Labuanites board Doulos Hope
Published on: Sat, Jul 05, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: The floating library vessel, Doulos Hope at Labuan Liberty Wharf. LABUAN: Nearly a thousand visitors made a beeline to the Labuan Liberty Wharf, Friday, to board the Doulos Hope, the world's renowned floating library, marking the start to the vessel's visit to the island. The Doulos Hope, which is docked at the Labuan Liberty Wharf from July 3 to 27, is open to the public daily from 1pm to 9pm, except on Monday when the ship is closed for maintenance and housekeeping works.
Advertisement The strong turnout on the first day reflected the excitement and curiosity among local residents and tourists alike, many of whom began queuing early in the afternoon to experience the unique library at sea. In a statement to Bernama Friday, Megah Port Management Sdn Bhd (MPM) Chief Executive Officer Idjal Tahir said arrangements for visitor flow and pick-up points were running smoothly despite the large crowd. 'The response has been tremendous, but thanks to close coordination with Labuan Corporation (LC), we've managed the visitor influx efficiently,' he said. 'We ensured clear access routes, designated waiting areas, and shuttle services to ease movement and ensure a comfortable experience for everyone, despite having to handle container operations today,' he said. Idjal said Megah Port Management's auxiliary policemen monitored the influx of visitors to facilitate the arrival and operations of Doulos Hope, deployed additional personnel to assist with crowd management and logistics at the wharf. 'On the second day, the excitement continued as a group of government servants arrived by bus to tour the vessel, taking time out of their official duties to explore the ship's extensive collection and onboard exhibitions,' he said. Idjal said the floating library's presence is a meaningful addition to Labuan's tourism and educational calendar, attracting families, school groups, and book lovers to the island's main port terminal. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Labuan Part Of Malaysia Tourism Roadshow In Uzbekistan, Promotes 5S Attractions, Islamic Cruise
LABUAN, July 7 (Bernama) -- A delegation of 20 travel industry representatives from various tourism agencies embarked on a business-to-business (B2B) tourism roadshow in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last month. Head of Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Business Council (Tourism) for Labuan Jerry Teo said that the initiative was aimed at promoting Malaysian tour packages and Labuan's unique '5S' - Sea, Sun, Sand, Ship, and Seafood - tourism resources and products. 'The roadshow was a great platform to spotlight Labuan's rich tourism offerings… we were able to showcase not only our natural beauty and marine attractions but also introduce the Islamic Cruise concept,' he told Bernama today.
Barnama
13 hours ago
- Barnama
Bangladesh May Not Have A Mega Monument But What It Has Is Captivating
The megacity of Dhaka has iconic buildings, museums, cultural attractions and scenic parks. DHAKA, July 7 (Bernama) -- Bangladesh may lack a spectacular tourist magnet like the Pyramids, but what it has is captivating. The building was completed in 1872 after 13 years of construction. The magnificent Ahsan Manzil, the seat of Dhaka's erstwhile nawabs overlooking the Buriganga River, is a must-see place for a glimpse into Bangladesh's centuries-old past. The palace built by Abdul Ghani was reconstructed on a grander scale after it suffered massive damage in a tornado in 1888. The property was sold by Inayatullah's son, Sheikh Matiullah, to the French traders, from whom it was acquired by Nawab Khwaja Alimullah, Abdul Ghani's father, in 1830. The Ahsan Manzil, also known as the Pink Palace due to its distinctive hue, did not always exist in its current form. Its origin lies in a residence built in the 18th century by Sheikh Inayatullah, a zamindar (estate holder). Mindful of its historical significance, the Bangladesh government turned the stately building into a museum in 1992. Its impressive collection is certain to pique your interest in South Asian and Bengali history. The thousands of items displayed here reveal how the Nawabs of Bengal lived, governed, and interacted with their people and the wider region. This building was a witness to great historical events and hosted many meetings that have left their indelible mark on South Asia. Ahsanullah's son, Khwaja Salimullah, Bengal's foremost Muslim leader during the British period, founded the All-India Muslim League in Dhaka in 1906. The collection of pictures and portraits, including those of the leading figures in the anti-colonial struggle, is fascinating. One elephant skull is sure to catch your attention. This belongs to the tusker named "Feroz Jung," a favourite of Nawab Abdul Ghani. Lalbagh Fort There is more history at the 17th-century Lalbagh Fort, a Mughal palace. One of the must-visit heritage sites, its construction was initiated by Prince Azam, the third son of Emperor Aurangzeb, in 1678. However, work was abandoned by Mughal subedar (provincial governor) Nawab Shaista Khan in 1684, following the death of his daughter, Pari Bibi. What was accomplished and what remains today is charming despite the visible incompleteness of a grand project. Pari Bibi's mausoleum is in the middle of the complex, a two-storey audience hall (Diwan) and hammam (bathhouse) are on the left side as you enter, and on the right stands a three-domed mosque. This fort may not rank high on the scale of grandeur associated with the hulking Mughal monuments elsewhere in South Asia. Still, it presents a lovely sight, representing the architectural elegance and engineering of that era. It is made more pleasant by Bangladesh's horticulture expertise in maintaining the complex. You may continue to explore Bengal's history at Dhaka University, where one of the buildings is named after Lord Curzon, the viceroy of India between 1899 and 1905, who inaugurated the Curzon Hall in 1904. Curzon is known for Bengal's 1905 partition, a