A FRIDAY MORNING IN KOTA BHARU

Jalan Ismail is closed to traffic to give way to small and part time traders

Jalan Hulu Pasar. You can get everything you need without going to the Central market. People are on the way the open Kulliyah by Tn Guru Menteri Besar Kelantan. The kulliyah spot is just a stone throw away.

Audience along Jalan Dato' Pati listening to an open kuliyyah by the incumbent YAB Menteri Besar of Kelantan.Ybhg Datuk Tuan Guru Hj. Nik Ab. Aziz B.Nik Mat. Canopies on both sides of the street showing vendors displaying their goods. They cease trading during the Kuliyyah,
about an hour and resume after the session.

The busy Jalan Hulu Pasar. Hawkers take opportunity to supplement their income
and listening to a weekly kuliah by Tn Guru Menteri Besar Kelantan. The Kuliah can be clearly heard in every corner of the city by means of proper network of the public address system.

Reciting verses from the holy Al Qur'an by the Hafiz, a special guest Qari from
Egypt(in grey suit). Yg Bhg Datuk MB Kelantan is in white suit.

The Muslimats along Jalan Dato'Pati(Muslim women) concentrating on the kuliah by the Menteri Besar.

The Muslimins, also along Jalan Dato' Pati (Muslim men) are lending their ears too.

Tuan Guru Datuk Menteri Besar is conveying the Kuliah. After the kuliah, Tuan Guru leads a doa for safety and health.

No city like Kota Bharu. On every Friday morning, thousands of people flock to Dataran Ilmu or The Knowledge Square in the heart of the city. The area is mainly along Jalan Dato' Pati. Other nearby streets, Jalan Maju and Jalan Ismail also close to traffic as early as 7.00 am untill noon, giving way to vendors to supplement their income. They come from every corner of the state of Kelantan and even from other states to lend their ears to an open religious kuliyyah by the incumbent Menteri Besar of Kelantan. It starts as early as 8.30 to hear the opening oration by one of the Exco members and then followed by the Menteri Besar of Kelantan, Yg Bhg Datuk Tuan Guru Hj. Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat. He closes the Kuliah by reciting a doa. Lately the doa is to enlighten the heart of the incumbent Prime Minister to withdraw the ISA and to grant the petroleum royalty to Kelantan.

"Ilmu dapat, pahala dapat dan duit pun dapat. Wallahu A'lam.

KOTA BHARU: THE DEVELOPING OUTSKIRTS

Wakaf Che Yeh about 4 km from the city centre, famous for the Pasar Borong
or Wholesale Market

Wakaf Che Yeh, the famous wholesale market just behind the row of shops. It starts operating from midnight till the sun rise. It deals in groceries, vegetables, fruits and seafoods.

The intensive construction works in progress at the Tunjung NewTown, about 5 km from the city centre. The new Kelantan Education Department will be built nearby the area.

The Kubang Kerian New Town under intensive construction. The building on the right is said to be a wholesale emporium.

The Kubang Kerian New Town. The multi storey building on the right is the University of Science Malaysia Hospital (HUSM)

The Heritage Village, family sport spot and theme under construction. The site is in the Tanjung Chat area and approximately 3 km from the City centre

The Tengku Anis Township Garden. Well equipped with a jogging circuit and stretching equipment, everybody can jog or walk or perform any desired exercises. You may join an aerobic activity or even Tai Chi.

Taman Bendahara, Pengkalan Chepa. In the far end is the University Of Kelantan temporary campus. Just nearby is the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport.

Pulau Melaka, the religious and education centre. Just behind the mosque you may find a traditional wooden house painted in green. You will be definitely stunned in disbelieve when you were told that the house belongs to the incumbent 'mentri besar' of Kelantan.


The City Centre is congested, the cost of land is soaring high and the tremendous increasing number of vehicles pouring into the area. To overcome these problems several measures have been taken into consideration such as developing the city outskirts as some of the examples are shown above.

KOTA BHARU: THE HEART OF THE CITY

The peaceful Jalan Hospital. On the right are local government administration offices, judicial court and a state museum. On the left side you may come across MARA and MPKB admin. offices as well as State Education Department .At the far end are Sultan Muhammad IV stadium and Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital.

Jalan Padang Garong, this road leads to Jalan Pengkalan Chepa and the airport,
approximately 12 kilometers away or 15 minutes drive. Tourists by air will definitely pass this road before entering the city.

The City main street, Jalan Tok Hakim. About a half and a decade ago the street was a pedestrian mall or Dataran MPKB with several wooden traditional designed gazebos and batik kiosks. Apart from that solat tarawih was performed in the area in the previous months of Ramadhan before move to Dataran Warisan or The Heritage Square, close to the stadium Sultan Muhammad IV. Recently back again as a main street to enhance economic development and to ease traffic flow. The new street surface and a newly built building on the right is Kota Bharu Trade Centre(KBTC) to mark that the place is recently redeveloped.

The city landmarks. On the spot we can see some historical marks, The Istana Balai Besar and The Royal Museum. Have a look at the two trees, planted since colonial period, the hazel nut and tamarind(asam jawa). Do not forget some tourist coaches park in the area to prove that
Kota Bharu is a tourists' choice. The coaches entered Kota Bharu with only passengers but left the city with passengers, goods and satisfaction!

The Muhammadi Mosque, a religious learning centre and one of the oldest in Kelantan. The multi storey building at the back is the Pelangi Mall comprises condominiums, apartments, a hotel, shops and food court. Giving way for development. In Islam, practise, spiritual, knowledge, faith and development should go in hands.
NEVER SEPARATE:
ISLAM AND DEVELOPMENT
ISLAM AND POLITIC.

A unique spot! On the right is Al Baraah Mosque, in the middle is a public rest place and on the left is The Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah or Siti Khadijah Central Market. More than 95% of the vendors are women. Everybody can do business. Leave it for a while to perform solat when you are called to do so, then continue with the business to search for the blessing.

The Business Centre: KB Bazaar is on the right, jewelery shops are on the left and
Pelangi Mall in the foreground

The main Trade and Business centre, the city's busiest street. On the right is the Siti Khadijah Central Market and KB Bazaar. On the left is KB Trade Centre Multi Storey Building housing The Giant Hypermarket and Parkson and jewelery shops and the Pelangi Mall in the far.

Bulatan Tuan Padang or the Round About, so calm before entering the busy part of the city

Kota Darul Naim
"The State Secretary and Administration"
Cool and fresh as surrounded by trees and plants and the administration
is as cool as the vegetation.

KB MALL, the main attraction, the one stop shopping complex

Another shopping complex, attracts housewives for fresh groceries and sea food.
On the left is Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge, linking KB with the districts of Tumpat and Pasir Mas.

Specialist Medical Centre, Kelantan Trade Centre, Perdana Hotel(under intensive renovation)
Opposite is the Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV

Kota Bharu The Islamic City, the capital and administrative city of Kelantan is a city that everyone loves. Calm and beautiful. Despite discrimination of information by the main media, both printed and electronic, sometimes by the emotional individuals, is developing moderately in her own way and style. Can be considered as unique and a main attraction for tourists. Ladies and Gentlemen, (adik kakak sekelian) do come down to Kota Bharu, witness it with your own eyes, feel the difference and walk away with satisfaction. In everybody's mind is
"bila boleh datang lagi"
or "KB I will be back soon".