The development of Kajang

MySinChew.com, 24 May 2014

Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE
Sin Chew Daily

Kajang is a century old town with preserved old buildings. 

Many old buildings can still be seen in Kajang. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

Located in Hulu Langat, Kajang had three main roads in early days and it was an important commercial and administrative centre in southern Selangor.

A century old post office (photo taken in 1991).

A stannary was found near Sungai Tangkas in late 1840s and the Americans started mining activities there. Most miners were Huizhou people from Negeri Sembilan. However, it is believed that Hokkiens were the earliest to root in Kajang.

An aerial view of Kajang downtown in 1968.

In 1880, Reko and Kajang were demarcated into Selangor. British plantation groups such as Inch Kenneth and West Country widely planted coffee and rubber around Reko in the 1890s and the booming mining and farming had led Kajang to its market position.

A street filled with gold shops in the old days.

 To facilitate the transportation work of the stannary and rubber, the British colonial government started a paving project connecting Kajang and Kuala Lumpur in 1889. Railway connecting Kajang and Seremban was also built.

An old building in Jalan Tukang, Kajang.

 Tin prices fell in the late 1990s and the demand for rubber increased. At that time, many people have inhabited the old Kajang near Reko. To maintain local security, a police station was built.

An old building near the train cargo in Reko.

 At that time, Kajang was among the few communities with primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

It was recorded that Kajang had two Chinese primary schools in 1909 but one was closed during the 1948 Malayan Emergency.

Kajang had three secondary schools before the World War II and one of the schools attracted many non-locals students, making the place an important education area.

It was argued that Kajang was named after the Kajang tree by Sultan Mohamed Ibni-Alma Hum Sultan Ibrahim and his entourage Tok Lili. 

Another argument said that since Kajang produced rice and tin, harvested rice and local products were transported to Kuala Lumpur on carts with roof made of Kajang leaves. The carts carried daily necessities from Kuala Lumpur when they returned.

When local residents saw the roof of the returned carts from far away, they would shout "Kajang! Kajang". Therefore, the place was named "Kajang".

In addition to satay, Kajang is also the birthplace of "spicy soup".

Siaw Kah Restaurant founder Siaw Kek Kwee said that the dish prevailed since his grandfather was engaged in the rubber tapping industry in the 1970s.

Siaw Kah Restaurant founder Siaw Kek Kwee: Spicy soup prevailed since his grandfather was engaged in the rubber tapping industry in the 1970s. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

 Local residents mainly grew vegetables and reared pigs in the early days. His grandfather liked to make hot pot soup with pork, offal, vegetables, ginger and pepper. The soup was to keep his body warm as he needed to go for rubber tapping in early morning.

In addition to satay, Kajang is also known for spicy soup. Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily

He started to sell Bak-kut-teh in 1984. One day, a customer requested for a dish cooked with pork after finding that the Bak-kut-teh was sold out. He thus cooked the "spicy soup" which was highly praised by the customer. 

Siaw Kek Kwee inherited the family business and it received extensive media coverage in 2000, making the dish widely known.

Saujana Impian slip road, Sprint lane closed for MRT works

The Malaysian Insider, May 22 2014

Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) advises motorists to note that the slip road at the Saujana Impian interchange of the Cheras-Kajang (Grand Saga) Highway will be closed from May 25 to June 20 between 11pm and 5am.

This is to facilitate the construction of the 63m special crossing at the Saujana Impian interchange for the MRT piers.

A contra-flow traffic plan takes effect at the Saujana Impian interchange during the period and motorists can use the following routes:

1. Motorists from Semenyih heading towards Kuala Lumpur will be diverted to the opposite lane;

2. Motorists from Semenyih heading towards Kuala Lumpur can opt for the slip road (near Tesco Kajang) at the Saujana Impian interchange.

Motorists from Kuala Lumpur heading towards Kajang/Semenyih will not be affected.

 

The slip road at the Saujana Impian interchange from Kajang heading towards Kuala Lumpur will be also closed.

Motorists are advised to use the following routes:

1. Motorists from Kajang heading towards Kuala Lumpur will be diverted to the Saujana Impian interchange traffic light and turn right to head to Semenyih and make a U-turn near Tesco Saujana Impian.

2. Motorists from Semenyih heading towards Kuala Lumpur will be diverted to the opposite lane and head straight.

Motorists from Kuala Lumpur heading towards Kajang/Semenyih will not be affected.

Motorists should also note the closure of the left-most lane at the Sprint Highway (KL-bound), after the Jalan Setiapuspa junction to Wisma Lensa, starting from May 27 until August 31, from 10am to 4.30pm and 9pm to 5am daily. – May 22, 2014.

Kajang congestion continues

The Star, Wednesday May 21, 2014

by farah fazanna zulzaha

Cause of bottleneck: Express buses and taxis dropping off passengers at the bus stop on Jalan Besar in Kajang.

