Developers are turning to area for its growth potential

The Star, Friday March 7, 2014

by joy lee

An artist's impression of what MKH Bhd's Kajang 2 project will look like upon completion.

These days Kajang in Selangor is all abuzz with talk of the coming by-election for the constituency’s state assembly seat.

In recent weeks, the town has been visited by various political personalities eager to make a good impression on the local folks.

But Kajang has been on property developers’ radar for years.

Developers have not only flocked to Kajang for its strategic location on the outskirts of the city, but also because of the potential they see in the porperty market there.

Kajang, developers point out, is primed for higher-end products. More and more gated-and-guarded projects are being developed in the area and property prices have doubled over the past three years or so.

“There has been an increase in demand for high-end properties in Kajang. This is clearly demonstrated through the good response received from buyers as our high-end products launched in recent years are almost fully sold,” said Chong Yan Han, director of property developer.

Some of these projects, said Chong, include Sentosa Heights, where prices of the semi-detached houses and bungalows range from RM1.3mil to RM2mil or about RM350psf, Kajang 2, where its semi-Ds start from RM1.2mil, and Kajang East, where prices of a two-storey terrace house start from RM650,000.

Strong demand for private schools such as Rafflesia School, which was built by MKH Bhd, is an indication that Kajang has a market for high-end products. 

 

Tropicana Corp Bhd executive marketing and sales director Pam Loh concurred that while Kajang was an old market, “this is where the potential is”.

She added that property prices were going up due to the rising cost of land, materials and labour.

“Costs are going up and the surrounding area is also coming up. So prices won’t come down,” Loh said.

One of the hotspots for high-end developments in Kajang is within the vicinity of Jalan Reko, which is the location of one of three Kajang MRT stations planned along the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line. The other two stations are Saujana Impian and Bandar Kajang.

A better lifestyle

Nadayu Properties Bhd can be considered a pioneer in the gated-and-guarded concept in this area.

Amid plantations and undeveloped land, Nadayu launched its exclusive project, Nadayu 92, in mid-2010.

The development comprises linked homes, semi-Ds and bungalows with facilities such as a clubhouse and a central park.

Houses in Nadayu 92 were priced between RM433,000 and RM1.02mil, then considered a benchmark for Kajang. But Nadayu chief executive officer Mohd Farid Nawawi noted that the gamble paid off handsomely for the developer.

“Surprisingly, 50% was sold off in two months of the launch. This gave the group the confidence to move more in that direction. What is interesting is that the gated-and- guarded concept was relatively new there. But it was a good catalyst for developers,” Farid said, adding that transaction prices for its properties had risen significantly.

Farid expects the landscape in Kajang to be changed tremendously by 2016.

Adjacent to Nadayu 92 is MKH’s Kajang 2, a 270 acre freehold township fronting Jalan Reko. Kajang 2, designed as a live, work and play development, is expected to draw a population of 25,000 to 30,000 people. The project has a gross development value of RM2.8bil and will take some seven years to complete.

A rendering of the 16-acre Central Park in Tropicana Heights, Kajang, which will feature a 750-metre linear lake.

 

Tropicana has also joined the fray with its integrated development, Tropicana Heights Kajang. The project, with an estimated GDV of RM2.3bil, sits on 199 acres of freehold land, which was previously the Kajang Hill Golf Club.

Prior to the launch of its first phase last month, Loh said more than 10,000 enquiries had poured in for the gated-and-guarded residential area.

“People are increasingly looking at the environment they are living in. They want a better and more modern lifestyle, which demands quality, not just a box with four walls and a roof. They are also looking at the potential for value appreciation,” said Loh.

She added that the challenge for new developers in the area was to develop products that were market driven.

“The area is surrounded by old houses, with a lot of second- and third-generation occupants.

“Most of them want to move out but want to remain close to their families. We need to understand our target market’s lifestyle and come up with designs that meet that demand. We are offering what old areas don’t have,” she said.

Another high-end development in the area is Naza TTDI’s 113 acre TTDI Grove.

