indonesia best as the seating includes power points for every two seats. Also, the seats are a bit more comfortable. Whereas the coach I boarded had only two power points located at both ends of the coach. Thus, in the first part of my journey I camped myself at one end to write and at the same time charge both my laptop and handphone. In fact, I stayed there until I exhausted my brain and the coach got too cold to bear. 

As I was writing, the normal stations appeared and I looked out to acknowledge, Batang Melaka at 2123, Gemas 2146, Segamat 2219, and Tenang 2254. Tenang? This was really a surprise for me. Never knew there is Tenang Station in Segamat. I was busy typing when I realised the train had stopped and it had been a while so I looked outside and try to make out the station as I am really familiar with the station in the south. When I could not identify the station I turned my head further back as I saw big signage. It read Tenang and I thought somebody was pulling a fast one due to the double-tracking construction. I sent a message to my train buddies to double-check and was confirmed of the existence. Wow, I miss Tenang all this while. What made me thought that it was a hoax was the fact that the signage was in aluminium colour and looks like it was just been added. We were waiting for a while already and I replied to the message asking we were crossing. Fahmi confirmed that we would cross with train 26 Express Rakyat Timuran from JB Sentral.

At 2326 we crossed with Train 26. After Tenang was Labis and Bekok. That was when I decided to call it a night. I packed up everything, emptied my bladder and walked back to my original seat to try to get some winks, which I did. 

Throughout the journey outside was massive construction of the double tracks and stations. Within two next two years, the face of train services will change totally in the south. To some train romantics, they will hate it and want the services to stay as they are. Progress prevails in the end and we just need to help to keep the balance between the old and new the best we can. Despite leaning more towards the romantics I will surely enjoy whatever train trip I am on.

The coach was indeed a freezer and I drifted in and out of sleep.

About ten minutes to JB Sentral the TC came around to announce JBS would be the next and final station. It was really hard for me to open my eyes and stayed focus. It was really an effort to finally do it. Once awake I was ok and ready for the unknown.

Shuttle 45 arrived at JBS on time at 0233. I disembarked quickly with one thing in mind. To empty my bladder and to see what I could do there. When I arrived at the restroom next to the surau, I was appalled by the condition. Dirty and not properly maintained. I just managed to ease myself and walked out. I tried the surau door and it was locked. I walked around the terminal and a few shops including the KFC were opened. So no problem of getting hungry. As I was looking around I realised that there were people already walking into the CIQ to cross to Singapore and prompted me to ask. The first one I asked was the Indian shopkeeper where I bought mineral water. A piece of clear information I have gotten from him was the bus services were available beginning at 0400 down below. Then I asked a mamak at another kiosk and I got almost a similar answer but still not convincing. That was when I saw a guard on duty just outside the terminal leading to the CIQ. I asked him if I were to cross to Singapore could I do it now. He said I could and to clear the Malaysian immigration first and could wait inside as many would and told me the same about the bus service. It was about 0300 then and I thought it would be too early. 

I ordered a simple fried chicken from the KFC and sat down to research and decide what I would do. The final destination of the Causeway Link bus was Queen St Terminal and when I looked at the map it was a walking distance to the Sultan Mosque at the Arab St. Suddenly, I found a solution to two of my major problems. If I were to cross at around 0400, 1) I could avoid the human exodus into Singapore and 2) I could take a bath and say by suboh prayer at Sultan Mosque. At 0400 I walked out of the KFC and went into the CIQ building to cross. 

I was learning the SOP of crossing by bus as I move on. Clearing the Malaysian immigration was easy after that I walked on and saw everyone went down the escalator to, I assumed where the bus was to take us to the Singaporean checkpoint and eventually into Singapore. There were two sets of escalators going down, one platform A and the other B. Which one should I take and I gambled on B and when I was down below it did not matter as you will be at the same level where all the buses will be waiting and you could access each platform easily. Platform A is for the Bus Kilang, Pekerja, etc while B is for the Causeway Link and the 170 buses, from Larkin, to Queen St. Of course I should take the Causeway Link, denotes by CW sign, assigned as CW1, CW2 buses. I saw on the bus that CW2 would be the bus to take. But what I could not understand initially was there were two lines waiting. I went to the shortest and line up behind a guy that obviously been doing this most of his working life. I asked him and he explained everything. Yes, I should take CW2 and the ticket to be paid for on the bus was RM3.40, the exact amount as no change will be given if you pay more than that. I had RM4 with me so that was what I used later. He explained further it does not matter if I take CW1 or CW2 at that stage because the bus will only take me to the Singaporean checkpoint where everyone had to get down to have our passport check and stamp. The bus will proceed to wait for us on the other side and at that point, I must take CW2 as it is the only one that is going to Queen St Terminal. Ok, about the two lines - one was a line for those who would like to sit and the line that I took was for those that would like to stand. Did not matter to me at that point because it would be a short journey to the Singaporean checkpoint. The other thing if you see a long line do not worry it will move very fast as they are a lot of buses and just follow the yellow line with CW2 written on the floor.

