A little bit about MUAR

Let's talk about my hometown today, a lovely town known as MUAR, 麻坡。

Although Muar is not a big town, it has very rich history traced back to the 13th Century, way even before the founder of the Sultanate of Malacca, Prince Parameswara (1344-1424), a Malay prince from Srivijaya, first set his foot at the River Mouth of Muar in 1402.

Location

Muar (also referred to as "Bandar Maharani", ) is a town, now a district situated in north-west Johor, Malaysia. Muar district borders Malacca, about 45km up north, on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The district of Muar is approximately 2346.12 km², with a population of 350,000. The name originated from the word "Muara" or estuary in the Malay language. The other possible origin is Indian influence which comes from two words; ‘Muna’ and ‘Ar’. ‘Muna’ means three and ‘Ar’ means river, denoting the Muar River, which flows through Muar.


History

Arguably, Muar is one of the most well known towns in Malaysia. According to history, Muar used to be a small port since the time of Portuguese ruling in Malacca until the time Johore is under the ruling of Sultan Abu Bakar who is also known as Maharaja. The Portuguese knew Muar as Muara, which means port and the small port service is provided at the estuary of the Muar River.

The name Maharani was given when Sultan Abu Bakar ruled Johore after the official opening of City of the Maharani in 1884. He officiated Muar as a state ruled under Johore and to as the same status as a state. City of the Maharani means City of the Queen and he presented this city as a gift to his Queen as accordance to her name, Maharani. Since then, The City of the Maharani becomes the capital of Muar. Muar is now a district of Johor.

The name Muar has been mentioned many times in the history of the Malay government of Malacca, was once a partial focus for the Dutch and Portuguese because of its fertile land. Other than spices, pepper and gambir, gold is one of the valuable minerals available in Muar, mostly at Ledang hill, also known as Mount Ophir, located about 30km south-bound the Muar District.

pic: a view of the majectic waterfall at Mount Ophir, or Gunung Ledang, or "Air Panas" - meaning hot water, although the water is by no means hot :-)

After the fall of old Johore government, Sultan Abu Bakar, popularly known as the Father of Modern Johore, turned the Muar River into a significant transportation system and economic resource to the state. A lot of interesting stories and events, behind the history of Muar happens during the growth of the city now, and a lot of historical facts are being preserved, some road are named after a historical fact. These histories are remembered and referred to by the new generation.

In the 19th Century, a local Chinese tycoon called Lim Tong Lian, who was Leader of Muar Straits called "Kang Chu", developed Muar into a commercial hub with various business activities. During that period, most chinese involved in plantation of "Gambir" which the plant seeds could be used for spices. Prosperity began to follow and the present generation now enjoys the fruits and hardworks of our great-grand fathers. As to who are the descendants of Lim Tong Lian, well, subject to discovering the truth, but one thing for certain is that Muar still has many "rich" families, be it inherited wealth or self-made, and is generally considered as a "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" phenomena.

Well, this is just a beginning to a series of information which I intend to write about Muar, its businesses, places of interest, commerce, links of Muarians to the world at large, and most importantly, its heritage and the people. Watch out this space.

Feel free to render your comments, for "hearing the other sides" is the intention which I started this blog.