Meeting a need

Although prices have risen quickly in Kajang, developers think that they are still affordable compared to other locations around the Klang Valley.

In the past, landed homes below RM350,000 were considered affordable. But today, Chong said, anything ranging from RM650,000 to RM1mil is considered affordable in Kajang depending on its exact location.

“Houses in Kajang are generally much more affordable compared to other areas of the Klang Valley. In Kajang, you only pay RM700,000 to RM1mil to own a landed home in a gated-and-guarded development with club house facilities.

An artist's impression of the Nadayu 92 development. Nadayu Properties CEO Mohd Farid Nawawi says the project is paying off handsomely. 

 

“Housebuyers may have to pay almost double that price for the same concept and size in other areas,” he said.

Additionally, Chong noted that there is a ready market for high-end properties in Kajang and expects more buying interest there due to the affordability and good infrastructure available.

He observes that the majority of MKH’s customers for its Kajang properties are genuine homebuyers who wish to upgrade their current homes as well as young people migrating from other parts of Klang Valley as property prices in those areas have risen beyond their reach.

Notably, there is also a sizeable portion of buyers who are long-term investors from Petaling Jaya, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and Cheras.

“We may think Kajang is not a high-end area, but there are international and private schools here, which really shows you that there is a high-income population there and there is a ready market. We are meeting a need for such products,” Loh said.

Consumers can expect more activity in the area as developers position themselves to take advantage of the growing demand for high-end properties there.

MKH is already embarking on the redevelopment of the old Kajang town and will continue to expand in the Kajang area, creating what Chong describes as a more vibrant business district.

“With our commercial developments coming up, skyscrapers will create a new skyline for Kajang town. This will not only bring people to live here, but to work and play in the new vibrant commercial business district,” Chong said.

Water cuts affecting food hawkers

The Star, Wednesday March 5, 2014 

by christina tan

Slow moving: Arif selling ready packed food, canned drinks and coconut juice at his Kajang stall.

KAJANG: Despite more people arriving here for the Mar 23 by-election, traders selling food and drinks are not making money because of the water shortage.

One of them, Arif Wahab, lamented that the water rationing was forcing him to close his kitchen earlier.

“Since I don’t have running water anymore, I can’t sell anything that needs cooking. I can only sell coconut water, cincau and canned drinks. My profit has dropped by almost 70% since two weeks ago because of the water disruption,” said the 56-year-old trader.

Arif, who sold fried noodles, kueh and other food items behind a charted taxi stand, said although there were many outsiders, he could not take advantage of their arrivals due to the water shortage.

“We appeal to the authorities to act quickly to help us resolve this water problem. How long can small businesses survive without running water,” he said yesterday.

Hawker Ah Meng, who sells coconut and sugar cane juice at Jalan Sulaiman, said his sales had also dropped since he recently increased the price of his drinks.

“I have no choice but to increase the price as the coconut and sugar cane are costing more now. Many of my customers complain and they buy less now,” he said.

Ah Meng said while many would think that the hot weather will help businesses like his, it was actually the opposite.

“When the weather is too hot, people will not come out of the house. I do more business when the weather is average,” he said, adding that the additional crowd in town has not contributed to a better business for him.

Chinese medicine shop assistant Low Mei Yong, however, said the hot weather had helped her business as more people came to the shop to buy herbal tea such as chrysanthemum tea, lo han quo (a kind fruit that is boiled into cooling drinks) and other herbs.

She said they were not preparing or expecting more sales due to the by-election as most of their customers were regulars.

Rain and hailstones in Semenyih

The Star, Thursday March 6, 2014

by kathleen michael

The hailstones scattered around Yap's garden. - Photo courtesy of SAYS.my

RESIDENTS in Semenyih were greeted with icy rain after weeks of hot weather.

The March 2 incident was shared by Semenyih resident David Yap on social news network, SAYS.my

Yap said he and his brothers were excited when it finally rained, after so many dry days.