While crossing as early as 0400 I realised how many Malaysians are actually working in Singapore or how many Singaporeans are living in JB. It will be another exodus of humans across to Malaysia that evening and I will be one of them. Being Friday it would be the worst in a week. I had experienced that personally before. After I cleared both checkpoints I boarded Causeway Link CW2 to Queen St Terminal. It was a good 30 minutes ride into the city, had I was sleepy it would be a good nice sleep. Despite the lack of sleep, I was wide awake the whole journey. Singapore is less hazy than Malaysia as I arrived at Queen St Terminal at 0500. 

It was a very quiet still morning and I stood still for a while after I alighted from the bus. To get my sense of direction I switch on my data roaming and opened the Google map. I knew Masjid Sultan was not that far from Queen St as I had walked there before several times. With the Google map on I gotten my sense of direction and confidently walked towards Arab St. 

I arrived at the beautiful Masjid Sultan at 0515. I took an early morning scene shot using my handphone of Restaurant Zam Zam and the mosque before I entered the compound. There are already several people waiting for suboh. I gave salam to the first gentleman I met at the water fountain and he told me that there was an electrical problem and the restroom area a bit dark. He said I could still use the bathroom but a bit dark or he suggested for me to go to use the one on the other side of the mosque. I took that option and walked through the side of the prayer hall. That was when I realised how beautiful the mosque was. I was informed later it had been renovated. Inside the wash area, I cleaned myself and changed into a new t-shirt. I just did enough so that I could pray first and decided to come back later to properly do me up ha ha ha.

I walked into the prayer hall, said my sunat masjid and waited with the rest for Suboh. After the azan, we waited for quite a while before we were called to start to pray which was good for me.

The imam has a beautiful voice and he chose to recite a long surah sajadah for the first raqaat. To think about it that was the first suboh for me done in a mosque in Singapore. A wonderful experience. Thanks to the Arabs and Indian traders for building the mosques in Singapore. If not for them there would not be many mosques in major historical cities especially in Malaysia, particularly in Penang. Some people in Malaysia are bashing these ‘mamak’ and their restaurant but they gave a lot of interesting twists to our culture and most important thing of all to me they bought lands and built lot of mosques not only preserving and strengthening Islam in major cities but keeping land ownership in the cities among Muslims.

After the prayers and my ‘do-up’, I walked out at 0620 while taking photos of the mosque using my DSLR. Out of the mosque, I capture the mosque from the street where Restaurant Zam Zam was. How I wish the restaurant was open then. The streets were still relatively quiet and I walked slowly towards Bugis LRT station. At the station, I bought a ticket to Paya Lebar station as I was to rendezvous with my other colleagues who were staying at Hotel 81 Tristar. The ticket was Sing$1.80 and three stations away towards Pasir Ris.

When I disembarked at Paya Lebar I found out my data roaming capability had gone bonkers and I had no access to the Google map. I just referred to the image of the map that I captured before. I tried to make sense of the place and direction that I should take. I walked a bit and realised I was not successful. Thus, I asked a lady sitting waiting nearby. She pointed to the flats beyond and marked it as the landmark as a guide for me. She said, ‘That flat is the landmark. Walk to the flat and once you are there take right and walk on until you see the hotel. You will not miss it.’ Well, what she failed to tell me is that Tristar is building and Hotel 81 is somewhere in the building. I failed to locate it when I was in front of the complex. I double-checked the address that I had and it was on Onan St. I skirted the building and found Hotel 81 of the other side of the complex. I passed a mamak restaurant and the thought of stopping for breakfast imminent. But since my data roaming was not available I walked into the lobby of the hotel and sat there to wait for my colleagues to appear. I did not want to risk it. I booted up my laptop and managed to do a bit of work.

Dr E and Aya came down and saw me sitting and invited me to join them for breakfast at the mamak restaurant. Shidah was already at the Mamak shop and we had a grand breakfast. Grand because someone was actually on a quest to try everything that looks good to eat. Of course, being the only male in the group I was the designated one-man cleaning crew he he he. I ate enough to last until dinner he he he. 

After breakfast, we walked back to the hotel to wait for everyone in the lobby. When we got there almost everyone supposed to be there were there. We just lingered and waited for our coach. 

Our schedule for the day was to visit two regional libraries and a meeting with the Library Association of Singapore (LAS). The sequence was to visit Tampines Regional Library, Library @Harbour Front and finish off with the meeting at NLB. I have to make sure I stayed close to this schedule as I needed to cross back to JB by bus and take the 2230 train to Tampin and eventually the Komuter back to Bangi. It seemed I had a lot of times but I had a worse experience the chaotic Friday evening mass crossing to JB at both side checkpoints before and I did not wish to be in that position again. 

Our coach came, we boarded and we were accompanied by one of the NLB staff to Tampines Regional Library. It was quite a journey and we arrived at the South Plaza of the community complex at 0919. We were received by another staff there and the library was still close to the public when we started our tour. We had about slightly over 1 hour for the tour and we covered most of the areas. We came out of the main entrance at 1042.

