Untold History : The Lost Iron Bridge and Master Craftmen Dato' Yahya Awal

Sometime in the afternoon, 5th July 1889.  Johor Bahru.

 HH Ibrahim and his band of Armies were officiated the Iron Bridge at Jln. Ebrahim, connected to the Market at Segget Island, though to be the 1st constructed by local engineer. 

This remarkable structure were engineered by Dato' Yahya Awal, one amongst many wonders he built in Singapore and JB.

The long and closed friend of HH Albert Baker, Dato' James Meldrum, a scotman... who financing the construction were given an opportunity to address his gratitudes to people of Johor.  The Bridge later was name as "Meldrum Bridge"

He was amazed by the achievement of local Malays in engineering, particularly for Dato' Yahya Awal.  

Little we knew about this man Dato' Yahya Awal, except few of his hand print in designing the construction of Tyersall Palace, Istana Besar, Pejabat Dato' Jaafar and this Iron Bridge..


His character is somehow dubious, overshadowed by other shining stars in the Royal Court of Johore. 
Sometime somewhere.. this bridges were not to be found in local histories and antiquities.  There are no trace of them.. and no efforts to reconstruct such remarkable features.

Now.. Badan Warisan Johor and Muzium Negara... Get you lazy asss to works!!! find me the blooody bridges!!!!!!

Untold History : King That Never Smile

That is Lil Wayne...now.. I want to tell you about Big Wayne..   

Loooooonggg before Lil' Wayne studded his teeth with diamond... Sultan Johore has done that 70 years ago 






He lost his front teeth during horse riding in Australia.. in return, he replaced his teeth with Solid Gold inlaid with diamonds... bizarre choice of fashion during that day.

Now you know, that is the reason why he never smiles in all his picture.. some misunderstood him by assuming this fierce looking King has a beef with everybody around him 

Tq.

Untold History : Secret Scheme of Johore

Looooong ago, sebelum British meletakkan Advisor di negeri2 Bersekutu dan Tak Bersekutu .. bermula dengan Perjanjian Pangkor. they formalize a standard scheme..sampai laa ke constitution of Malaya Each state, dgn British Advisor perlu mendengar dan mentaati perintah British... and go on  and on sampai 1957.  The rest of these history korang boleh google sendiri.. But here.. aku nak ceritakan pasal "Secret Scheme"... designed solely for Johore State. SECRET SCHEME This "Secret Scheme" lah foundation atas sistem pentadbiran, judicial and taxation dimana2  negeri Melesia... even sampai sekarang. Designed by Lord Ripon... the architect for colonization in Malaya... it's excluded the State of Johore from the beginning with special treatment.. he also shrouded by legend as Master Mason and members of Majestic 12..  1st Scheme dikatakan.. pemerintahan Johor diletakkan dibawah Britain Queen... bukan di bawah Governor India, Governor bagi kolony2 British mcm Singapore, Australia dan New Zealand.  Antara bende2 yang formalized 120 years ago sebelum pemerintahan British dan pembentukan negara Malaysia.. design for Johore.. but had been carried out without public knowledge.   2nd Scheme dikatakan formalized semasa draft pembentukan Melesia... where HH Ibrahim x setuju join, and failed to turun tanda tangan pada perhimpunan Raja-Raja 1956. 3rd Scheme dikatakan setelah draft pembentukan Melesia di finalizedkan 3 bulan sebelum Kemerdekaan Ape isinyer??? dah tak jadi secret laa klu aku bagitau.. kan??

Untold History : Hugh Hefner of Johore

Continuation from :

http://untoldhistoriesofmalaya.blogspot.com/2012/01/untold-history-brassball-hh-ibrahim-and.html  If you assumed Johore Royalty doesn't have affair with actress... by any modern standard, you are absolutely wrong.  Looooonggg before your grandmother owned a TV set.. or subscribed Astro.. they had been in affairs with actress.. but ONLY HOLLYWOOD actress.. no local actress, Hollywood level is their benchmark. .  our local Saloma not in the list.. that is 70 years ago.  Even when Helen is still Sultana of Johor, HH Ibrahim having an affair with one of leading Hollwyood Actress in 1940's... with Dorothy L'Amour...  AFFAIR HH Ibrahim fell in love whenever he saw Dorothy Lamour with her Batik Sarong in "Satan the Tiger of Malaya".. and apart from that, there were few other films starred by Dorothy Lamour with her sexy sarong.. Since then... it become trademark of Dorothy Lamour as jungle girl with Sarong even after she died, she was wrapped with Sarong and buried  HH Ibrahim has seen date with Dorothy L'Amour in Singapore... maybe during her shooting.. their affairs become headlines in American newspaper that time. Eccentric as usual, HH Ibrahim with his autocratic behaviour ordered all Dorothy L'Amour's poster to be put up in all main road in Singapore... this helps her popularity. During the same year jugak, HH Ibrahim proposed to marry her..  HEARTHBREAK However, Dorothy L'Amour decline his proposal due to fact that she is happily married.. plus Helen that time is still Sultana of Johore.  Had done enough with utmost respect, HH Ibrahim accepted and give her a present... he the move to hun another hollywood actress.. Betty Grable..  I will disclose this story later in 3rd episode of Hugh Hefner of Johore.

Untold History : Lost Treasure of HH Albert Baker - Krystals Kollection from Bacarrat

The Infamous "Bacarrat Crystal".  In southern France, there were 1 place called "Bacarat" which produced expensive crystalware throught out 3 centuries.  Amongst their kustomers were Maharajah of India, Turks Sultan, European Kings and Lords, Prussian Tsars, and only Malay Sultan from Johore.



HH Abu Bakar of Johore purchased a set of Bacarrat Krystal Dining Table.. sometimes in 1860..



It was reported that "French Bacarrat" only produced 3 set of Crystal tables in the world, even for today.  1 was purchased by Queen Victoria and now treasured at Windsor.. other was robbed by Hitler during invation of France and given to Mussolini and now treasured in Presidential Palace in Rome.. while,  remaining sets was purchase by HH Albert Baker and treasured at Istana Besar Johore.



This is the only picture of this collection available at Istana Besar Johore.

'Legend' of this Bacarrat Crystal Table was emerged sometime in 1930's.. reported by American Journalist in Milwaukee Press..



These Baccarrat Cyrstal Table used to be come with set of crystal bed... thus makes collection in Istana Besar was incomplete because portion of 'crystal bed set' was purchased by Maharajah of Jaipur. 

It is known that Maharajah of Jaipur was always competing with HH Sultan of Johor to win an affection of Queen Victoria which later cost him his country to British.



Half of the legend is found to be right.. except the "crystal bed" stories..

Those which purchased by Maharaja Jaipur is not a "crystal bed" but rather a "crystal side table" from HH Abu Bakar set now still at Jaipur.  Maybe he doesn't have enough money to buy the whole set..

Those set di Istana Besar complete with Chandeliers and Candelabras, but  missing side table which now in Jaipur Palace. 

Plus... additional crystalwares in Istana Besar from infamous "Pantie Yatch" which I believed was the sets bought from Bacarrat in 1860.