“We danced in the rain but found the rain getting colder,” he said.

They then felt something hit their head and rushed for cover.

“We saw what looked like ice all over our garden,” he said.

The irregular lumps of ice (hailstones) appeared 20 minutes after the rain started.

Social media users speculated the hailstones were formed because of cloud seeding.

The rain induced through cloud seeding has helped reduce the haze level in the Klang Valley and brought some welcome relief to the hot weather Malaysians have been enduring.

When contacted, the Meteoro-logical Department said it did not receive any reports of hailstones in Semenyih.

Its spokesman Hisham Mohd Anip said none of the department’s 43 stations reported hail in their area.

However, he said hailstones were not uncommon and were reported in Taiping in December and Putrajaya in June, last year.

Hisham said the hailstones could not have been caused by cloud seeding as the department had only started its operations on March 3.

Address rubbish-related issues

The Star, Thursday March 6, 2014 

by choo woon lim

S in Kajang have a long wish list of issues for their new assemblyman to address.

Chief among them are illegal rubbish dumping, irregular rubbish collection and clogged drains. The current dry spell has led to another worry — the threat of fire.

During a visit to Bandar Mahkota Cheras recently, the roads could be seen lined with plastic bags filled with dry leaves. 

A resident, who only wanted to be known as Chin, said she was worried the leaves would catch fire.

“I hope the bags of leaves can be cleared quickly,” she said. 

Rubbish left uncollected at shophouses have also become an eyesore. 

A Taman Taming Indah resident, who only wanted to be known as Lim, said the lack of rubbish bins along walkways, had led to people throwing their rubbish everywhere. 

“Passers-by see the piles, especially in front of unoccupied lots, and just throw their rubbish there too,” he said when met outside the shops in Bandar Mahkota Cheras. 

The local park is also marred by the sight of uncollected bags or rubbish which had been torn open by strays. 

Meanwhile, Taman Kajang Mewah Rukun Tetangga (RT) chairman Ahmad Jamali Sepihie said drains in his housing estate were clogged up with rubbish and leaves. 

“I am worried because of the rise in dengue cases recently,” said Ahmad Jamali. 

Sungai Ramal Luar Rukun Tetangga chairman Abdul Rahim Sudadi said rubbish was being thrown into the river by irresponsible squatters living nearby. 

“The problem has been going on for over a year,” said Abdul Rahim.

Jalan Reko Rukun Tetangga chairman R.G Kandasamy said rubbish collection in his area in Taman Desa Seroja was irregular. 

“The council should check on their contractors regularly to ensure they are doing their job,” he said. 

Taman Setia resident Yong Swan Khong said there was a lot of rubbish near the market in town.

“Because it had remained uncollected for a long time, people had started treating the place like a dumpsite. 

“However, the authorities cleaned up the area about a month ago,” he said. 

 

He added that until recently, rubbish collection in his housing area had been erratic. 

“Sometimes, the rubbish is uncollected for several weeks. However, recently, the collection has been regular,” said Yong, attributing this to the coming by-election. 

“It is always like this. Whenever an election is coming up, they will clean up their act,” he said.

Kajang residents: Sort out uncollected rubbish and unlicensed stalls

The Star, Thursday March 6, 2014 

by farah fazanna zulzaha AND yvonne t. nathan

Attracting rats and pests: Uncollected rubbish that have piled up at a garbage disposal area near Taman Megah Cheras 2 Apartments. - filepic

KAJANG residents are hoping to see improvement in services in the Kajang Municipal Council’s (MPKj) area of jurisdiction now that the councillors have been named.

StarMetro looked into a few problems that had plagued the residents over the past few months, among which are uncollected rubbish and the sprouting of unlicensed stalls.

Uncollected rubbish

Kajang and Bandar Baru Bangi residents had expressed their disappointment with the garbage contractors for not keeping to the schedule.

Uncollected rubbish had accumulated for days and even weeks in some areas.

Taman Muhibbah resident Munirah Hashim, 34, said the rubbish collection contractor had not been consistent in collecting rubbish in the area.