The Tampines Regional Library is housed within a community complex that competes with a standard size modern football pitch in the middle and the inner part of the library is facing inwards towards the stadium. It is a community library where from the design of the library and its services went through community consultation and input. Thus, all seems to work in accordance with the requirement of the community surrounding the complex. Also, being a city-state and close proximity of housing complexes makes the library as one of the important necessities to the community. We explored the whole library and was guided by a nice young librarian. It was an eye and mind opener for us.

We left Tampines Regional Library at 1045 and left for Library@Harbour Front. The library is at a shopping complex and we arrived there at 1120. Another young librarian was there to meet and guide us around. As the name implies the shopping mall was built at the harbour front and a major part of it is facing the harbour. That is one reading section of the library has the best view and it is to me, one of the best ‘rooms with the view’ reading and thinking areas. Once again we were guided around and inspired by what we saw. Well, we need to be innovative enough and anything is possible. Again, at this library some if not most of their activities are run by a group of volunteers.

In conclusion, the visits may be an eye-opener or a brain teaser for many but to me, the limit is our imagination and hove bad we want to do certain things. Singapore libraries are successful maybe be due to close community and proximity but behind it, it is more to that as well. One very clear thing if you want people to come to the library the community need to be involved from the beginning of its development value chain. Their involvement is crucial. 

Since it was Friday we left the place early at 1155 for the NLB where we had lunch and said our necessary prayers. 

We started the meeting with a young LAS Committee at around 1430 and lasted until about 1545. As usual, it ended with a customary tokens presentation and photography session. It was a fruitful meeting and the next committee members of PPM need to take the initiative to progress the relationship as well as the activities planned.

From the NLB I just walked towards the Queen Street Bus Terminal. I had decided that wast the best way to cross to JB and my timing was perfect. When I arrived at the terminal I was not sure what to do and I surveyed around trying to figure out how it was done. I saw the CWS bus loading and unloading passengers nearby. Also, I saw a line going through some sort of ticketing system. I went over to check and I figured it out. You have to stand in line to buy the tickets, with exact change, and you will be ushered or asked to board the next arriving bus. The waiting line moves quite fast as the buses were quite frequent. My only problem is I did not have a small change.

I walked around to find the best way to break my Sing$10 and could not find any kiosk or even sellers selling anything small. I continued to walk and until I saw the Sim Lim Tower. It was my best bet. Even then when I was there I could not find anything smaller worth buying after going up and down the complex. In the end, I settle for a Sing$2 masking tape ha ha ha. With the small change in hand, at last, I walked quickly back to the bus terminal.

When I got there I did not have to wait long and boarded my bus to the causeway immigration checkpoints. I was in good times and did not need to rush as I did before and enjoyed my crossing.

I felt really tired when I was on the bus and the thought of sleeping was really inviting but knowing that I would be snoring if I were too tired I forced myself to stay awake. When we were at the Singaporean immigration point I just walked slowly up ignoring others that were almost running to be stamped out of Singapore. The lines were not that long ad I just picked one to line up. Observing others I got a sense that most of them were trying to beat their personal best time crossing. When I was finally at the counter the officer asked me a few basic questions to ensure I was not an imposter. Once stamped out I walked down to take the bus to the Malaysian border to cross home. I knew this was going to be easy as the automatic gates would be in operation and not as before.

I walked back into Malaysia as I passed the immigration automatic gate. I walked slowly with a smile on my face enjoying it as I had so much time before I boarded my train back to Tampin and eventually home.

The first thing I did as I crossed back was to visit the restroom ha ha ha. Then, without prompting I took a seat at our favourite warung and ordered a bowl of mi rebus and a Nescafe tarik. I savour both with patient and panache. While eating I knew what I would be doing already after that. In the meantime, I was just enjoying my meal. One thing about the place is I could not hang out too long as the throughput of the place is quite fast. This owing to the movement of the customers that are always on the go to grab a quick meal. Also, with the limited seats, we need to be considerate with the proprietor. I observed the customers were a mixed of frequent and new as well as multiracial. After I sipped the last of my Nescafe tarik I paid and walked down towards the Komtar Shopping Mall.

I window shopped in the Komtar walking up and down to kill the time. When I got bored and ended up grabbing a seat at the Haagen-Dazz outlet. I ordered three scoops of my favourite, Belgian Chocolate, with a black coffee. It was heaven on earth for a while ha ha ha. 

Just an hour before Maghrib I went to the restroom to take a simple bath before I said my jamak prayers in the surau there. 

I already felt tired when I finished praying and walked back to the JB Sentral to wait for my train. It was about 8.30 pm went I got and about two more hours of waiting. I assumed right that not many people would travel with me that night. Well, it did not matter to me. 

Shuttle 44, JB Sentral - Tampin, R2 11A

We were called to boarded ten minutes before departure. I had nothing much to look forward to but to sleep ha ha ha. I was that tired and I planned was to sleep my way to Tampin. Since it was not a sleeper I had to make myself comfortable in my seat. Once I was boarded I pulled up my jacket and put on my socks as based on experience the train would be very cold soon. As planned and due to lack of sleep as well as tired of walking the whole day I was out as soon as the ticket conductor validated by ticket.

