Translated by WINNIE CHOOI
Sin Chew Daily

JOHOR BAHRU, Johor -- Johor Bahru's Jalan Wong Ah Fook was named after a local Chinese pioneer, Wong Ah Fook, and has since become the main arterial road in town.

Jalan Wong Ah Fook remains as vibrant today as in the 1980s, although the surrounding areas have experienced dramatic transformation over the past 30 years.

In the old photo of Jalan Wong Ah Fook, you could see an open car park for a departmental store on the left. Further up was the bus terminus and the four-storey Johor Plaza which still remains to this day. The main market located next to the departmental store is not seen in this picture.

This area used to be the most thriving commercial area in the city during the olden days.

On May 14, 1965, the modern double-storey market was officially opened along Jalan Wong Ah Fook to replace the old Segget market.

The bus and taxi terminus and departmental store were opened around the same time. Owing to rapid development of JB, the bus and taxi terminus was later relocated while the departmental store remained until 1994, when it was demolished along with the market.

All the stalls and businesses operating in the market were subsequently relocated to the Larkin market and Taman Perling market.

Well-known structures

On the right of the photo was Ungku Puan hawker centre in the distance, with the newly built taxi parking garage and three-storey shop houses further down.

In the recent photo of Jalan Wong Ah Fook, on the site of the former market, departmental store, bus and taxi terminus, you could see the imposing City Square, a new landmark in the old city. On the right is the highrise Menara Public Bank.