“Sometimes they come, sometimes they don’t. It is as if they have their own schedule and collect the rubbish whenever they feel like it,” she said. 

Domestic rubbish collection is scheduled to be collected thrice a week — either on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Munirah said the situation was frustrating because domestic waste from the kitchen would get smelly when not collected for a few days.

“Not only will the smell get worse, stray cats and dogs will rummage the garbage and leave a huge mess behind,” she said.

Munirah hopes the MPKj councillors will work together with the residents to bring up the issues to the council administration.

Taman Desa Seruda residents have had enough with irresponsible people dumping garbage along Jalan Abim. The residents have put up their own signage. This is despite the council having put up similar warning signs there.

A resident, Ahmad Kamal Rashidi 45, said they had organised a gotong-royong a few weeks ago to clean up the rubbish in the area.

“The MPKj warning signboard is not effective, so we had to take the matter into our hands. 

“We also cordoned off the area with tape to stop people from dumping rubbish there,” he said.

Jalan Kajang Perdana 8A and 8B Residents Association vice-chairman Mahendran Muthusamy said the residents, who had moved to the residential area about nine years ago, were upset with the council’s services.

“Complaints were made but action was never taken. If at all action was taken, it was only a few months after the complaint was made,” he said.

Mahendran said the residents had organised a gotong-royong to clean up the area themselves.

Mahidah Zakaria, 30, of Bandar Baru Bangi said rubbish collection services recorded its worst “performance” in November and December 2013 and January this year.

“Although the contractor’s contract may be ending, it does not mean they should slack on the job,” she said, adding that MPKj should be more stern with the contractors. 

MPKj public relations head Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman said the council had appointed supervisors in key ares to monitor the rubbish collection.

“The amount of rubbish will increase during festive seasons and our landfill in Semenyih has a limit each day. When it reaches the limit, the contractors have to dump the rubbish at the Sepang landfill,” he said.

Consequently, Kamarul Izlan said, the collection schedule would be disrupted.

“However, this excuse is unacceptable. We will take action against the contractors if they fail to collect rubbish more than three times,” he added.

Unlicensed stalls

More unlicensed stalls had cropped up around commercial areas in the Kajang municipality over the past two years.

Business owners and residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Bandar Sungai Long said they included carwash stands as well as burger and fruit vendors.

Bandar Sungai Long resident T.L. Boon said the stalls operating without licences encroached on public parking spaces, taking up grassy sidewalk buffers and landscaped kerbs.

“They occupy parking bays and some have even cemented green spaces reserved for future use, such as for the widening of roads.”

A Bandar Mahkota Cheras Traders Association committee member, who wanted to remain anonymous, said there was already stiff competition among legitimate businesses without having to contend with unlicensed stalls.

“These legitimate businesses pay up to RM3,000 in rent.

“Shopkeepers have complained about the unfairness of competing with makeshift stalls conducting the same type of businesses but did not pay rental or a licence fee,” he said.

He suggested that roadside stalls relocate to a wet market in Bandar Mahkota Cheras, which would be completed in two years.

“Illegal vendors are operating their businesses at junctions and street corners, making it dangerous for motorists and pedestrians.

“We hope MPKj will ensure they conduct businesses in a proper way,” said the committee member.

Speaking for MPKj, Kamarul Izlan said the council would take action against unlicensed stall owners who operated their businesses from a permanent place in commercial areas.

“MPKj will issue compound notices to them, but our main concern is the hygiene level at these illegal stalls,” he added.

What the people of Kajang want for their town

 

The Malaysian Digest, Friday, 28 February 2014 

Written by Siti Nur Sarah Mohd Khir

To future Kajang DUN,listen to what Kajangites want./Pic from mormonmissionprep.comSINCE early February, Kajang’s popularity has surged, all thanks to former Kajang’s DUN Lee Chin Cheh unexpected resignation. Chin Cheh's shocking move meant that a by-election should be in place to find his replacement.  The PKR’s ex-state assemblyman’s withdrawal was touted to give way to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who unsurprisingly had wasted no time to announce himself as Chin Cheh’s worthy replacement.

