SOMETHING happened in 1963 at my mukim (sub-district). Sungai Balang is one of the 11 sub-districts of Muar, situated at the southern-most part, bordering the district of Batu Pahat. It had a population of less than 10,000 back then. When Penghulu Omar Abdul Samad retired, an election was called to find a new head.
I was in primary school when it happened. I am not sure if it was a practice in Johor to elect a penghulu mukim (sub-district leader) but many village elders told me that it was an experiment on the part of the Johor state government.