Jom Jelajah Koperasi, Kelantan, 28 June 2014

Day 3, 28 June 2014

On the last day of the Let’s Explore Cooperative Kelantan program (Jom Jelajah Koperasi Kelantan), I was taken to the legendary Pasar Siti Khadijah where the Koperasi Peniaga Peniaga Pasar Siti Khadijah Kota Bahru Berhad operates at No 323 - 324, 2^nd Floor, Pasar Siti Khadijah, 15000, Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Its main objective is to amalgamate the business entities at the Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah.

Originally called Pasar Besar Buluh Kubu, the formerly Chief Minister Dato Nik Abdul Aziz Bin Nik Mat renamed it Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah in honor of Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Siti Khadijah, an eminent businesswoman herself. It is interesting to note that majority of the entrepreneurs are women and business will cease for 15 minutes for each prayer to enable the traders and Muslim visitors to pray. Opening hours is from 6.00am to 7.00pm daily except Eid Mubarak. Friday is not a good day to visit Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah as most of the shops are open after the Friday prayer.

The colours of Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah

This Central Market (Pasar Besar) is a two storey building. Certain part of the ground floor is specifically for wet items such as fish, vegetable, chicken etc. Another section of the ground floor is reserved for food items such as fruits, meat floss (serunding), fish cracker (keropok kering) and its traditional desserts such as tahi itik, akok, jala mas, buah tanjung, serabe, tepung pelita. There are also some stores that sell basic kitchen needs such as varieties of rice etc. A small section of the 1^st floor is a food court that sells ayam percik, ikan percik, nasi kerabu, nasi berlauk, nasi dagang, laksam and somtam. The remaining area is for pots, pans, brass, souvenir etc. The 2^nd floor is for clothing such as batik, silver-threaded fabric (songket), head scarf (tudung), fabrics (kain ela), sarong (kain sarung), man sarong (kain pelikat), prayer attire (kain telekung), blouse, tee-shirt, handicrafts, handbags, shoes, etc    

Ground floor at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah

Ground floor at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah

Food court on 1st floor at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah

2nd floor at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah

The Koperasi Peniaga Peniaga Pasar Siti Khadijah Kota Bharu Berhad also manages the Cocity Inn and Coop Market. Both properties are located at PT302, Jalan Darul Naim, Kota Bahru. Tel: 09-741 3100 / 3103. Azman 013-900 0232, Borhan 013-423 4173 

Cocity Inn & Coop Mart

Triple sharing room at Cocity Inn

Quad sharing at Cocity Inn

Room facilities at Cocity Inn

Throughout the Jom Jelajah Koperasi Kelantan, I stayed at MGU Firdaus Hotel managed by Koperasi Majlis Guru Guru Ugama Menengah Kelantan Berhad situated at Wisma MGU, Jalan Ping Pong, Kota Bahru, Kelantan. Tel: 09-748 8548. 09-743 1752, 013-968 3442 The location of this budget hotel is walking distance to the well-known Pasar Besat Siti Khadijah, Mydin Store, Pantai Timur Store, Maybank and CIMB.  

MGU Firdaus Hotel at Jalan Ping Pong

The three room categories and its school holiday room rate are Standard Double at RM 70.00, Standard Twin at RM 80.00, Deluxe Double at RM 95.00, Deluxe Twin at RM 105.00 and Family at RM 135.00. The room rates are inclusive for breakfast at Firdaus Café on the 3^rd floor, Room facilities are air-conditioning, attached bathroom, cupboard and television. However there is only one ironing board for each floor. There are 2 dormitories that can accommodate 20 persons each are priced at RM 350.00. The dormitory is air-conditioned and has attached bathroom, television, drying area and ironing board.  

Besides the scheduled program, I really took advantage of the free time to explore Kota Bharu city with my relatives and friends. This Kelantan trip has been an eye opener. Thank you Gaya Travel Magazine!!! Thank you Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM - Securiti Koperasi Malaysia)!!!

THE END …..