MOTORISTS in Kajang town have had to live with traffic congestion for a long time and the situation will only improve once the MRT project is completed, next year.

Heavy traffic from the Jalan Semenyih/Jalan Cheras intersection results in a bottleneck on Jalan Besar which is the main road leading into the town.

The main bus stop situated along Jalan Besar adds to the problem as intercity buses and taxis pick up and drop off passengers there.

Salesman Mokhzani Rahimi said he has to face traffic congestion each time he goes into town.

“Jalan Besar is one of the main roads to get into the centre of Kajang,” he said, adding that heavy vehicles heading to Bandar Baru Bangi also use this road.

Restaurant owner Soraya Najib said taxi drivers made matters worse by stopping at the bus-stop.

“There is a taxi stand in front of Metro Kajang but taxi drivers prefer to stop and pick up or drop off passengers at the bus stop,” she said.

Soraya added that the situation was worsened by motorists double parking along the roadside.

“It is not helping to ease the situation. Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) should take stern action against those who double park,” she said.

MPKj public relations head Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman said the council had no plans to relocate the bus stop.

“In fact, we have added benches for passengers to sit on while waiting for their bus.

“Hopefully, when the MRT project in Jalan Reko, about 2km away, is completed next year, there will be less congestion in town,” he said.

No more stadium, it's now Kajang Square

The Star, Friday May 16, 2014

by farah fazanna zulzaha

The bitumen eight- lane track can be used for jogging or cycling.

KAJANG Stadium is much livelier than before now that it has been turned into a public area called Kajang Square.

The stadium, built in the 1970s, recently underwent a two-year upgrade, costing RM5.3mil.

The walls surrounding the stadium have been demolished and the 2.4ha piece of land turned into a public square.

There is a basketball court, children’s playground and a fitness station and more people can be seen jogging, cycling and enjoying a day out with their families.

On weekends, the square attracts even more visitors as many major events are held there. They include the Satay Carnival, held bi-annually by the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) and Buku Jalanan Kajang, a gathering for book lovers organised by local bookshop Kedai Buku Mak Ali.

The square is also equipped with a basketball court.

 

The stadium holds many fond memories as it was a training ground for many national footballers.
University student Aliya Melissa Johan remembers training at the stadium when she was a school athlete.

“I was a track runner and we did not have a proper running track in school, so we used to go to the stadium to train,” she said.

Aliya added that the stadium was under-utilised then because it was open only for sports competitions.

“It is good that the stadium is now open to the public so that they can enjoy the amenities,” she said.
Another frequent visitor to the stadium is Ahmad Affendi Umar, who uses the fitness station.

Kajang Stadium, now known as Kajang Square, is open to the public any time of the day for recreational activities. - Photos by ROHAIZAT MD DARUS and FARAH FAZANNA ZULZAHA

 

“I do not need to go to the gym because the exercise equipment at the stadium is adequate. It is also free,” he said.

Ahmad Affendi suggested MPKj to plant more trees in the square.

“It can get quite hot, so more shade would be good,” he said.

Graphic designer Patrick Teoh said Kajang Stadium had come alive after it was opened to the public.

“The stadium is usually packed on weekends with children at the playground and people jogging or playing basketball,” he said.

Teoh added that it was good to have a place for recreational activities in town.

“This is one of the major landmarks in Kajang,” he added.

Poor drainage stalls development project

The New Straits Times, 7 May 2014

By Farhana Syed Nokman

KAJANG: The Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has issued a stop-work order to a developer here for failing to provide a proper drainage system, which is believed to have caused flooding in a nearby village, recently.

The village is located about 20m away from the 180ha site of a mixed development project in Batu 3, Jalan Bangi Lama Semenyih.

Ten families at Kampung Batu 3 were affected by the flood which occurred after two hours of heavy rain on Monday evening.

A villager, Abdul Razak Mokhtar, 64, said his home was flooded twice since the beginning of the year.

"The drainage system was clogged by soil washed away during the downpour and it only took an hour for the water to rise up to one metre.

"We ended up with mud in our house compound and it took us about half an hour to clean it up," he said.

Semenyih assemblyman Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz, who was at the site, urged the developer to solve the problem.

"The developer should not only think about profit. He must take into account the impact of poor drainage which has adversely affected the villagers.

"The council should not approve a project without studying its development plans. It is urged to monitor closely any development in the municipality," he said.

MPKj Engineering Department assistant engineer Nor Haslinda Tajudin said the developer was fined RM25,000 last August for carrying out infrastructure work without approval from the council.

The developer was only given approval to build its sales gallery and not the earth works at the site, she added.

The flood at Batu 3, Jalan Bangi Lama Semenyih, is believed to be caused by poor drainage.

Read more: Poor drainage stalls development project - Central - New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/poor-drainage-stalls-development-project-1.589080#ixzz317BUmcsY