The whole political drama gave birth to a whole new reputation for Kajang. For what is synonymous as a Satay haven, this Hulu Langat’s district capital’s status has elevated to a town considered as stepping stone for Anwar in his mission to become the next Selangor’s Mentri Besar.

The by-election which is set to take place on March 23, will see Anwar competing against MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and former cabinet minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim in the race to become the state assembly member for Kajang.

Bear in mind though, whatever the intent behind the political tactics these individuals are involved in, the future state assemblyman must be accounted for the welfare of the people in Kajang. Ideally, that should be what this appointed assemblyman upholds.

To this soon-to-be-appointed state assemblyman, whoever you may be, do have you any idea of what the Kajang’s community wishlist is?

Firstly, it is of utmost importance to know that there are 38,965 voters in Kajang where 48 per cent of them consist of the Malays. Forty one per cent of the voters are Chinese while the Indians represent 10 per cent of Kajang’s registered voters. The remaining one per cent includes other races. Media reports have previously reported that half of the voters Kajang (50.07 per cent) or 19,666 people is made ​​up of women.

Metro Kajang. Pic:RakyatNews KajangTo anticipate in this coming Kajang by-election, Malaysian Digest took upon the opportunity to survey the needs and wants of people in Kajang.

Our findings indicated that majority of the interviewees agreed on one main issue – the worsening traffic woes there. Most of them blamed the poor town planning for the problem. Road congestion in Kajang is believed to have been caused by the combination of heavy traffic volume and inefficient road system. 

For S. Murugami, 47, he reckoned that inefficient town planning of Kajang had contributed to the traffic congestion in the district. He said there is a lack of good infrastructure and this causes massive traffic jam. For most Kajangites, they choose to use the highways to avoid from being stuck in the traffic jam. But the repercussion is they have to pay a number of tolls. This is impractical especially if it is a short journey. To Murugami, this is costly too for most people. 

"Kajang is surrounded by a lot of toll plazas and we have to accept it because we can’t bring ourselves to battle our way through the heavy traffic ... imagine if you have to spend one and-a-half hour in the traffic from Sungai Chua to UPM Serdang, which is not that far apart!" said Murugami who have been a Kajang native for nearly two decades.

He said the drainage system should also be reviewed by the department responsible for it so the people of Kajang get to escape enduring the flooding.

"In case of flooding, businessman like me will lose a lot of money and I truly hope our future assemblyman will address issues like these," he told the writer.

Another Kajangite Cei San Yap, 30 considered the toll issue as the main problem for her. Often, she felt that she was forced to use the highways to avoid the dreadful traffic jam in Kajang town.

She said the elected representative should champion this plight especially when Kajang is surrounded by five different toll plazas.

The flood that took place in Kajang town back in year 2011."I propose this question to the state assemblyman because middle-class people like us will have to bear the cost of paying the tolls. You see… if you want to head to downtown Kuala Lumpur, we have to use the Kajang Toll and if we want to go to Cheras, we have to pay the Toll Batu-11. For those who want to drive to Semenyih they have to pay the Sungai Ramal toll and Bukit Kajang toll. If you want to go to Balakong, there is Sungai Balak toll ", sighed San Yap while explaining her situation.

Another issue San Yap wished to highlight is the garbage collection schedule which she believed is inconsistent. If this issue is rectified, she can picture Kajang as a clean and presentable town – an image that fits its current popularity.

"I want our place (Kajang) to look like Singapore which is clean, beautiful and has less toll .. If this materialised I feel everyone will be delighted and won’t complain as much," she said.

Kartina Khamsin, 45, when met agreed with that. She also commented on the drainage and garbage collection problem facing Kajangites.

"The drainage system is not good and garbage collection is inconsistent. These create troubles when it's the rainy season," said Kartina.

