If you were living during the typewriter age in Malaysia, you would have heard of famous brands like Olympia, Adler, Royal, Nakajima, Brother, Olivetti & Kofa, among others.
But you would have unlikely heard about the Godrej typewriter, available in the 1960s.
Godrej Typewriter Background
It was manufactured by Godrej and Boyce in India.
Back in the 1940s, India relied on imported typewriters. Either they were imported directly, or their parts were assembled in India.
A popular model was the Remington.
Remington captured the Indian typewriter market by offering typewriters in such languages as Marathi, Gujarati, Devanagari, Urdu, Arabic, and Gurmukhi as early as 1910, according to The Print.
With nationalism sweeping across the country, India wanted to produce its typewriter.
The idea was mooted in 1948, and Godrej and Boyce were tasked to produce it.
However, the project took off only in 1955, after India’s Independence.
Godrej became the first company in Asia to manufacture typewriters on a large scale. The first released model was called Godrej Prima.
Godrej emerged to be the largest typewriter manufacturer in the world.
However, with the emergence of computers in the 2000s, production slowed down.
The typewriter manufacturing plant in Mumbai closed shop in 2011.
The last manufactured typewriter was sold for INR 12,000. There were reportedly 500 machines in stock when the plant closed.
Godrej Typewriter in Malaysia
The Godrej typewriter in Malaysia was imported by Godrej (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, operating from Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman., Kuala Lumpur.
An advertisement in the Straits Times on May 14, 1969, highlighted the following features of the Indian-made typewriter.
Godrej TYPEWRITER FOR INCREASED TYPING EFFICIENCY
Godrej Typewriter provides. among other normal features.
• interchangeability of carriages of different widths.
• a spaced-typing key to give automatic double-spacing
• Instant. single-lever tabulation clearance from either side of the carriage
. • choice of eight different typefaces.
Godrej Malaysia also sold other office equipment like chairs, filing cabinets and safes.
They also undertook steel fabrication jobs at the factory in Jalan Asas, Larkin Industrial Estate Johor Bahru.
Godrej Malaysia is still around. However, according to its Facebook page, it only deals with soaps, toiletries and detergents.
In this Melaka River Cruise wiki, you’ll learn all you need to know about one of the top attractions in the Historical City.
Introduction
The Melaka River Cruise is a popular tourist attraction in Malacca, Malaysia. It is a 45-minute cruise, taking passengers along the Melaka River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The cruise affords passengers a rare opportunity to see the city’s historical landmarks and learn about its rich history and culture.
The cruise starts at the Melaka River Cruise Jetty and takes passengers past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Among them are the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the Christ Church, and the Stadthuys.
Passengers can also feast their eyes on traditional Malay houses and temples along the riverbank.
The cruise also passes by the Melaka Sultanate Palace, once the home of the Sultans of Malacca. The palace is now a museum that showcases a collection of artifacts from the Malacca Sultanate era.
The Melaka River Cruise is a great way to learn about the history and culture of Malacca. The cruise is also a relaxing and enjoyable way to see the city’s sights.
Melaka River Cruise History
The Melaka River Cruise was launched in 2006 by the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) to promote tourism in the city. The cruise was an immediate success and has since become one of Melaka’s most popular tourist attractions.
In addition to its historical significance, the Melaka River Cruise is an important economic driver for the city. The cruise employs hundreds of people and generates millions of dollars in revenue each year.
The Melaka River Cruise is a testament to the city’s rich history and culture. It is also a reminder of the importance of tourism to the city’s economy.
Melaka River History
The historic Melaka River needs no introduction. It is steeped in history and is related to commerce and war.
In the 15th century, during the heyday of the Melaka Sultanate, it used to be an important transportation channel for traders.
The Portuguese used the Melaka River to conquer the historical city in the 16th century.
The river is 40 kilometres long, stretching from Negeri Sembilan to the Straits of Melaka.
Time was when the river was in a sorry state, a convenient dumping ground for many.
However, the state government realised its potential as a tourist attraction and cleaned it up.
The Melaka River Cruise was then introduced, and the historic river was reborn.
The Melaka River Cruise Experience
On the river cruise, you’ll get to enjoy a fascinating stretch of the river.
There must be at least 8 passengers before the boat sets off.
The ride lasts from 30 to 45 minutes.
The cruise runs until 10 pm. So, you can always catch a late cruise after a good dinner.
There’s a recorded audio narration to help you appreciate the cruise.
You’ll get to feast your eyes on the following attractions during the 9-kilometer trip
Red Building
Stadhuys
Jonker Street
Water Wheel
Kampung Ulu Mosque
Church of St. Francis Xavier
Kampung Morten
Historical Bridges
Tan Kim Seng Bridge
Among the bridges steeped in history, you’ll pass during the cruise include the Tan Kim Seng Bridge built in 1862.
Chan Koon Cheng Bridge
Then there’s the Chan Koon Cheng Bridge first built in 1908 and modernized in 1930.
Kampung Jawa Bridge
You’ll also get to pass the Kampung Jawa Bridge, first constructed in 1714.
Pasar Bridge
This bridge has existed since the 16th century and connects Kampung Ulu to the old Central Market.
Old Bus Station Bridge
Eye-catching arches adorn this bridge which was once a plain-looking steel structure. It now connects to the newly-relocated bus station.
Hang Jebat Bridge
This bridge had a makeover in 2018 and its foundation employs a unique styrofoam technology.
Best Time to Take the Cruise
The best time to take the ride would be after sunset. The weather will be cooler. You get to enjoy a colorful sight.
The bridges and buildings you pass will be colorfully lighted.
As darkness gathers, people will start gathering along the river bank for walks, drinks, and meals and most of them will wave at you if you make the move.
Where to Take the Cruise
There are a few embarkation points for the cruise.
If you’re driving, you’re advised to catch the cruise at the Taman Rempah jetty. There’s a spacious parking area here and you won’t have to worry about going in circles to find a parking space.
Melaka River Cruise Ticket
River cruise tickets can be purchased at the Spice Garden Jetty or the Melaka River Square Jetty.
Ticket prices differ for local and foreign tourists.
Local tourists with MyKad are charged RM25 (adults) and RM15 for children between 2 and 12 years old.
Foreign tourists are charged RM30 (adults) and RM25 for children between 2 and 12 years old.
Malaysian senior citizens above 60 years old are charged RM20.
Malaysian senior citizens above 70 years old are charged RM10.
Ticket prices are inclusive of insurance.
Note: Boats will not operate if the weather is unfavorable (thunderstorm etc) or if the river water level is unusually high.
In such a case no refund is available for purchased tickets. But you can use them on another day.
This Melaka River Cruise Wiki will be updated as and when we discover useful information relating to it.
Seven types of flowers were submitted by the Agricultural Department in 1958 to be selected as the National Flower.
In the end, the hibiscus (bunga raya) took the title.
The six other flowers which vied for the coveted title were:
ylang-ylang (bunga kenanga)
jasmine (bunga melur)
Magnolia champaca (bunga cempaka)
lotus (bunga teratai)
rose (bunga mawar)
Spanish cherry (bunga tanjung).
A survey was conducted by the Information Department to determine public preference. East Coast folks opted for the rose as their favourite to be the National Flower.
Malaysia is among the top 50 most peaceful countries in the world. It stands in the 30th position in the 2021 Global Peace Index.
The Global Peace Index (GPI) is produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). It is regarded as the leading indicator when it comes to the measurement of world peacefulness.
Malaysia stands above such countries as Italy, Bulgaria, and Indonesia, among others.
In the 2020 Global Peace Index, Malaysia stood in the 20th position.
