Residents paint murals to promote tourism (From The Star website 9th March 2015)

by kathleen ann kili

LABIS: The local community has come together to paint murals on walls of a row of wooden old shoplots as an effort to promote tourism at the Bekok town here.

The mural-painting effort was part of the Bekok Transformation programme, which was initiated by the locals and supported by Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong.

The transformation programme committee secretary Tien Thong Sin said that the residents took about five days to complete a mural depicting the town’s popular Sungai Batang Waterfall along Jalan Wijaya here.

“This is just the first phase of the mural-painting activity, as we are planning to come up with more murals in the next few months which will involve another row of wooden shoplots along Jalan Gunong,” he told StarMetro recently.

He added that the community decided to liven up the town especially the structure of old shoplots, which had been around for over 60 years.

Apart from attracting tourists to throng the town, Tien said that the community hoped to attract locals who have left the town to pursue an education or career in more developed cities to return for holidays.

“We want our people especially the younger generation to visit their hometown and contribute to its economy.

“Besides encouraging creativity among youths, we also hope to recruit more volunteers and create job opportunities for locals through the programme,” he added.
Tien said the committee also launched a photography contest, which was open to the public, for the programme.

“The competition is open to members of the public and the only criteria set is that the photograph must be taken within Bekok such as the iconic Sungai Batang Waterfall, the Bekok train station, quaint kopitiams (popular hangout spot among locals).
“Winners will walk away with cash prizes of up to RM1,000 and a certificate and participants have until May 31 to submit their photos,” he said adding that those interested could log on to their Facebook page “Labis Ecotourism” for more details.

Noodle stall with a lot to offer (From The Star website 16th April 2016)

by foong pek yee

BEKOK: A noodle stall that operates from a house porch in Bekok New Village here is visible from far.
Bekok, located within the Labis parliamentary constituency, is about 10km from the Jalan Yong Peng-Segamat main road.

It is difficult to miss the big and colourful mural at the side of the house – the stall’s landmark for those who are not familiar with the village.

The 55-year-old shop called Lao You Ji (old friends in Chinese) is famous for its handmade noodles.

And the mural was drawn by the shop owner’s wife, Yong Chiew Lin, 50.
Her paintings also form part of the stall’s decor.
Yong said she had never been to an art class.

“I just like drawing since young and will draw whatever comes to my mind,” she added.
That goes the same for her murals.
Yong said she had decided to draw murals after seeing the art in towns and cities.
Juggling between helping at her husband’s noodle stall and household chores daily, which takes up more than 12 hours, has not stopped her from pursuing her hobby.
The stall opens between 6am and 3pm daily.It is a husband and wife business and they do not have any helpers.
“It is household chores after we close shop for the day” she said.

Yong said she draws to relax, and will do it daily.
Besides drawing, she also likes to do crochet. She crochets items such as phone covers and pouches and puts them up for sale at the noodle stall.
But she said it has never crossed her mind to put up her paintings for sale.

Coffeeshop a meeting point Bekok (From The Star website 30th April 2016)

Many villagers never miss going to their favourite coffeeshop in Bekok New Village, except maybe on the first day of Chinese New Year.

The almost 80-year-old Chop Nam Kye coffeeshop in Labis, Johor is very much part of their life.
“They were mostly rubber tappers in the good old days and they would get their first cup of coffee here before proceeding to the estate.

“Most of them had since retired but the routine of rising early and going for their cup of coffee stays,” said shop owner Mah Chin Hoong who opens for business at 5.30am daily.

He said Bekok is still a predominantly agriculture area and many villagers continued to come for a cup of coffee before going to work in the farms.

Mah, 64, is the second generation running the shop after taking over from his father Mah Yap Kee.

Continuing his father’s work routine, Chin Hoong wakes up 4.30am to get ready to open the shop an hour later.

This shop in Bekok New Village is famous for its coffee and handmade kaya bread.
“We continue to provide the same taste and aroma over the decades and this brings back fond memories of the good old days,” said Chin Hoong of his shop where the majority of patrons are regulars.

The fondness for the shop is not confined just to the elderly folk in the village though.
He said children who grew up in the village and are working outstation now, including Singapore, would visit the shop when they returned for holidays.

Some, he added, also packed the coffee powder and kaya to take back.
On how to make a cup of good coffee, Chin Hoong said it involved a combination of factors; from the coffee beans, milk, temperature of water to the cup used.
“Experience counts when coming up with the same good cup of coffee consistently,” he shared.

Chin Hoong’s 57-year-old wife Lim Yee Nee is a teacher in Bekok and helps her husband at the shop after school.
Lim said the shop is more than a place to come for a cup of coffee and kaya bread.
“It is also a place for us (villagers) to meet, exchange ideas and share our ups and downs.”
Lim said the Chinese traditions which continued to be observed in the village have kept the villagers close to each other.
For instance, she said the tradition called “Pak Ka Mai” (literally translated to rice from a hundred families in Cantonese), which was observed in the run up to Chinese New Year is a meaningful practice.

The coffeeshop was the collection point, with the villagers given a week to deposit their bags of rice there.
Lim said the rice was then mixed together before they were repacked and distributed back to the villagers shortly before Chinese New Year.

On the long-term plans for the business, the couple who have three children, said their eldest daughter, Mah Ji Xian, 24, is helping out in the shop.

The shop is also seeing more business these days, thanks to Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong who has been making efforts to put Bekok on the tourist map.

Chin Hoong said his shop had seen an increase of about 20% in business on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays after the Bekok Festival last year to promote the interesting places and eateries in Bekok.
Good coffee and kaya bread aside, Chop Nam Kye, with its traditional decor and long history is certainly charming in its own way and worth visiting.

Accommodation in Bekok

Being a small town, Bekok doesn't have any hotels operating here. But there are some home stays for visitors to choose from:

Bekok Homestay