In December 2011, the town of Kajang was hit by the worst ever flash flood which led to a massive destruction and loss amounted to almost RM2.4 million.

Prior to that, Kajang town faced a similar situation in 1971 and in the 1980s. Years gone by, but the flooding problem remains as one of the biggest concerns whenever rainy season comes.

"This problem stems from the clogging in the drainage system and because people are throwing too much rubbish ... I think relevant authority should be sensitive to such situation and be proactive to tackle it. A dirty environment is not only unpleasant for us but could cost us our money," she explained.

To overcome this problem, Kartina who lives in Kajang for almost 12 years suggested an elevated parking system which can be built to allow people to park their vehicles in a special designated area. At present time, Kajangites have to park all-over Kajang town and the scattering vehicles disrupts traffic flow there. This to Kajangites has proven to be bothersome.

The aging Hospital Kajang."I think the elevated parking system will put all vehicles at one station and people will be able to do their chores by walking to wherever they need to go around the Kajang town," she said.

Another plight by a Kajangite came from Irma Ismail, 27, who wanted the 125 years old Kajang Hospital to be upgraded. She, who had just sought medical treatment at the hospital, said she had to wait for almost two hours to get herself checked.

In fact, she argued that the facilities in Kajang Hospital can be considered ‘old’ and she felt that the location of the hospital is not strategic. Such a location makes it difficult for patients to get a nearby parking. The situation worsened when there’s traffic congestion in Kajang.

"Sometimes, I had to travel further to Hospital Serdang because it is more comfortable there. Kajang Hospital to me looks aging and it is high time for the authority to upgrade it," she said.

National footballer, Safee Sali who is also a native of Kajang shared his concerns. The 28 year-old athlete certainly would like to see changes ​​made to the Kajang Stadium.He felt that the refurbishment of the stadium might contribute to the national sports scene.

Safee SaliTo him, a good sport facility will attract people to visit the stadium and play sports hence promoting a healthy lifestyle among the Kajang community. Indirectly, this too can prevent adolescent from getting involved in any unhealthy activities.

"As someone who knows sports, I'm counting on the development of the stadium for the people of Kajang, hopefully a better stadium will benefit the local residents greatly," he said.

Kajang Stadium had witnessed the greatness of football legends such as the late Supermokh 'Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, 'Spiderman' Datuk R. Arumugam, Soh Chin Aun and Santokh Singh.

But in 2010, the stadium was torn down and converted into a multi-purpose recreation center which is now called the Kajang Square.

Through our investigation, it is clear that Kajangites are experiencing quite a few issues. They all agree that they need no popular assemblyman but who they need is a ‘caretaker’ who is capable and most importantly cares for all their problems, no matter whether they are big or small.

Hunting for the best in satay town

The Star, Saturday March 1, 2014 

by sam cheong

A bird's eye view of Kajang's Medan Satay

This week, Samo takes you on the first of a two-part food odyssey to Kajang, Selangor, beginning with the town’s legendary satay.

WHEN it comes to makan, Kajang in Selangor is synonymous with satay.

This “transforming” little town located south of the Klang Valley is destined for a boom with the construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line.

Even in the past, families living in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya taking weekend excursions to Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan, would make a stopover in Kajang town to feast on its famous satay.

Smack in the heart of town, there is even a Medan Satay or satay square (N 02 59.492, E 101 47.339) that opens from breakfast to dinner.

It was previously located near the Kajang stadium and is now at Jalan Tun Abdul Aziz, opposite the Kajang Metro shopping mall.

An old man grilling satay over a charcoal fire at Restoran Malaysia or Nyuk Lan satay.

 

But before I get into the details, the debate on “who is the best” satay in town became an interesting topic when I spoke to a few makan kakis.

My buddy Mohd “Mat Duku” Faris Jaafar, a software engineer who resides in Semenyih near Kajang, said he prefers the satay sellers in Sungai Ramal.

“You see Samo, those guys in town are too commercialised.

