A Glimpse of Hotel Seri Malaysia in The Country’s Northern Region

Text by SHAHIDA SAKERI Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MUHAMMAD JELANI

Comfort doesn’t always have to equal expensive; and this translates well with Malaysia’s largest hotel chain: Hotel Seri Malaysia. They have been around for over 25 years, steadily serving guests with the ultimate Malaysian hospitality for so long, to the extent that I feel like the majority of well-travelled adult Malaysians might have stayed in one of the hotel’s evergrowing outlets at least once.

After all, the greatest appeal of this chain, for me, is in its ability to provide comfortable stays even in Malaysia’s sleepiest towns. Sure, go to the major urban centres and you’ll be spoiled for choice when looking for accommodations. But the real challenge comes when you found yourself in places like Rompin, which might leave you scratching your head when looking for a decent place to stay. Enter Hotel Seri Malaysia with its affordable price tag in tow.

Hence, when I found myself in Kepala Batas – a thriving township in the northern part of Seberang Perai in Penang, home to many higher education institutions and eye-pleasing paddy fields, yet still lacks in terms of accommodation options – choosing to stay at Hotel Seri Malaysia Kepala Batas seems natural. It ticks all the must-haves: comfort, cleanliness, convenient location and efficient service. In fact, I heard that the hotel is favoured by travelling parents who need to send off their children to the institutions of learning located in the area. Business travellers, on the other hand, are well catered for through the selection of four event and meeting rooms.

Clockwise from Top: Rooms at Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar overlook a plant-filled courtyard, offering space for respite; Hotel Seri Malaysia Kepala Batas’ Delima Cafe serves gulai kawah seasonally; One of the bedrooms in the suite at Hotel Seri Malaysia Kepala Batas.

The rooms mix space efficiency with much-appreciated creature comforts like plump pillows, a television, a tea and coffee facility, sufficient universal power sockets, clothes hangers, free Wi-Fi and curtain for privacy. There are several configurations here to suit guests’ needs, for example, twin beds, queen bed as well as a disability-accessible room; all decorated in calming muted colours with a splash of bright red to add vibrancy. By the way, if you have money to splurge, you might want to upgrade to the Penang Suite that happens to be the personal favourite of Malaysia’s 5th Prime Minister Tun Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi when he is in town. From the suite, you can admire the arresting views of Mount Jerai on a clear day. The best part? The suite doesn’t come with a hefty price tag.

Feeling hungry? For breakfast, guests get to enjoy freshly cooked continental fare served at Delima Café. On top of that, besides breakfast, do try out the hotel’s specialties like the bawal panas (deep-fried pomfret) set, nasi beriyani daging kuzi (beef biriyani rice) and soto ayam (broth with chicken strips), brilliantly prepared by the culinary team led by Chef Abdul Aziz who has over 10 years of experience under his belt.

Clockwise from Top: Visitors enjoying the kampung-vibe at Kampung Agong; The superior queen room at Hotel Seri Malaysia Kepala Batas; Nasi Arab mandy served at Hotel Seri Malaysia Kepala Batas as part of its seasonal offering. Beyond the hotel, guests can easily access to many parts of the state since the Kepala Batas Bus Terminal sits right at the doorstep. If one desires a quick trip to the main island, Rapid Penang offers a reliable public transportation connecting the area to Penang Central in Butterworth. But closer to the base, Kepala Batas is still packed with hidden gems for all kinds of explorers. Budding archaeologists should make way to the Galeri Arkeologi Guar Kepah, a prehistoric site where a 5,000-year-old skeleton named ‘Penang Woman’’ was excavated. It is said that the site was once home to a settlement older than the Bujang Valley and Sungai Batu civilisations in Kedah.

Alternatively, guests can also go on a hunt for well-preserved traditional Malay kampung houses, which are abundant in the area, especially along Jalan Permatang Rambai. The trip surely evokes nostalgia. But if you were looking for beautiful locations to fill your Instagram feed, Kampung Agong in Penaga will be right in your alley, where you can expect a giant Ubud-inspired bird nest, fun swings and even a replica of piano overlooking the expanse paddy field. I can’t help but imagining this could make a perfect backdrop for 1990s-inspired music videos. The entrance fee to the park is MYR8 per person. After a long day of exploration around the area, returning to your comfortable room at Hotel Seri Malaysia Kepala Batas would feel so right.

Rates: Start at MYR208 per night per room. Tel: +6 04 575 6700 Web: www.serimalaysia.com.my/en/hotels/hsmkepalabatas

Clockwise from Top, Left: A visitor posing on a huge bird nest at Kampung Agong; The twin room at Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar; The queen room at Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar; Grilled beef with air asam, a Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar’s signature dish.

Up North: Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar

Nestled behind an unsuspecting façade in the heart of Alor Setar, the hotel houses affordable and cosy rooms. Its décor, moreover, pays homage to the classic concept that harks back to the time when guests stay at the hotel for the first time. Come meal time, guests might notice that Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar is popular among locals thanks to the delicious gastronomic offerings dished out by its Rasa-Rasa Cafe, which is headed by the Gold Medal World Championship 2019 recipient, Chef Rashidi Azhar Othman. Be sure to taste the café’s best sellers such as asam pedas tetel (tethered meat spicy sour dish), nasi beriyani (biriyani rice), nasi ulam (salad rice) and roast beef.

On top of these, the location of the hotel is fantastic. Guests will be glad to know that it doesn’t take much time to drive anywhere from here, including to the town’s points of interest such as the State Museum, Alor Setar Tower, Kedah Paddy Museum and of course, the now-refurbished Pekan Rabu where one gets to shop for authentic local products.

Rates: Start at MYR168 per night per room. Tel: +6 04 730 8737 Web: www.serimalaysia.com.my/en/hotels/hsmalorsetar

*Guests can be rest assured that all of Hotel Seri Malaysia’s properties and outlets operate in accordance with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and health protocols issued by the Malaysian National Security Council (MKN).

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