controversial move that was reversed years later in the face of Indian nationalistic furore. The Mausoleum of the Three Leaders is nearby. It houses the graves of three significant figures in South Asian history: A.K. Fazlul Huq (1873-1962), Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy (1892-1963), and Khwaja Nazimuddin (1894-1964). Modern parliament building The national Parliament building is another site worth visiting. Designed by architect Louis Kahn, its construction began in 1961, when Bangladesh was still East Pakistan, and was completed in 1982. The parliament house has a truly iconic presence in the capital city. Dhaka today is a vast, bustling metropolis, preserving its heritage and building a future driven by global commerce and geopolitical currents. Bangladesh's physical proximity to Southeast Asia creates a natural desire to develop greater trade, travel, culture and business linkages with ASEAN. Bangladesh has a robust food sector, with its cuisine influenced by its cultural heritage and regional agricultural richness. Rice, beef, seafood, vegetables and dairy products are widely used. Sadarghat river terminal You can watch the launches, boats, and barges of various shapes and sizes arrive at and depart from the busy port of Sadarghat on the Buriganga River. These vessels serve countless locations in Bangladesh and make you wonder how vital water transport is in the "Land of Rivers". The Buriganga is in a state of decay today, but Dhaka cannot be imagined without this vital waterway. The river was believed to be among the reasons why the Mughals made Dhaka their regional capital. Wander the docks for an up-close view of the vessels. For exhilarating panoramic views of the river, have a meal in Buriganga Riverview Restaurant. This rooftop restaurant has the ambience of a boat sailing on water, with the front dining area making you float with the river scenery. A 'city in ruins' at Sonargaon About 35 kilometres from Dhaka, visiting Sonargaon is worth the effort. Here lies Panam Nagar, "a city in ruins" preserved in pastoral settings. The settlement of Panam Nagar features the remains of 52 beautifully built houses, blending European and Mughal architectural styles, on both sides of a 600-metre-long street. The foundation of this settlement was laid by moneyed Hindu merchants 130 years ago. Its residents migrated to India following the political upheavals of the 20th century. Sonargaon itself is rich in history. A plaque at Panam Nagar informs that the Hindu king named Danujmadhob established his capital in the area in the 13th century and that it was one of the administrative hubs of the Bengal Sultanate. After 1610, it came under Mughal control. Inspired by the Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal in Agra, built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, is renowned the world over as the monument of love. Its scaled-down replicas have been built in some places. In Bangladesh, filmmaker and businessman Ahsanullah Moni is such an admirer of the Mughal emperor that 17 years ago, he built a replica of the Taj, known as "Banglar Taj Mahal", near Sonargaon. The village is located approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Dhaka. The imitation stands in a lovely landscaped site. A short walk from the faux Taj is the "Rajmoni Pyramid", inspired by Egypt's pyramids. Some may get upset at the imitations because these do not reflect the magnificence of the wonders of the world. These attractions have been created in a theme park style within bucolic surroundings, with tropical flowers and fruit-bearing trees providing a real treat for the eyes. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
The Star
13 hours ago
- The Star
‘JS-SEZ will benefit all Johor districts'
Building Johor's future: Onn Hafiz (centre) greeting members of the public at the launch of the Majestic Johor X Renggam Fiesta in Kluang. — Bernama KLUANG: All districts in the state, not just Johor Baru, stand to gain from the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. He said all 10 districts in the state are undergoing developments in transportation, infrastructure, housing and tourism. 'Do not think that the benefits of the JS-SEZ will only be concentrated in the Johor Baru area. 'Under the JS-SEZ, all districts in the state will enjoy benefits because of all the ongoing developments that are happening statewide,' he said at the launch of the Majestic Johor X Renggam Fiesta at the Renggam TMIYC here yesterday. He highlighted the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, expected to begin operating on Jan 1, 2027, and the Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double-track rail system, as projects that will shorten the people's travel time significantly. Travel time using the ETS from Johor Baru to Renggam will take only 40 minutes, while Johor Baru to Kluang will take 45 minutes via the double-track rail system, he said. 'The journey from the city to Segamat, which usually takes two and a half hours to three hours, will be shortened to an hour and a half via the new rail system. All of these destinations will benefit from the JS-SEZ,' he added. While no official announcement on the date for the commencement of the ETS service has been made, it is likely that the service will only begin next year. Onn Hafiz also pointed out that the completion of the projects could help to elevate places like Layang-Layang, Renggam and Kluang into satellite towns to Johor Baru. At present, he said Seremban is a satellite town for the Klang Valley and towns like Layang-Layang, Renggam and Kluang have the potential to replicate the model. The mentri besar also said the state government has projected revenue collection of RM2.5bil by the end of this year. 'Last year, Johor collected our highest-ever revenue in history with a total collection of RM2bil. At the rate that things are going, we expect to collect RM2.5bil this year. 'Every ringgit from revenue collected will be channelled back to the rakyat,' he said, adding that this would be done via people-centric programmes and initiatives.
