The above newspaper article generated a lot of interest amongst those who work in the tourism industry in Mersing and islands off the coast.
One of the 1st "modern resorts" in that area was the Merlin Samudra Tioman Resort (MSTR) ...developed by SEDC Pahang and managed by the Merlin Group. In 1974 it started with 44 rooms and quickly expanded to 100+ as the Resort was so popular, especially among Singaporeans and other foreigners travelling via JB, Kota Tinggi and Mersing.
For many it was a real adventure...as that region was developed long before Desaru and was the last travelling in the wilderness, narrow winding roads, skirmishes with elephants, tigers and wild boars. There was a time when there was a 5km jam..at dusk...just after Kota Tinggi...when all vehicles in both directions, stopped for an hour as a family of elephants decided to rest on the warm road surface😊
It was the only route to Jemaluang, Mersing, Endau and the Islands.
The pioneering staff at the MSTR became hardened veterans, blending kampong life and the needs of tourists who were simply fascinated by the clear waters and the island itself with just 6000 inhabitants...no cars, only motorcycles.
The pioneering staff's knowledge of the islands and the geography of Mersing, Endau and Kota Tinggi was extensive. And all knew how terrible those stretches of roads were from JB to Mersing and Endau. And when.Desaru was developed...many dare to dream of a scenic coastal road from Mersing,Tg Leman and Desaru... offering better roads than the age-old JB/KT/ Mersing.
Some of us, ex-MSTR staff, not in Mersing and Tioman, were so excited about the development coming to Mersing, especially the upgrading of the current JB /KT/Mersing road. And of course visions of the new coastal road.
Until an MSTR veteran...who was in logistics in Mersing, poured cold water by informing us to forget about that dream coastal.road...as most of the valuable State land along the coast.....has already been taken over...by the Johor royals.
We can continue dreaming about the coastal road...which may yet materialise....should there be a change of heart.....or sufficient level of sensible noises.
P.S Most of the land on Rawa Island....off Mersing, is already Royal🤦♂️
Anon.
Under ketuanan guise , malay elites creamed off cash
and kind from the nation , just living behind water
It would be an eye opener , if a PROPER RCI done from the
days of Kutty . Should also include the royalty
And see who looted the most
Now you begin to know why they want to secede....😅😅😅😅😅
Maybe this is kind of a bugis issue. Najib had it. They were after all descendants of mercenaries and skilled sailors. Bugis sailing boats were the norm in singapore before PAP or indonesia banned barter trading . All that skill is gone as those sail boat building industries collapsed with the prohibition, together eith sailing expertise.