Tampin railway station was quiet and lonely when the train arrived. I squinted my eyes to have a clear view of the digital watch on my handphone. It was 0359. About 30 minutes of schedule. I was not sure whether the driver did it on purpose as we were sitting idle at Gemas for quite some time. I did not know for how long but I seemed to be sleeping at rest for a while. The coach by that time was really cold. I was almost shivering even with my jacket on. Anyways, arriving at 0359 was good as my waiting time for the first Komuter train to Bangi at 0513 would be shorter.  Less than 10 of us disembarked at Tampin and all of us fitted into one life going up to the arrival and departure hall. I was surprised to see several passengers, I guessed most of them were students, sleeping waiting for the first train already. I saw even more knapsacks on the seats outside of the surau.

Several of them must be slumbering in there as well. They either were taking the Komuter train to KL Sentral with me or taking the shuttle train to JB that would depart Tampin at 0530. Anyways, I am happy to have several people waiting with me. After a bit of mental calculation, I planned to get down at Seremban to say my Suboh prayer and to catch another train later for home.

At 0500 we were called to board the Komuter train. Only a few of us boarded indicating to me the students were actually boarding the shuttle to JB Sentral. The Touch N Go card machine did not work and I was told I could pay at my exit later. Departed Tampin as scheduled at 0513. I was awake for the rest of the journey and it was really an experience to be on the Komuter very early in the morning travelling from Tampin. I really could not imagine that many people will travel from Tampin that very early to go to work in KL. Well, it is not the distance but there are not enough facilities in the Komuter train to make Muslim conformable travelling to work that early as they will be thinking about missing or having difficulty saying their suboh. Especially being a Malaysian Muslims that prefer to have a proper place to pray rather than just doing it at any space available on the train. It is a cultural thing more than anything else. The option that they can have is to do what I was doing, to stop at Seremban to pray and then continue their journey on the next available train. 

We arrived at Seremban at around 0600. As soon as I was out I went to the ticket counter to pay for my journey from Tampin using my Touch N Go card. I knew where the surau was and walked there soon after.

At 0614 I was back on the platform taking photos as I walked to take the bridge over to the platform 2 and 3 to wait for my train to Bangi. At about 0630 the train arrived and half an hour later  I disembarked at Bangi station at 0712.

Shuttle Budak Sekolah (Shuttle 51/53), Tanah Merah - Kuala Lipis, Feb 25, 2019

The shuttle 51 that becomes shuttle 53 at Gua Musang is the main local train that cannot fail during the school semester. It is aptly named as Keretapi Budak Sekolah. Sam and I boarded this train at Tanah Merah to go all the way to Kuala Lipis. The reasons are; 1) to experience the early morning ride as the school children so as to understand what they are going through every day to go to school, 2) after a long while on the express trains to experience the shuttle that stops at every halt along the route to Kuala Lipis, 3) to observe the locals on the train.

The cool morning breeze blew against us as we walked out of the hotel. It was not that cold but with the minimal sound of normal life enough to create a sense of anticipation and suspense. The street lights were not bright enough to change that. It was not really a scary feeling but I felt we need to walk faster and cross the main road to the station. I would say from the Humaira Hotel to the station was just about 200 metres but due to the construction of the flyover we had to detour a bit and the walk became 300 metres or so. We walked in at the station at 0441. It was less than 5 minutes walk.

We were the first to be at the station and took a seat at one of the marble benches as we entered. The station was partially lighted and you could not see clearly beyond 50 metres. The darkness engulfed us just as you were looking at someone camping in a wood with only a small camping lights lighting where the person is sitting. Looking around and sitting on the cold marble bench I felt a sense of loneliness as someone being sent away on an unknown journey. I was deep in my reflection.

A few minutes after we arrived a few other passengers showed up. Mostly locals that use the train often and a few newbies. I knew some were newbies when they asked when the ticket counter going to open. The answer for them, it was not going to open as it was too early. I told them not to worry as you can pay on board as you do on a bus. To the locals, it is indeed just another bus. I was told once that one of the regular in this train is a Chinese school teacher living in Tanah Merah. I search her from afar and I thought I saw her. 

Through the dark still morning, we started to see a small dot of shining light appeared. The light was moving and getting bigger over a few minutes. Then the growing light was accompanied by a familiar sound of an engine and eventually the sound of blaring horn that was music to my ears since I was small. Shuttle 51 approached Tanah Merah Station at 0510. This train originates from Tumpat. Daily, it departs Tumpat as early as 0410 on a national agenda to keep the school children in a secluded part of Kelantan in school. Shuttle 51 is not about making money but a national service that some take for granted. This train is not only well-known among train fans as it is also being written and documented by the local media at the national level. There is an element of romance for this train as well. There was one telefilm shot with the train as the main backdrop of the story. Historically, the school students have been taking the train almost daily, since its existence, to school in Dabong. The return trip for them was another Shuttle train that picked them up daily at around 1500 which meant the students would be at home late in the evening. They repeated this every day during the school terms. Only in May 2009 life was a bit better for them when KTMB introduced and air-conditioned shuttle between Tumpat and Dabong. The students still boarded Shuttle 51 to school every day but got to go home a bit early when the Dabong Tumpat shuttle was strategically timed to leave Dabong at 1400 pm daily. 

