By Alex Lye
Sulaiman Court was Malaysia's first apartment building.. the original high-rise community! Constructed in the early '60s, this was Kuala Lumpur's (and Malaysia's) tallest building in those days.
A.k.a. Mido Flats in the earlier days because of the huge neon Mido Watch signboard hanging on top of one of the 3 blocks, the Sulaiman Court community comprised 520 families resting on slightly more than 2 acres of land.
Exactly where Sogo stands today, Sulaiman Court was smack in the middle of everything that went on, overlooking the city from its vantage point on an island between 4 of KL's major roads: Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Campbell and Jalan Hang Jebat.
Sandwiched between 2 of KL's earliest shopping malls (Pertama Complex and Campbell Complex), with Odeon Cinema, Coliseum and Globe Silk Store within sight and reach, this was Kuala Lumpur's prime location in the '60s and '70s, until they demolished it in 1984 to make way for development.. Sogo!
Growing up in Sulaiman Court, we have fond memories of..
..Lee Wong Kee Restaurant where many chinese weddings and anniversaries were held,
..F&N factory where we bought special-sized 350ml glass bottles of sarsi and ice-cream soda for festivities and celebrations,
..the infamous Kowloon backlane pondan hangout,
..KL's most popular hokkien mee for many a supper,
..Rose Chan's night club & cabaret next door for the unruly hormones,
..KL's upmarket departmental store May May across the street selling British wares,
.. the then-popular Lifting Shirts where our fathers bought their working clothes,
..Kee Huat Radio selling electrical products,
..one of the earliest music shops C. Nang Hong,
..Shanghai Furniture where royalties and VIPs came to shop for authentic Shanghainese furniture.. the list goes on and on!
The boys and girls of Sulaiman Court have since grown up to become illustrious personalities and influential characters.. these include Country Head of one of the world's leading IT companies, former state badminton player, and some famous and infamous names.
Ah.. the good old Sulaiman Court days! This group is dedicated to those who grew up there, had friends there, hung out there, and had memories there. Sign up folks, if you still remember the glory days, and tell us all about your fondest Sulaiman Court memories!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15212120132
Wow thank you for this record!!
ReplyDeleteI lived there till forced to move to cheras kicking and crying.
Loved going to school Batu Road Girls' School ,walked home through Pertama Complex when it wasnt this congested and sat at foyer seats dreaming of the cuckoo clocks!
Memories!
Hi A, I remembered walking to Batu Road Boys' school by the riverside with a few neighbors. Before reaching the school, then were a few squatter houses occupied by Indian families. I remembered them brushing their teeth in front of their house in the morning using charcoal. Pertama Complex is not built then and was a Chinese squatter area. There was a field between Block B and the squatter area (Pertama Complex) where they played football. I used to watch the games from my window.
ReplyDeleteBeside the Batu Road Girls' school, on the Jalan T.A.R. side, there was a row of pre-war shophouses. I remembered there was a 'tinsmith' shop, the owner hammering on those metal to shape them into cans, etc.
Slowly old memories are coming back as I started writing this comment! lol
I still can remember there have :-
ReplyDelete3 Kopitiam >> Chuin Heong(泉香)in Block B ; Chup Hup(集合)in Block B ; Yeng Wah(英華)in Block A ; and....
3 Provision Shop >> Yin Loong(賢隆)in Block C ; Sun Mun Heng(新民興)in Block B ; Tai Pang(大朋)in Block B ！
Every night got one Fat Lady sell Char Kuay Teow under a Cherry Tree & beside the horror "Funeral Parlor", but every morning she sell Kuay Teow Soup.
In the Chuin Heong(泉香)Kopitiam got a Dirty Lady called "Ah Har" 啊蝦 , she is only make Tea & Coffee ...
Yin Loong(賢隆)provision shop younger son "Ah Ngao" 啊牛 is my best friend... since 1982 I am 10 years old, he is 9 years old, I am so miss him!
Hi Steven, we can try to add in faceBook , just key in my e-mail address : andrew_almh@yahoo.com
with "Lee Andrew Mun Hou"
hi am from Batu Road GIrls School... wonderful memories.. I remember Mido
ReplyDeleteNang Hong, Robinson's ,Ph Hendry, Sulaiman Court...
Anyone remember the "rocket firework" battles between blocks during Chinese New Year. Also, anyone remember the playground between the blocks. In the evening, it would filled with chiildren playing. My name is Tee. During school holidays I always go stay/live with my grandma in Suleiman Courts.
ReplyDeleteAnd the bicycle shed........
ReplyDeleteand the paper fans and planes flew from the heights of the building towards Pertama.
ReplyDeleteWe use to play football in the play ground between block A and B with making 2 trees as the goal post , behind the trees are motor bike shades with lots of motor bikes parked. The football game will take a lot of casualties damaging the bikes parked in the shades but no body playing on the ground will own the bike casualties.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Batu Rd and frequented Suleiman Court daily visiting my relatives. Nostalgia is the word. TQVM for bringing wonderful memories. Yes. Everything mentioned is still fresh in my mind esp Rose Chan. Kashmir Arts, Style Mart, Shroff's, China Insurance Bldg and many more remembered. The 2 blocks were Block A and Block B. The 3rd Block had Sunrise Trdg as one of the shops. Yes. Beautifulrmories of viewing the floods from the 12th floors.
ReplyDeleteThose were the days.....
ReplyDeleteHopefully Every Sulaiman Court resident
ReplyDeleteIs doing well .....wishing the Best of Health to All of U n Family...
God Bless.....Amen
Still remember those days the fat lady...kai tan hock mother.... chow kway teow only cost 20cent....
ReplyDeleteN taste very yummy.....n opposite kowloon hotel the hokkien mee is the best.....
I remember going to school early in the opening and stopping on the way to eat the best kaya bun. They don't make them like they used to. Remember throwing water bombs at my friends as they cam each from school. Hahaha ha. Really miss those days
ReplyDelete