“They cater for big kenduri and government functions and since the satay is mass-produced, they’ve lost that personal touch,” said the Semenyih guy who got his nickname after getting food poisoning from eating too much duku langsat.

Faris added that his favourite satay stall in Sungai Ramal is Willy’s satay.

“Samo, you have to try their satay daging.

“Roasted to perfection, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside.”

The legendary Haji Samuri satay of Kajang is still the top- ranke d satay stall in town.

 

As a matter of fact, the main economy in Sungai Ramal is their makan stalls and this place is thriving with satay.

To go on a satay safari in Kajang, Faris recommends small portions.

“You can order two sticks at each satay stall to determine who is the best,” he urged.

So, I gave Willy’s satay a try (they have two stalls in this area) at Hasan Cafe.

Presentation-wise, it’s just average.

But when it comes to taste, I would say that there’s more than meets the eye.

The beef satay was crispy and tender as mentioned by Faris. I took his advice by trying the satay sticks in small portions and six sticks of satay cost RM4.80.

And on the Samo-scale, I would rate it 7 out of 10.

Not too far from Hasan Cafe, there’s Yus satay restaurant (N 02 58.841, E 101 45.377)

This shop was packed to the brim when I got there and my bill came to RM7.20 for three sticks of chicken satay and three sticks of beef satay including a serving of nasi himpit (rice cooked in plastic bag).

Compared to Willy’s satay, Yus’ is just an average 5 out of 10 on the Samo-scale.

Another must-go place is the Ramal Food Junction (N 02 58.834, E 101 45.444). This is where Willy satay takes their night shift and goes full-swing with their beef, chicken, mutton and ox-tripe satay.

While Faris is a big fan of Sungai Ramal’s satay, my Kajang contact Wak Dogo (he refused to reveal his real name) said nothing beats the age-old favourites in Kajang town.

For the record, Wak Dogo is a civil servant who keeps bad guys behind bars and is retiring soon.
His favourite satay stall is Haji Samuri’s at Medan Satay Kajang.

“Ah, Samo my friend, do you know that the satay sellers here are deeply-rooted to their rich heritage from Indonesia?

“Many of the namesakes at the stalls here are of Javanese-descent and these people really know how to season and put meat on the skewer and roast them until they are done,” he elaborated.

Out of the ordinary, Wak Dogo recommends the satay pedal dan hati (chicken liver and gizzard) at 70sen a stick.

I found this to be quite overwhelming as the chicken liver has a strong taste and the only one that scored high points was the tori-kimo, a yakitori chicken liver dish prepared by Ota-san of Sumika Japanese restaurant in Subang Jaya.

Having heard what Wak Dogo had said, I agree that the legendary Haji Samuri satay of Kajang is still the top-ranked satay stall in the area.

As a matter of fact, it has 23 branches all over the country.

I tried the stall’s satay perut (ox tripe), satay daging tenderloin and concur with Wak Dogo’s recommendations.

On the Samo-scale, I rate Haji Samuri’s satay 8 out of 10.

Other than Haji Samuri satay, there are at least six other satay stalls at the Medan Satay which I hope to explore in the future.

Now, the most interesting satay shop in Kajang is Restoran Malaysia or Nyuk Lan satay (N 02 59.571, E 101 47.385).

It is a food business operated by a Chinese family and the namesake is Madam Chai Nyuk Lan.

This is one of the few halal Chinese satay stalls in town and it is just amazing to watch an elderly Chinese man working on the grill to prepare his orders.

Apart from satay, you can try Nyuk Lan’s fried Hokkien mee and Kwong-fu chow noodles. They are pretty decent and just remember to tell the waiter to go easy on the salt when you are ordering their fried noodles.

Kajang can be accessed by road via the North-South Expressway, South Klang Valley Expressway via SILK (from Putrajaya, Subang, Puchong and Serdang) and the Grand Saga Cheras-Kajang highway.

If you are the adventurous type, there’s the KTM Komuter service via KL Sentral where you can get off at the Kajang station and walk to the Medan Satay (about 15 minutes).