GE13: Serdang has come a long way from its former days as a tin mining area

The Star,Tuesday April 23, 2013

A file photo showing the mining activities at Hong Fatt Tin Mine, which is now Mines Resort City. — filepic

 

THE Serdang parliamentary constituency (P102) comprises three state seats — Seri Kembangan, Balakong and Bangi.

Overall, the parliamentary constituency is a Chinese-majority seat. The Chinese make up 48.63% of the electorate, followed by Malays (39.57%) and Indians (11.04%).

One of the state seats, Seri Kembangan, is also popularly known as Serdang.

The area’s history dates back to 1952, when a new village was established at the site.

Back then, the main economic activities were tin mining and rubber tapping. The former mining site — said to have been the largest open-cast tin mine in the world — is now Mines Resort City.

Known for its shoe-making industry, Seri Kembangan has also earned a reputation as a hub for footwear products.

Old trades, such as making of paper effigies and rattan products and tinsmithing, can also be found in the new village.

As time progressed, more and more housing projects sprung up.

The lake at Mines Resort City is a former mining pond that is famously referred to as the largest open-cast tin mine in the world.

 

The modern buildings, especially those in high-end property development, are a stark contrast to the traditional wooden houses in the new village.

The increased population, from both housing and commercial projects, translated into traffic congestion along the main arteries in Seri Kembangan.

Nonetheless, efforts have been made by both the Federal and state governments to alleviate the situation.

While Seri Kembangan has a predominantly Chinese population, Bangi has a larger Malay population. Areas under this state seat include Bandar Bangi Baru, Taman Kajang Utama, Bukit Kajang Utama and Bukit Mahkota.

It is touted as the Knowledge City for housing reputable educational institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Other landmarks in the area are the Bangi Golf Resort and Hotel Equatorial Bangi-Putrajaya.

Balakong, on the other hand, encompasses Balakong new village, Balakong Jaya, Batu 11 Cheras, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Cheras Jaya, Taming Jaya and Bukit Belimbing.

Currently accessible mainly via the Sungai Besi Expressway and Kajang Silk Highway, Balakong will be connected to the MRT on its Sungai Buloh-Kajang line.

The constituency comprises a number of industrial areas. The factory operators are represented by the Kampung Baru Balakong Land Owners and Factory Operators Association, Taman Megah Industrial Park Association, Taming Jaya Industrial Park Association, and the Selesa Jaya Industrial Park Factory Owners and Businessmen Association.

In the 2008 elections, DAP’s Teo Nie Ching beat MCA’s Datuk Hoh Hee Lee by 21,025 votes.

However, Teo, a Batu Pahat native, is not defending the seat as she has been named as a candidate in the Kulai parliamentary seat in Johor. She is replaced by a new face, Ong Kian Ming.

Meanwhile, MCA veteran Datuk Yap Pian Hon looks set to wrest the Serdang parliamentary seat back from DAP.

Yap, who has been called the “cat with nine lives”, was a five-term Serdang assemblyman and a three-term Serdang MP.

He was the first Serdang MP when Serdang was designated as a parliamentary constituency in 1995.

Although he was dropped as a candidate in the 2008 general election, Yap has not stopped speaking up for the constituency.

The Serdang parliamentary liaison officer is confident that he would be able to win back the hearts of voters with BN’s strong track record.