I’m here once again on the soil of Selangor’s first sultanate official residence Kuala Selangor. I spent my secondary here for 5 years you know. Within that period of time, I learn so many stuff around this local town. When I was there which is like 11 years ago back in 1997, this place definately a ghost town. Not many cars even not many premises around. But today I went back to take my SPM certificate, it developed with so many buildings all over. I was excited. One of the places that I went is the Bukit Malawati and Taman Alam. Bukit Malawati can be consider quite a scary place. You don’t want yourself there during the night time. There are so many local folklore’s been swaying around. And one of the most famous stories that went on reaching my ears is about the Sultan’s cannon. It was said that the one covered in loin cloth has been explode for no reason back in the 70s. This sudden explosion were believe as an indicator of bad omen that going to fall in Sultan’s family. Well, when I was there, I think as far as I can remember, if you see the picture with the canons below, that was not the real canon. I think so it wasn’t real. Why? I am very sure last time the are 3 cannons mounted on a bedrock piles up with the earth fills. But this time they replace it with a some sort of cannon wheels. And i can feel the cannons are made out of caissons instead of real steel. I remember the real cannons which bares the name of first 3 sultans of selangor and one of the cannons were wrapped in yellow cloth. But today it wasn’t there! So i asked few people around as usual to feed my curiosity. You know I always let my curiosity controls me. Hahaha. What had happen to the real canons? Then one of the guards said that the real cannon with the yellow cloth was relocated near to the Sultan’s mausoleum. I went there to see the cannon and have a photo of it. I remember once I getting near to the mausoluem to get closer to the cannon, my body starts to shiver. Brrrrr. Now I found one of 3 cannons originally located at the top of the Bukit Malawati. I wonder why they move it here. I don’t know what had happen to the other 2 cannons. This one’s name is ‘Petoi Boga’ in Bugis which means White Princess. I read the information board and state that the canon was found in Buluh Rive, 12 km to the south of Kuala Selangor on Sept 23rd 1966. That is like almost to Klang. There aren’t much different compare to last years when I was in Form 1. I think today they should put more informative boards so that people will more aware of its historical value. Other than that, as you can see the next pictures is the lagendary ‘Tangga 100’. This stairs were built from the port and right up to Sultan’s palace. Some of the remnants can be seen clearly until today. It proves that our local people also have the ability of building such structure that could last hundreds of years. I always watch this ‘Engineering An Empire’ at History Channel. They depicts all the previous archaeological sites really pulls my interest and present it in a computer generated graphics. I think they should come over here and do the same too. Hehehe. Selangor’s Sultanate starts from Bugis decendants as far as I know. Some of the road in Kuala Selangor are name after the Seven Bugis Warriors which some of them I remember Pangeran Muda, Daeng Celak, Daeng Merewah, and Pangeran or Daeng whtever they call it lah. Hehehe. Back those days I know this road when I went jogging in the evening during my residential schools day. This is why it is good to have roads name after somebody, right? On top of Bukit Malawati I can still there is a newly build Museum Kuala Selangor. I bet you all who interested can go there to learn more about the historical aspects of Kuala Selangor rather than just a fishing site. Hehehe. I remember when I was in form 4. I went to this camping for KRS ‘peringkat daerah’ at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah School (SAAS). During the night time, we were having this ‘Kembara Malam’ where all of us were split in groups and walk alone around Bukit Malawati. How was that sound? Horror, right? Warf. But I was excited! Hahaha. But not too excited okay otherwise else will happen. The person in charge was an ex-comando who has deep experience in this thing. He strictly asked us to carry water each one of us. WHY? Probably he told all the ‘locals’ that please not to disturnb those who carries waters. I guess. Because we did have a walk or morel ikely like tour around Bukit Malawati including ‘Perigi Beracun’, ‘Busut Malawati’ and others as well. In the end at our camping site which is at SAAS football field, he gazed at our hands and feets. We never ask why, but he look very attentively with his torchlight setting one after another. He knows what his doing that is one for sure. The picture that contains one huge rock is called ‘Batu Hampar’. Situated just before the entrance of Sultan’s palace, it was a place where they execute all those who commits adultery. I remember I read the sign one lady got beheaded because she committed adultery. Read it like long, long, long time ago. Imagine back in those days where all the kampong people tried to build these structures. How can they lift huge stone as big as we have like so-called ‘Batu Hampar’? Can you imagine that? Very much impressive. Other than that, Bukit Malawati still have the poisonous well, a watch tower (where they determine the starting day of the fasting month and Raya), couples of 200 year old Angsana tree and some shops too. I like the view up there. The view up there still offers the same which I had on my very first glance 11 years ago. Anyhow, I’m gonna miss this place. Wish one day I could go back and pay a visit again. Further reading: i) Bukit Malawati on Sejarah Malaysia ii) Bukit Malawati on Journey Malaysia

The latest picture of Malawati Fort today. Note that the cannons are mounted on their wheels.

The old picture. Note the yellow cloth covered cannon in the middle in the 90s. Now moved to the Sultan’s Mausoleum. Refer picture above taken by the writer. (Picture source: Abdul Halim Nasir, Kota-Kota Melayu, Kuala Lumpur, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1990)

Click here for more photos.

You know the day I finished the final exam is the day (given by that you are very positively sure that you gonna pass the paper) when you are graduate. Compare to SPM, normally those days teenagers would feel the freedom that they gain. All of them are very excited to reach the so-called world out there. Some would continue study, but majority would go out looking for job or in other words ‘making money’. Why? Because where comes the money comes the fun. Agree? Haha.

Every single batch in Malaysia denotes about 400 000 of people each. From this, the higher education institutions offer roughly about ONLY 150 000 seats available for these students to further diplomas or degrees. What happen to the other 250 000? Some STPMs and some go for certificates. But MAJORITY straight went out looking for jobs. For the ladies who possesses good looks, she will go for receptionist, promoters or GROs. For guys would go work for McDs, KFCs, and many other fast food chain in Malaysia (recently got 24 hour McDelivery that allows more species so-called mat rempits easier to find job). But a huge number would go out and become factory workers. This is what happen to every batch of our country’s teenagers. If we combine every year, it’s gonna be a very very huge number you know. I bet only few would return back and continue their studies (maybe because of their parental advise or ambition to become a professional since they already have the money from working). From my observation, once you got your hands on the money, it very hard for you to study. SO imagine an 18 year old who going to choose for money or study. I believe instead of study, he or she definitely will continue to work for money more and even more. A lot of our people still didn’t aware how important education as it is today. It’s crucial but our teenagers today just wanted to have a simple life without higher education. It’s just my opinion. If you say I’m wrong, I’ll say: There no right or wrong in stating opinions, so whatever~

After the exam, I realized that I been here for over 5 years now. Then, i didn’t know what to do. Anyhow, after I finish my exam, on the same day I simply message some of my friends outside mmu informing them that I already graduate. Somehow if you feel too excited means you just do it no matter what people gonna say bout you, right? Hahaha. My batch had a photo taking sessions. It was great.

But I remember my days were quite wasted with just sleep and eat all over and over again. Well, we all do that after graduate, right? But not for long and you know you have to move on. On my final week in Melaka here, I did spent my time with all my classmates. It might be our last time together after everyday we met during class for few years. I went fishing, went for a movie, and yamcha almost every night. Hahaha. One thing for sure, I’ll be leaving Melaka. A lot of things happened here. I’m gonna miss it all. I’m just lost of words right now.