Powered by the old and overused 24 series locomotive, Shuttle 51 arrived, in train community speak, before time, 8 minutes earlier of schedule at 0511. The locomotive was pulling three coaches and one Power Generator Coach (PGC). As soon as we boarded the train departed Tanah Merah into the darkness. We settled down in our seats to enjoy the ride.

We reached Temangan, the first station after Tanah Merah, at 0527. I wrote about the significance of this station to me before so I refrain from being a ‘kakatua' bird. It just when we reached Temangan it was still very dark and the station was unmanned.

Cold and sleepless, still I refused to sleep. In fact, the excitement prevented me from sleeping. I was excited but I did not know what exactly I was excited about? I just could not really nail it. I mean, yes I was excited to be on the train after all the dreams of boarding it. Yes, I was excited to be able to experience it and capture to immortalise it the best I could with my camera and writing. Still, I could not nail what is the real excitement of that day. Maybe a combination of a lot of things that include my expectations and reality. My resolve was to make it one of the best days of my life. 

Two German tourists were onboard with us. Most probably they boarded at Wakaf Baru. I knew them as German when we chatted at Dabong. Later, funnily he complained about the coach being too cold whereas he came from a town in Germany that the normal weather temperature is almost -10 degrees daily ha ha ha

By now I was already in rhythm with the sound and movement of the train. I was not only part of the train but to a certain degree, I was the train. It dawned on me I could be the engineer of the train helping to manoeuvre the train along every day. Whoever he was that day he must know he was not just driving the train but also carrying the needs of humanity and the nation. 

We arrived at Kuala Krai at 0552 and it was still very dark outside. I got out onto the platform to shoot a few frames. I still remember the morning we boarded the same train two years ago to go on an adventure at Slow Pok Long. A few passengers boarded.

We waited at Kuala Krai for a while as the train was before time, early. I continued to stay on the platform and looking around me for something interesting to shoot. I have been at train stations in the early morning since my school days that I took things for granted a bit. Very early morning at Seremban, Gemas, Bahau, Mentakab, Kuala Lipis, Ipoh, a few minutes before Tanah Merah and all other major stations. I am so used to that kind of atmosphere and having the same feeling about it. It was no different when I was at Kuala Krai that day. Everything seems to be in place and I just love it. I guess the introvert in me materialised to the fullest during such a moment.

We picked up the first two school students at Kg Pahi at 0619. I could clearly see the surau from the train and they just about finishing suboh prayers. The two boys were running a bit to catch the train. Once they were on board I walked back to our seats. Immediately, I said my prayers on the moving train at a designated place in our coach where the TC (Tickets Conductor) placed a mat.

The first two that boarded at Pahi, just like us, preferred to stand at the door rather than occupying the many empty seats. I am very sure just like us they will remember their train journey for as long as they live. That is what amazing about trains, especially this train. 

I knew after Pahi we will pass through a secondary jungle and palm oil plantations before we arrived at Manek Urai. No one boarded at the station. Then, the train really travelled through the jungle and begin to climb a bit. There was somebody boarded at Kg Baru Sg Menkuang when we stopped but I was not sure how many people. The place reminded me of Cik Gu Zalief. The next station was Ulu Temiang and the intervals of these stations until we arrived at Dabong are around 12 minutes apart. 

After Ulu Temiang the train negotiated a dark jungle and passed two tunnels and the historic Slow Pok Long viaduct. I was really conscious of this and really looking forward to the next halt. Still, under a dark sky, the second group of students boarded at Kg Baru Bukit Abu at 0647. There were five of them including a girl. Looking at them walking up to board, having been walking in their kampung and knowing about the place a bit, I could imagine what they have to go through every day to board the train. Kg Baru Bukit Abu is the official name. To us, it is Slow Pok Long. A memorable halt for me now. After the children boarded I remained at the door and looked outside. The morning begins to break slightly. I took three shots one of the halts from behind when the train left the station. The second one, with the built-in flash, popped out, took a shot of the dark that came out like I was shooting a mist. The third one, without the flash, I managed to capture the train moving into the darkness with its headlight showing the path. It was still very dark but it created one of the best photography effects that I love.

At 0655 we arrived at Bukit Abu. The second biggest group of students boarded here. Looking at them boarding I felt proud of them. Those in the city would be either taking the bus or chauffeured driven by their parents to school. Here they were boarding the normal train that could probably fail to come for the day to go to school. You do what you have to do for knowledge. I sincerely pray that was what in their minds.

Again the kids started to fill the borders in between the coaches instead of taking their seats inside. They were happily chatting and looking out. ‘Good morning world!!!, Education is important and this is how I am earning it.’ As if they were saying that together. Their early morning conversation created a ripple of liveliness inside the train. Everyone has something to say and someone was expected to listen. That how was school kids should behave. If you take away their environment and situation school kids would still be school kids. It was the best place and moment to connect with these guys. It was their knowledge domain area. By this time most of the other passengers were awake. Not sure whether it was because of the verbal group excitement created by the school students or it was time to wake up.

