The forgotten courthouse on a Terengganu hill

Behind the modern town of Kemasik, there lies a forgotten courthouse on a hill that once held significant administrative functions. The Kemasik Courthouse, believed to date back to the 1860s, was a district center that included a courthouse, customs office, police station, and district office. The first judge, Lebai Isa Muhamad, served from 1864 to 1866. After Malaysia gained independence, the courthouse operations ceased, and its records were transferred to the Chukai courts.

Today, the former courthouse is abandoned and overgrown with vegetation, but its hilltop location offers a scenic setting that could attract history enthusiasts. The roughly 223-square-meter site still contains remnants of the former building, including foundations, pillars, and the remains of a vault or lock-up. Historians believe that the hill could eventually become a small heritage attraction, with plans to restore surviving structures, clear the grounds, and create pedestrian paths.

As Kemasik was once recognized as an administrative district before being reorganized under Kemaman, the courthouse site provides insight into a lesser-known chapter of Terengganu's past. While turning the hill into a tourist stop would require planning, conservation work, and funding, the existing ruins on Bukit Kemasik already offer a unique glimpse into the town's historical significance.