Kluang RailCoffee is Now Recognized As The Oldest Railway Kopitiam In Malaysia
The 84-year-old Kluang RailCoffee was officially recognized by The Malaysia Book of Records as the Oldest Railway Kopitiam In Malaysia on 18th July 2022.
The said event was officially given by Jwan Heah, the Chief Marketing Officer from Malaysia Book of Records to the Directors of Kluang RailCoffee namely Lim Ben Winn, Lim Jit Tong, and Lim Jit Chen. The said event was held at the original outlet of the Kluang RailCoffee inside Kluang Railway Station.
Kluang Rail Coffee is a family business that started operations in the early years of World War 2 and has withstood the challenges that came with then Malaya’s occupation by the English and Japanese forces.
While a new railway station in Kampung Masjid Lama today takes care of the commuting needs of residents, the original station, built in 1909, continues to be maintained as a heritage building and with the presence of Kluang Rail Coffee, has become synonymous with being a very popular historical tourist attraction in the district of Kluang.
With our interview with Mr. Lim Jit Chen (Director of Kluang RailCoffee), Kluang Rail Coffee was founded by his Grand Father Mr. Lim Luan Hee in 1938 with just one kati of sugar and several cans of milk, and originally began life as a canteen serving the residents and Government office personnel within the vicinity during that era.
At the time, the railway formed the backbone of then Malaya’s transportation and communication network. Built in 1909, the Kluang railway station was strategically located close to the police station, post office, telecom office, hospital, and Government administrative offices.
This made the canteen extremely convenient and popular, especially since it began serving breakfast and the first cup of coffee from as early as 6.30 am. Over time, the canteen grew to become the very first kopitiam or coffee shop in the district of Kluang under Lim’s son Lim Heng Yong and later his grandson Lim Jit Chen.
Reminiscing his younger days, Lim Jit Chen (Jack) said the evolution of Hainanese cuisine was greatly influenced by both the English and Asian tastes.
Kluang
Rail Coffee is best known for its traditional Hainanese coffee (made from
locally grown Liberica beans) and its toasted buns (roti bakar) served with a
rich slather of butter and kaya.
Kluang
Rail Coffee has also witnessed important chapters in the nation’s history, from
the early years of the Second World War and Merdeka to the days of the
Malaysian Emergency.
Through it all, the business has never wavered in its commitment to serving good quality and affordable food to the local community. The kopitiam is also a strong symbol of cultural inclusiveness, evolving over time to cater to all Malaysians.
“The
nasi lemak bungkus, made by local Malays, is a great example of this,” added
Lim Jit Chen. In this spirit, Kluang Rail Coffee prides itself in being a JAKIM-certified Halal restaurant.
In 2008, Lim Jit Chen and his cousin Lim Jit Tong worked together to build upon the business with the introduction of a more extensive local and international menu. Kluang Rail Coffee now operates four outlets in Kluang with more than 70 highly-skilled local staff. Its three other outlets are located at Jalan Duku, Jalan Tasik, and Sri Impian, all of them in the Kluang district.
Today, while a new railway station has been built in Kampung Masjid Lama to better support the transportation needs of the locals, the old station remains as a heritage building and Kluang Rail Coffee is committed to the landmark’s reputation as a popular historical tourist attraction in the district of Kluang.
Moving forward, the recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records recognition will serve as a launching pad for Kluang Rail Coffee’s future expansion.
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