I stood by the door watching them. At times I would look outside when the jungle was really close almost touching the train. If you ever had the opportunity to be in this kind of area in the early morning you will feel, maybe, how I felt when I stood there.

The last and the biggest group boarded at Kuala Gris at 0702. To be honest I think these students and the students before them actually put these places, including Dabong, and the train on the world map. Especially Kuala Gris, apart from Dabong, could be a memorable tourist site with the train and the daily event at the station the main product. Apart from the train fans, it could be an attraction to experience for other Malaysians and tourists.

I was still standing at the door when the train approached Kuala Gris as I really wanted to capture the early morning scene of the students boarding. Students being students there were several punctual groups that were already waiting at a certain interval of points. Indicating they knew already where the train going to stop and their favourite coach to board. Once the train stopped I got down onto the small open platform to capture them. While this was going on a few more students were leisurely walking towards the train and when this group boarded I thought that was it until a bigger group started to come down from the direction of the kampung. This group consisted of a big group of boys that I assumed, maybe wrongly, the usual late comers he he he. I watched them boarded from another door close by. I thought that was it and waited for the train’s horn. Then suddenly a motorcycle carrying a young girl came down screamingly fast and the girl jumped out to board immediately. It was a three steps swift movement from her.

Seeing all these I remarked to myself ‘.....and you complain that you have to wake up early to go to school every day.’ My sarcastic answer to those in other parts of Malaysia that complaint about going to school every morning.

Again, this group preferred to stand in between the coaches. I guess primarily it was a short ride for them. I even saw one of the students even used the door hook to hang his small school bag. Nevertheless, it is a natural habitat for knowledge sharing. When we stood between these two coaches or borders endless stories will flow naturally. At most time when I was alone I love just to sit there (there is a pull-down single-seat meant for the attendant) thinking and looking out. The sound of the chugging and other noises created by the movement of the train moving through space does not bother me at all. In fact, it is a therapeutic rhythm to my wandering brain. 

The day started to emerge a few minutes before we arrived at Dabong. One of the best parts of the day when I travel in the morning is witnessing life taking shape. Now looking out, life beginning to really appear in rural Kelantan. Another experience for my memory bank in the bag.

Like any other day, the train made its grand arrival at Dabong at 0718. Those students onboard were the VIPs and as planned I stood back allowing for them to disembark first. I had taken them from the platform before and today I wish to have a new perspective. It is their norm disembarking and walking to school along and on the track. Their classes started as they stepped down from the train. I watched their faces as the about to disembark and all were smiling except for one or two as if were saying.

'Hishh rasa malas nak gi sekolah hari ni. Rasa nak naik terus keretapi sampai Kuala Lipis’

When I got down I kept on shooting the students walking along and on the track to their school which was about 300 metres away from the station. Through my viewfinder, I tracked them until the school gate. I was there my self the day before doing my bits to help by introducing a couple of career choices and motivational talks. We also donated three boxes of books to their school library. Thank you to PPM, PNM and Bernama. I made a promise to come again soon.

I was not sure how long the train going to be waiting at Dabong as normally the train will cross with a train from Kuala Lipis to Tumpat. Later, I was told that the train was delayed and we were not crossing at Dabong. I knew we were early but not sure how early really. I got my answer when I saw the TC walked into the cafe next to the station, sat down and ordered breakfast. I took the opportunity to take a few more shots and later walked into the cafe myself to buy packed breakfast for Sam and I.

While at the cafe I saw other students going to the school on motorcycles. If not by train most students around the area ride their own motorcycles or being sent by their parents by any other mode of transportations to schools.

The romanticism of Dabong Station in the morning, apart from its people, is the natural surrounding that shrouded with morning fog until mid-morning. If you had ever experience pleasant foggy morning elsewhere you know what I am talking about. It was still foggy at 0727 and it was a pleasant photography session for me.

If you were at Dabong station in the morning and looking for something to eat there is another cafe across the tracks. There is a small taxi stand next to the cafe as well. 

Eventually, we were called to board and we departed Dabong at 0738. I sat down at my seat to rest a bit and enjoyed the journey.

About 20 minutes after Dabong we arrived at Kemubu. It was my first time to arrive at Kemubu in the morning from the direction of Tumpat. It was a pleasant morning. Both the German guy and I jumped down out on to the platform when the train stopped. It was still a bit foggy and I just love it. Maybe I should plan a camping trip and sleep at the station ha ha ha. It was a quick stop and immediately we were crossing the foggy Kemubu bridge. It must be nice and beautiful sitting in the cockpit during the crossing. One of the bonuses for train engineers on a daily basis. Once we crossed the bridge we were back in the jungle again. As the train moved along the morning sun beginning to shine in from our left creating another memorable moment in the train. At this stage, I felt I want to be on the train every day. 

Among the passengers in our coach was a full dress nurse that I assumed was on duty somewhere along the route. Apart from school teachers and policemen, nurses are the other social workers that are very prominent and always found boarding the local train. Not only I salute and respect them but there is a sense of jealousy in me as well. Simply, because they have the opportunity to be on the train frequently.  