Jom Jelahah Koperasi, Kelantan, 27 June 2014

Day 2, 27 June 2014

The highlight of the Let’s Explore Cooperative Kelantan (Jom Jelajah Koperasi Kelantan) organized by Gaya Travel Magazine, Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM - Securiti Koperasi Malaysia) and Koperasi Pasir Kelang Berhad is “Kenduri Raykat” held at Kampung Pasir Kelang. This is a great opportunity to see how the locals welcome the holy month of Ramadan where the community commune to cook and feast on this special occasion.

Koperasi Pasir Kelang Berhad Is the first cooperative in the country that operates ferry services to 15,000 people from 10 surrounding villages to cross the Kelantan River to Kuala Krai town. This project is largely financed by MCSC with a loan of RM 333,000.00. Prior to this ferry services, the villagers used wooden boat for its motorcycle and passengers to cross the 250 meters wide Kelantan River. The cars are parked at the river banks and prone to theft. 

The Koperasi Pasir Kelang Bhd ferry - Seri Kelang 1

The 5 minutes ferry journey across the Kelantan River

The journey only takes about 5 minutes per way. The ferry services starts as early as 7.00am and ends at 11.00pm. During the monsoon season, the ferry will stop operation if the water level is high and / or the water current is too fast. The fees are such empty big lorry RM 15.00, loaded big lorry RM 30.00, empty small lorry RM 10.00, loaded small lorry RM 15.00, empty Hilux RM 5.00. loaded Hilux RM 8.00, car RM5.00, motorcycle RM 1.00, passenger RM 1.00, uniformed school children RM 0.50, heavy machine RM 30,00to RM50.00. Police car, ambulance, fire truck and funeral van are complimentary. The Koperasi Pasir Kelang Bhd’s ferry is manned by 6 staffs, 4 captains working 2 shifts and 2 technicians.   

The village-style (no crash helmet!) motorcycle ride

There are more motorcycles at Kampung Pasir Kelang

Upon arrival at the Kampung Pasir Kelang, I was taken on a motorcycle, without helmet, by a local village girl to the activity center, a secondary school. The first meal of the day is the renowned Nasi Kerabu, blue-colored rice eaten with battered fried fish, salted egg (telur masin), stuffed chill with grated coconut and fish meat filling (lada sumbat / solok lada), sliced raw vegetables (long bean, cabbage and Vietnamese coriander - daun kelsom), coconut floss (serunding kelapa), pickled garlic (jeruk bawang putih), raw bean sprouts and fermented fish sauce (budu).

The different condiments for Nasi Kerabu

The fermented fish sauce (Budu)

My all time favorite Nasi Kerabu

 

After the satisfying breakfast of Nasi Kerabu, I helped to cook Beef Curry cooked in a cauldron (Gulai Kawah Lembu) with the villagers. We, the participants of JJK Kelantan, were briefed by the committee of the background, memberships and activities of Koperasi Pasir Kelang Berhad.

Me stirring the Beef Curry

Cauldrons with beef curry

The lunch was superb with chicken curry, beef curry, stirred fried beef, salad fern shoots (kerabu pucuk paku), blanched vegetables (cucumber, long bean, eggplant, baby corn and Parkia - petai) and hot chili sauce (sambal)

The lunch at Kampung Pasir Kelang

The villagers having their lunch

In the evening, we played games with the villagers. 1^st is a lawn-bowling-like game (forgot the name!) played amongst the ladies. 2^nd is football game played by the men from the participants and villagers. The last game is tug of war. After the prize giving ceremony, we ate delectable steamed glutinous rice with durian (pulut durian)

The Pasir Kelang Ladies FC

The line up of the football players

The JJK Kelantan tug of war team

The Tug of war teams

The Pulut Durian for tea break

It was such a fulfilling day at Kampung Pasir Kelang.

I am a happy person ...

  

To be continued …..

Jom Jelajah Koperasi, Kelantan, 26 June 2014

During the JJK (Jom Jelajah Koperasi) - translated as Let’s Explore Cooperative - to Kelantan from 26 – 28 June 2014, on the first day I experienced 3 Cooperatives – Koperasi SMK Kota Bhd, Koperasi Serbaguna Pembatek Kelantan Bhd and Koperasi Warga Universiti Sains Malaysia Kelantan Bhd.

