30 years anniversary of Johor based commercial radio station Best FM coverage expansion to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on 104.1MHz (1996-2026)

In 2026, Johor based commercial radio station Best FM celebrates 30 years anniversary of coverage expansion to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on the frequency 104.1MHz, transmitted from Gunung Ulu Kali.

Best FM (formerly known as Best 104) is a commercial radio station based in Johor, it was launched in 1989 as Malay and English bilingual radio station. Before 1996, it was only available in Johor, Melaka, South Pahang, Singapore and Negeri Sembilan with 3 transmitters only.

* 104.1MHz: Gunung Pulai (South Johor, Singapore, Batam)

* 94.8MHz: Gunung Ledang (Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Southwest Pahang and part of Selangor) - 10kW transmitter power from 1989 to mid-2000s

* 102.5MHz: Bukit Tinggi (East Johor and Southeast Pahang)

Despite Best FM is a Johor commercial radio station, but it expanded coverage to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on 104.1MHz in 1996. This is because Best FM would like to compete against Time Highway Radio (THR FM) which was very popular across West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia since September 1994. Back then, Best 104 competed against THR FM in English segment.

Until today, Best FM still broadcasts in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on 104.1MHz. Although it focuses mainly in Johor content, but commercially it competes against other mainstream Malay radio stations like Era, Suria FM, Hot FM, Sinar FM and Kool FM, from South Perak to Johor.

Since the coverage expansion of Best FM to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in 1996, Best FM can be tuned in more locations outside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on 104.1MHz by following below:

1. Perak: Tanjung Malim, Slim River, Terolak, Sungkai, Bidor, Tapah, Teluk Intan, Bagan Datuk, Hutan Melintang, Kampung Gajah, Langkap, Chenderiang, Temoh, and part of Sitiawan

2. Negeri Sembilan: Nilai, Seremban, Port Dickson, Mantin, Lukut

3. Pahang: Bentong, Kuala Lipis, Temerloh, Chenor, Maran, Bera, Karak, Lanchang, Merapoh, Mentakab, Jengka and part of Jerantut.

Before the coverage expansion of Best FM in Kuala Lumpur in 1996, Best FM could be received in part of Kuala Lumpur, South Selangor and Negeri Sembilan via high power Gunung Ledang transmitter 94.8MHz which operated at 10kW. Hitz FM launched in Negeri Sembilan on 95.0MHz from Gunung Telapak Buruk since 1996, so Best FM 94.8MHz was no longer clearly available in Negeri Sembilan, but newly added 104.1MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali could be tuned in Negeri Sembilan too. Best FM's listeners in Seremban switched the frequency from 94.8MHz to 104.1MHz since 1997 when 94.8MHz had interference from Hitz FM 95.0MHz.

Best FM 94.8MHz from Gunung Ledang gradually reduced transmitter power from 10kW to 5kW, then 5kW to 2kW. Currently it operates at 2kW power.

Happy 30 years anniversary to Best FM for the coverage expansion to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (1996-2026).