At 0802 we arrived at Sri Jaya halt. Interestingly this halt was located in Kg Sri Mahligai and later we came to another halt Sri Mahligai. So there are two halts at Kg Sri Mahligai. The halt was empty and I do not remember whether there was someone disembarked. However, there was a couple with their luggage at a shelter next to the halt. They were obviously waiting for something and not our train. Not sure whether they were waiting for the train going up north. Maybe they were waiting for a car. I really could not guess. 

Sri Mahligai halt was just 4 minutes away. A few people in our coach disembarked here including the nurse. I got up from my seat and joint them at the door to watch them getting down and walk away. It was a memorable scene for me to see lives shaping the area. A son was standing to wait, I guessed, for his mum and walked towards us to welcome his mum and help with their luggage.

The kampung is beautiful in the morning with the morning sun creating a long shadow of the house nearby until the halt. A bit beyond was still fog hovering over the kampung.

After 6 minutes we left Sri Mahligai we arrived at Sri Bintang at 0810. Now these kampungs and the halts are quite close in this area. At Sri Bintang I saw the old halt with three kampung folks sat talking and waiting. They just continued talking when we pulled in. I saw two solid packed luggage and a small bundle of sayur kampung by the side. Similar to at Sri Jaya, they must be waiting for the North Bound train then, I said to my self. Obviously, they preferred to wait at the old wooden halt as the new one was empty. 

Three minutes later we were at Sg Tasin halt. This was where I saw a lady walked out of her front lawn out towards the track. A pure kampung scene and I am pretty sure she was going to a shop or somebody’s place. Her dress and handbag were telling me this. Also, she must be crossing the track when we had gone. It is always wonderful to see life playing out in a kampung

We continued to move through secondary jungle with intermittent farmland and houses until we reached Jerek Baru at 0821. Jerek Baru is quite a big kampung or community. Not only there was a secondary school but also rural library. A lady disembarked here. At the halt, I saw a man with a long multipurpose jacket. The nights and mornings must be cold there.

After we left Jerek Baru I stood at the door and I purposely left the door on the other side open. The little air turbulence created by the air entering the cabin by the moving train is something that we really love. The feel with the door open is something else to me. 

It was about 20 minutes of jungle, a little bit of rubber and fruit trees before we arrived at Old Bertam station at 0827. The cafe next to the old station was still striving. I could see many kampung folks having breakfast. The train stopped for a while before crossing the teh tarik coloured Sg Betis. I stood close to the glass at the door to watch as we crossed and there was a store or pump house in the middle of the bridge. Soon, I could see the police Sargent barrack house that we used to stay up on the hill overlooking the bridge. It was a short stay but profound memories we created here. Now, I could see the barrack has an Astro receiver disc on the roof. Back then we had generator-powered electricity only and a half screen from our black and white TV. What did I do at night? Reading and dreaming.

After we crossed the bridge we approached Bertam Baru station. It was exactly at 0830. When we arrived the Shuttle 50 from Kuala Lipis was already on platform 2 and we crossed. The shuttle was powered by a long hood 25111 Pulau Redang. 

My recollection of Bertam Baru station is just a small shack with an open space. Now, of course, it is beyond a small shack. I remember the old new station was a small shack on the left of the path going into the 'kampung' Bertam. When I got down at the station I just walked up the path and climbed the small inclination to the police station which was about 400 metres away.

Almost an equal number of passengers embarked and disembarked. By this tine beautiful morning lights was shining the station creating a pleasant feeling. At the station were the ever-present contract workers rejuvenating the tracks along the jungle line waiting for their shuttle to pick them up to the worksite.

The train only stopped for 1 minute at the station and at 0832 departed Bertam Baru

The next 15 minutes we travelled through wooded areas mixed with rubber and palm plantations with intermittent of the local’s fruit orchards. I could only imagine of what kind of lifestyle of the locals. Not to mention how their children go to school? Their immediate town is Limau Kasturi. I would not even call it a town. Nevertheless, there is a big primary school there. 

Then in succession, we arrived at 0857 Sungai Serian and 0900 Kampung Serian proper respectively. Again, these are kampung that the only significant transport is the train. After Kg Serian we arrived at Sungai Koyan. Yes, there is also Sungai Koyan in Kelantan and that we arrived at 0909. Since Limau Kasturi, Sg Galas was on our left and the track is parallel to the river until Sg Koyan. From Sg Koyan we continued to travel south with Sg Galas took a turn to the right snaking inwards. Later we met Sg Galas again nearer to Gua Musang.

We arrived at Pan Malayan halt at 0913. The name Pan Malayan really intrigued me. I really tried hard to understand why it is named so? Initially, it indicated to me that it must be an area where they have a major quarry or construction-related company nearby. Or a plantation estate. But after a little bit of desktop research over the Internet, I got nothing. Pan Malayan halt also meant we were approaching Gua Musang soon.

