Sabah.

I was away in Sabah with Haji Mokhzar of Almukminin Travel from 02 October 2013 to 05 October 2013. Our mission was to get the Branch Office at Inanam Business Center organized, meeting clients and also to visit as many Mosques possible in Sabah to promote the Umrah and Muslim Tour packages.

02 October 2013:

I was flying Air Asia and Haji Mokhzar vide MAS, departing mid afternoon and arriving Kota Kinabalu just before Maghreeb. I was picked up by Haji Kadir, Almukminin local Rep at Terminal 2 and headed straight to Inanam. We had roti nan and mashed potatoes for dinner at the Taliban Food Center. My local buddy Haji Hasbullah Latif, best known as Panglima came to look us up and took us on a night grand tour of Kota Kinabalu. We saw KK town by night from Bukit Bendera. Panglima - first got acquainted with him when we travelled together on an Umrah and Cairo trip in 2008. This time he will be joining us for Palestine and Umrah sometimes January 2014. Insyaalah.

The office in Inanam, Kota Kinabalu.

As the Office is spacious enough, we went economic and stayed in the Office rather than Hotel. The place is air condition and bathroom attached. The spacious Office is comfortable enough to lie down and doze off. Our soldiers in the jungle sustaining national security are in the worst condition than us. 

03 October 2014:

The initial itinerary was an overland trip to Kudangsang, Ranau and Tawau but the rented car was delivered late. We switched plan and instead detoured to Kota Belud, Kudat and Kota Merudu. I only know of these places via TV and newspapers.

Kota Belud.

Welcome to Kota Belud.

We arrived at the Mosque around Zohor but we did not pray here.

Taun Gusi.

We stopped for zohor and asar jamak prayer here. The Mosque is situated at a fringe of a padi field and the surrounding is very scenic. We are in the middle of nowhere.

Jawi Jawi.

Just a few kilometers down the road from Taun Gusi. We met Encik Aziz - one of the Mosque Committee and he is local but originated from Muar Johore.

Haji Mokhzar with Encik Aziz.

Pandasan.

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Considerably a small Kampong Mosque by the roadside along the winding lonely road to Kudat.

Masjid Air Kapoor.

The Mosque situated just before Kudat town.

Masjid Asy Syakirin Kudat.

Kudat is situated at the northern tip of Borneo Island and facing the Sulu Sea.  As we passed the golf Course it reminded me of Morib golf Course. We stopped at two (2) Mosques, one just before the town and the other, the main Kudat Mosque.

Finally we had lunch in Kudat.

Masjid at Taqwa Kota Merudu.

Back tracking by the same inward road we went to Kota Merudu Mosque. The sun was setting.

It was already Maghreeb, found a Petrol station to refill and we discharged before hitting back to Kota Kinabalu via Tuaran. Along the way home there are plenty of unexplored forest and hillsides. I can figure out, sometimes someone will benefit. I wonder who?

Sun set in Kota Merudu.

Reached Inanam Office at 2100 hrs, had dinner and solat jamak takhir. We hit the sack early as the bumpy road took a toll on me. The shock absorbers of the Kembara that we rented were definitely out. Certain sections of the road require resurfacing and with Haji Mokhzar on the wheel, sometimes my legs stepped on the invisible brake pad.

04 October 2013. (Friday).

Kampong Inanam Laut.

Together with Haji Kadir, I explored the outskirt of Inanam. Haji Mokhzar remained in the Office.

Tuaran.

I admired Tuaran Mosque standing beautifully with its modern architectural design. This Mosque will always remain in my memory.

Masjid Negeri Kota Kinabalu.

Picked up Haji Mokhzar at the Office and we headed straight to Masjid Negeri for our Friday prayer. Panglima was waiting for us there since 1100 hrs. He was much earlier than the Imam. We were honored; the Governor of Sabah also joined us in the congregation.

After the prayer, Panglima directed us for lunch at Kak Nong Restaurant, famous for its Nyonya food and I had yellow noodle soto ikan.

I would surely recommend to any tourists or visitors from Peninsular Malaysia to patronage this Restaurant.

After lunch and pep talk, back to work and this time, Haji Mokhzar tagged along.

Kampong Petagas.

We passed by the main Airport and the road running parallel with the old Sabah rail line to Papar. We crossed the railway crossing to get to the Mosque.

Masjid Jamek Putatan.

Masjid Nurul Iman Pasir Putih Putatan.

We stopped for asar prayer.

Our plan to continue further inland, maybe to Papar had to be abandoned as we had a phone call from potential jemaah to meet them in the Office and we rushed back to Inanam. The evening traffic jam unable them to be on time at Inanam and instead requested for rendezvous at Masjid Negeri. Clients are utmost importance and we instead got ourselves entangled in the traffic jam and by the time we arrived at Masjid Negeri, it was Maghreeb. It was too late for the meeting and the briefing only materialized after Isyakh. It began to rain, the first since our arrival.

The meeting.

Meeting by the pool in the Mosque.

Dinner time – we went to the Ikan Bakar Stalls near the Phillipine Bazzar. After browsing the various stalls, I wasn’t happy about the wet unhygienic environment and we decided for a Restaurant.

Shopping – got myself two (2) sets of Baju Melayu button, two (2) kilos of dry shrimps and a cheap ski cap which will go handy when I visit Palestine in January 2014. I was looking for fresh prawns at the night makeshift market unfortunately all were taken up and I decided to postpone to next morning on my way to the Airport.

Back at the office, there was network problem and we could not access the internet. No TV either and hit the sack.

05 October 2013.

Haji Kadir came early morning to fetch us and it was still raining all over Inanam and Kota Kinabalu. After a light breakfast at Taliban Food Center we headed for Kota Kinabalu and final destination, Airport. We stopped at KK Main Fish Market looking for fresh prawns to be taken home. The Market set up had completely changed since I visited KK a couple of years back. I was disoriented; the rain made it worse and I gave up. Get a frozen one somewhere.

I arrived very much too early at Terminal 2 and extracted my boarding pass vide the automatic check in machine. My flight was about three (3) hours away and Panglima came to my rescue. His residence is just across the runaway. He took me out from the Terminal and drove back to town. Finally, I had my frozen prawns opposite the Hyatt Hotel. We then stopped at Tanjung Aru town for coffee and to kill off time.

An hour before flight time, Panglima drove me to Terminal 2 on my way back to Peninsular Malaysia. Flying Air Asia was boring but the New Straits Times keep me company. A bottle of orange juice and a packet of peanut cost RM 12. Soon they will even charge for the usage of seat belt.

Phase 1 mission completed. There are plenty more Mosques to be visited in Sabah. As I go along visiting the towns and the hinterland of Sabah, the opportunity of visiting the Houses of Allah came in tandem. I never dream going to Kudat or Kota Merudu for that matter as I have no business and interest to be there. However am thankful with Almukminin Travel for making my impossible dream, possible.

I must also thank Panglima for all the assistance rendered. This is the hikmah of umrah, friendship bonded. We were total strangers when we first met after landing at Jeddah Saudi Arabia. From thereon we are buddies.

As the Sabahan says: Chapter ini selesai sudah bah.