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Then....train engine of Muar provide service to the Muar population from Maharani town to Parit Jamil. The words "M.S.R." means Muar State Railway. |
Now...the train engine is displayed at Tanjung Emas Muar as a piece of local history. |
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His Mejesty the late Sultan Ibrahim seen here hunting tiger at Parit Samsu in 1915. Here, he stood on the railway or Muar passing through Parit Samsu. Standing from left, His Mejesty the late Sultan Ibrahim, Orangkaya Hasran bin Hj. Abd. Jabar (founder of Parit Jawa), Mr. Brown (Manager of Olak Plantation), and Dato' Abdullah bin Jaafar. Sitting in front, Kapitan Yahya bin Abu Talib. |
Muar is the biggest and most important district under the Johor empire and the first to be significantly developed by Johor. Parit Jawa is an important area under Muar where are community there plant gambir, coconut, pinang and other commercial plant during the 19th century.
Journey from Parit Jawa to Muar town in those days were difficult. Travellers by sea or river are exposed to pirate attacks, while there are no proper roads being built between the two places.
In 13th. November 1887, the Johor government solved this problem. A discussion was held between Residen Ungku Sulaiman and Dato' Bentara Luar who at that time was the head for the Land Office and Agriculture Affairs of Muar district.
An agreement was reached in this discussion where railway will be constructed in early 1889 with the objective to service the population at the south of Muar town and improve transportation of goods. It is also to provide free transportation for school children who went to English school in Muar town.
The construction of this railway was done mostly by Malay and Javanese workers who migrated in masses to the Malay peninsular. Most of these Javanese immigrants do not have permanant job and their pay was cheap. Between 1889 - 1890 was the initial stage of the construction work if this railway. All materials were supplied from Europe.
The triain has a steam engine and the seating coach were arrange facing each side. There ten coaches. Five for passenger and three coaches for carrying goods. The passenger coaches were divided into first class, second class and third class which was always full.There were other facilities. Each pessenger were charged five sen per mile.
The railway starts from Jalan Sulaiman in Muar town to Parit Jawa in 1890. In 1894, the railway was extended another three miles until Sungai Pulai. The railway services five times a day.
There were five permanant stations and eight temporary stations along the railway.
Permanant stations:
1. Bandar Maharani, Muar
2. Parit Bakar
3. Parit Jawa
4. Parit Pecah
5. Parit Pulai
Temporary stations:
1. Parit Perupok
2. Parit Keroma
3. Parit Raja
4. Parit Unas
5. Parit Samsu
6. Parit Jamil
7. Parit Bulat
8. Parit Seri Menanti
The railway service was very profitable. The main factors that contribute to the profitability was because of the two types of service coaches, increase in economic activities and sea transportations were stopped.
In 1915, income for Muar State Railway reached RM86,701.92 compared to estimated expenditure of RM63,216.77.
With this positive development, His Mejesty Sultan Johor suggested to extend the railway service until Batu Pahat river but it was not done due to financial reasons and geographical condition. There were a lot of soft ground along the way, it had to be piled every time the train pass through the area resulting increase in expenditure.
Profitability began to reduce when the engine is getting old and the high cost incurred in maintaining the railway and stations. With the opening of a road called Jalan Abdul Rahman from Maharani town to Parit Jawa, the Muar State Railway ceased its operation in 1925.
Contributed by Hassni Bin Hussin's Web Site (Bahasa Malaysia)
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