I was back at the door on the right side of coach when we approached the old Gua Musang Station. My main reason was to capture the station from the train floor level. I squatted really low and pushed my back against the side of the door to stabilise myself. We heard through the grapevines that KTMB will turn the old station into a museum. So I wanted to capture it with a different perspective. I let the shutter flown and got my running sequence shots. After we passed I move to the left side and did the same with me against the moving direction of the train capturing the Emrail locomotive stationed there with the signature Guan Musang hill as the backdrop. Then quickly I faced forward to capture the train approaching the new station with another signature Gua Musang mount as the backdrop.

When I took the Mail train aka main express train from Seremban going home for a school holidays, the old Gua Musang Station was one of the stations on the line that we waited for. After Kuala Lipis this was a station where you can get cheap and delicious Kelantanese food. It was like a food bazaar where all the food sellers will walk the length of the platform to sell to us via the train open windows. Some boarded the train. But I just love to buy and bargain through the window. Almost all at RM0.50 each

The train arrived at Platform 1 at 0927 and most passengers were disembarking at Gua Musang. I got out as well as I knew it will be sometime waiting for the arrival of 26 up the Express Rakyat Timuran from JB. I walked to the cafe to buy some more food as there was not any ABC on board so I had to get something to drink and munch ha ha ha. Also, to shoot a few frames of the stations and everything else around the station. Once the Shuttle 51 finished with the process of allowing passengers to disembark and new ones to board, it officially became Shuttle 53 Gua Musang to Kuala Lipis. The train pulled out and pushed, the train speaks for this is to loop, back to occupy Platform 2 to wait. So when I was done with my photography and buying food  I had to climb down onto the tracks via a small makeshift manmade ladder to cross to my train. In fact, those new passengers that came later had to do the same to board.

The tickets counter there was only active for a few minutes before and until arrivals and departures of trains. Once back on board I looked around and the train was almost empty.

The Express Timuran arrived at 0939 and occupied Platform 1 next to us. The new refurbished ABC was right next to us and now I know how it feels to be on the Shuttle train looking at passengers eating and relaxing at the ABC of Express Timuran. In fact, it was the same ABC that we got to use on the 27 Down (Express Timuran from Tumpat to JB Sentra) back to Kluang that we boarded the next day. We were the first to leave Gua Musang.

At 0945 we departed and went into the plantation and jungle of Gua Musang. Mentara Baru was the last halt in the state of Kelantan that we reached at 1035 before we crossed the border into Pahang. About ten minutes after we crossed the border we arrived at Merapoh Station. There were several people boarded. I saw the Station Master at work passing and picking the tokens. I observed from afar and caught him talking to the engineer on board.

This journey really brought me close and personal with all the halts and stations in Pahang that before was mostly just passing through. The first halt after Merapoh was Teluk Gunong that we arrived at 1050 followed by Sungai Temau at 1116 and Chegar Perah that we arrived at1128. At Chegar Perah we picked up several people including a family with a big group sent off. I guessed they were going to Kuala Lipis. Chegar Perah is an area with a major Tanah Rancangan Persekutuan. In fact, one of my cousins on my mum’s sides live at the Tanah Rancangan. At 1130 we departed Chegar Perah.

Exactly 10 minutes after we left Chegar Perah we approached Aur Gading and a passenger disembarked there. Exactly after another 10 minutes leaving Aur Gading we reached Kg Berkam. Kg Berkam meant something to us mainly because Akmal and Matyu are from there. In fact, later I saw the Masjid Kg Berkam up on a hill where they used to take a family photo.

At 1158 we entered Bukit Betong that has a halt on the a bend after the train crossed a bridge.

A lady and her two small sons boarded here and due to the elevation, it was a bit steep for them to climb. It is an interesting halt smack in between two immediate curvatures. A tight space but would be a good place for photography. At this point, the train moved slowly along a tight space when if you put out your hand you can grab the scrub and small trees outside. Some really brushed the side of the train when we passed through. After about 10 minutes we arrived at one of the biggest small station along the route, Padang Tengku Station. When I was on the train in my younger days going back to Kelantan, after Kuala Lipis, this was the station that I always pop out to look at. In fact, in the old days, there would be Pasar Sari going on, on certain days near the station. Now it is being built to be one of the maintenance depots for the future DRC services for this sector. A group of young school girls disembarked here. They look like students attending and going back to their madrasah or religious school there. Most probably the Sekolah Menengah Agama Padang Tengku about 200 metres across the station.

A short while later we started to approach Kuala Lipis Station and we arrived at, both our and the train, final station at 1222. We were on time.

Changes are eminent at Kuala Lipis Station. The station is dear to me as it was my first station and train ride that I was really conscious of. If there was any before that I must have been just a baby. The new wing of the station was built north of the old station. I guess the authority is going to keep the old station intact for history sake after all. Once completed the station would have a different soul. The concrete building sure looks badly designed and uninviting. Although I could understand it could be a cost factor they could have done a bit better with the design. Knowing they will whitewash most part of the new station I feel I would not want to be at the station too long like before. No soul and character.

The old station looks shabby now and in bad shaped and needed sprucing up to create the historical impact as it is full of memories and history not only to the community, the people of Kuala Lipis, but also train travellers and fans like me.

At 1230 we walked out of the Kuala Lipis Station to rest for our next train Express Timuran down to JB at 0055