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2010/03/14
By Anis Ibrahim
From NST Online
DRIVING into Segamat, Johor, one is greeted by a signboard that says: "Selamat Datang ke Segamat -- Tanah Raja Buah-buahan" (Welcome to Segamat -- The Land of King of Fruits). The "king of fruits", of course, is the durian, which the town is famous for. The name "Segamat" is believed to have been derived from two Malay words -- "segar" and "amat" -- which literally mean "very fresh".
Durian lovers will be the first to declare that the freshness of the fruit might have something to do with the name but in actual fact, it is something much simpler. There's a popular legend which explains how the name came about. In 1511, the Portuguese army led by Alfonso de Albuquerque invaded Malacca. A high-ranking official of the Malacca Sultanate, Bendahara Tepok and his men retreated south and stopped to rest by a river. They drank its water.
"Segar amat! (Very refreshing)," Tepok exclaimed after drinking the cooling water from the river, which was then named Sungai Segar Amat. Over the years, the name was shortened to Segamat. By the beginning of the 20th century, the town that straddled the river and its surrounding district was given that name.
Segamat is now the fifth largest town in Johor with about 90,000 residents. The town is situated 172km from Johor Baru and possesses many attractions. According to another legend, there is a sleeping dragon deep underneath the town. The town's elders talk of the dragon turning during its slumber, thus causing the river to swell at certain times of the year.
Segamat's main economic activity is agriculture, particularly durian and oil-palm cultivation. During the heyday of the timber industry in the 1980s, Segamat was nicknamed "Paris of the East" because of its numerous entertainment outlets. However, the industry has waned in recent years and with it, the entertainment outlets.
A 45-minute drive out of Segamat offers attractions in the form of the famous Gunung Ledang, the Air Panas and Bekok waterfalls. These sites are a great place for hiking and swimming. They are also ideal spots to spend a relaxing weekend.
Development over the past few years has brought many changes to Segamat. Now, Segamat has its own commercial centre with banks, shopping complexes, shophouses, food courts and hotels. A selection of restaurants and hawker centres offers inexpensive choices for dining out. New federal roads, a railway line and three main intercity bus lines have brought about population growth and more employment opportunities in the district.
The focal point of the town is Dataran Segamat, or Segamat Square. It was constructed in 1996 as the main venue for the state-level Merdeka celebration. There is a clock tower and a giant replica of a durian. Taman Bunga Batu Hampar or Rock Garden is another famous tourist spot in Segamat. It is the main recreational park and also the site of the official residence of the district officer and Istana Hinggap, the retreat of the Johor royal family. Another attraction is the Bendahara Tepok Tomb. Tepok, the final Bendahara of the Malacca Sultanate, is commemorated at Kampung Lubok Batu.
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