The former Kemasik Courthouse building in Kemasik town, Terengganu is believed to have been built around the 1860s. It holds historical significance and has the potential to be developed into a new heritage-based tourism destination in the state.
Malaysian Historical Society Terengganu branch committee member Che Mat Nor Abd Llah said several structures of the former judicial institution, built on Bukit Kemasik, had collapsed and were now abandoned, with no maintenance or conservation work undertaken to prevent the historical site from being lost to time.
He said among the original structures still found at the site, which covers an area of about 220sq m, were the court’s vault or lock-up, the building’s foundation, several pillars and a flight of steps.
“The site, which is on government-owned land, is now overgrown with weeds and shrubs, despite its strategic location on a hill behind the Kemasik Post Office,” he said while visiting the spot. Also present was Kemasik assemblyman Saiful Azmi Suhaili.
Che Mat Nor said that, based on Terengganu state administrative records from around 1921 and 1935, Kemasik had once been recognised as an administrative district before it was restructured under the Kemaman district.
“As a full-fledged district at the time, Kemasik had its own administrative infrastructure, including a district office, courthouse, customs office and police station.
“The court then handled minor civil cases, customary land disputes, the collection of fines and minor criminal offences involving local residents in the Kemasik, Kertih and Paka sub-districts,” he said.
He said the first judge of the Kemasik Courthouse was Lebai Isa Muhamad, who served from 1864 to 1866.
“However, following the country’s independence, the Kemasik Courthouse ceased operations, and all its files, records and judicial jurisdiction were transferred to the Magistrates’ Court and Sessions Court in Kemaman, in the town of Chukai,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saiful Azmi said the former courthouse site was suitable for development as a historical tourism attraction by restoring several of its remaining structures, including the staircase and strongroom.
He said the hilltop area needed to be cleared and facilities such as rest huts, pedestrian walkways and a food court provided to attract visitors, as its location offered an attractive view of the surrounding villages and coastline.
However, he said efforts to redevelop the area would require careful planning and financial support, as various facilities and additional structures needed to be put in place.
“In the near future, I plan to organise a clean-up programme at the site in collaboration with the Kemaman Municipal Council and local residents to ensure that it is better maintained, clean and safe for visitors,” he said.
He added that the land ownership status of the area also needed to be reviewed to enable the possibility of gazetting it or creating a reserve under Section 62 of the National Land Code to be considered, thus ensuring its long-term preservation. – Bernama