Day 1, 26 June 2014

The SMK Kota Cooperative (Koperasi SMK Kota Bhd) is one of the most successful School Cooperative in the country. Address: Jalan Salor, 15100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Tel: 09-748 3312. Fax: 09-746 1228. Membership is open to the students and teachers of the SMK Kota only.

As part of its activities, the SMK Kota Bhd Cooperative organized trips to Kelantan for local tourists and also overseas trip for its members. The local packages are Day Trip Mari Kelih at RM 25.00 per person, 2D1N Buleh Kiro at RM 60.00 per person and 3D2B Sedap Ngoti at RM 110.00 per person. The guest will be taken to Batik Workshop, Songket Workshop, Wakaf Che Yeh Night Market, Free Zone Rantau Panjangm Cahaya Bulan Beach, Dodol factory, Tambatan Di Raja, Jahar Palace, Beijing Mosque, RTC Trade Centre, Handicraft Museum and Muhammadi Mosque, depending on the duration of the package,

This Cooperative is situated along the main road, not within the vicinity of the school

The officially opened Coop-Mart on 26 June 2014

The beverages are reasonably priced

 

Originally set up on 2 August 1973, Koperasi Serbaguna Pembatek Kelantan Bhd‘s main aim is to consolidate the local batik owners in Kelantan, Since then, its membership has grown impressively to 400. With such strong number of members, they are able to buy the best quality white cloth from China (world's largest supplier) at a competitive price.. The Cooperative also offers credit facilities, training program and marketing opportunities to its members.

The Showroom showcases batik collections from all its members, ie caftan, handkerchief, shirts, poncho. Opening hours: 8.30am to 12.45pm from Sunday to Thursday and 8.30am to 1.00pm on 2^nd & 4th Saturday of every month.

Their Showroom

Their Batik collections

Artist at work.

My masterpiece

Address: 3512-A, Jalan Sultanah Zainab, 15000 Kota Bahru, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia. Landmark: Sekolah Kadir Adabi. Tel: 09-7441493 / 09-7483508. Faks: 09-7486913. Contact person: Che Rahim bin Haji Abdullah.

Registered on 12 June 2000, Koperasi Warga Universiti Sains Malaysia Kelantan Berhad (KWUSMKB) is only for staff of USM, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan,

KWUSMKB’s Dialysis Centre named Pusat Dialysis Lestari first operated in 20 August 2011 in its own building at Bangunan Satelit Islam Pasir Tumboh. Intially, the Centre only has 2 dialysis machines and 2 patients. Gradually, the Cooperatien spent RM 250,000.00 to renovate the building, RM 300,000.00 to purchase another 6 dialysis machines and RM150,000.00 for a Reprossesor Automatic Dialyzer (RO) machine and other related equipment.  Up to 29 February 2012, 25 patients received 3 times a week treatment paying RM 20.00 each time. Tel: 09-764 6223 / 6227  

The Dialysis Centre

The interior of the Dialysis Centre

KWUSMKB’s Private Services Team offer homecare, ambulance services, and sport rehabilitation at affordable price. The Homecare services cover basic nursing, 

Private Ambulance of HUSM Cooperative

Interior of HUSM's private ambulance

KWUSMKB’s “Unit Rakan Bayi” (URB) has been in operation since March 2003. 6 staffs, working from 8.00am to 5.00pm, take care of infants from 2 weeks to 2 years. Tel: 09-767 3804.

Whereas KWUSMKB’s “Taska Cahaya Mata 2 (Hadanah)” also in operation since March 2003 has 7 staffs, working from 8.00am to 5.00pm, take care of 30 toddlers from 2 to 7 years. Tel: 09-767 3805

 

The Child enrichment area

The young toddlers at play

Another group are gardening

Another group are painting

KWUSMKB also operate 3 eateries – Anjung Café, Café PPSK and Anjung Café Coop USM. Since 2002 Anjung Café has been operating at the Ground Floor HUSM building from 6.45am to 7.00pm. Café PPSK operates at the Health Science faculty from 7.45am to 4.45pm since 20 February 2011. Anjung Café Coop USM, operating since 22 April 2014, is located at Bandar Baru Kubang Kerian, served varieties of traditional food at reasonable price.

Anjung Cafe Coop USM

The interior of the Anjung Cafe Coop

To be continued …..