Klang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Klang كلاڠ |
|||
|
|||
| Motto: Perpaduan Sendi Kekuatan | |||
 |
|||
| Country | Malaysia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Selangor | ||
| Establishment | 1643 | ||
| Granted Municipal Status |
1977, January 1st | ||
| Government | |||
| - Administered by | Majlis Perbandaran Klang (Klang Municipal Council) |
||
| - Yang diPertua (Councillor) |
Y. Bhg. Tuan Mislan bin Tugiu | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 573 km² (202 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 1,004,194 (3rd) [1] | ||
| - Density | 1,738/km² (4,930/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | MST (UTC+8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Not observed (UTC) | ||
| Website: http://www.mpklang.gov.my/ | |||
Klang (or Kelang) is the royal capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia within a district of similar name. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang. It was the civil capital of Selangor in an earlier era before the emergence of Kuala Lumpur and the current capital, Shah Alam. Port Klang is one of the world's busiest seaports. Klang will be granted city status on 8th August 2008[citation needed].
Contents |
[edit] History
The royal town of Klang has been a site of human settlement since prehistoric times. Bronze Age drums and other artifacts have been found within the town itself and within the vicinity. Commanding the approaches to the tin rich Klang Valley, Klang has always been of key strategic importance.
The celebrated Tun Perak, the Malacca Sultanate's greatest Bendahara, came from Klang and became its territorial chief. After the fall of Melaka to the Portuguese in 1511, Klang remained in Malay hands, controlled by the Sultan Johor-Riau until the creation of Selangor sultanate in the 18th century.
In the 19th century the importance of Klang greatly increased by the rapid expansion of tin mining as a result of the increased demand for tin from the West. The desire to control the Klang Valley led directly to the Selangor Civil War (sometimes called the Klang War) of 1867-1874 when Raja Mahdi fought to regain what he considered his birthright as territorial chief against Raja Abdullah. He failed and the end result was British intervention and control.
After 1874, the British soon selected Klang over Jugra as the centre of their administration, which it remained until 1880 when they transferred it to the mining centre of Kuala Lumpur.
Klang did not lose its importance, however. Until the construction of Port Swettenham (Port Klang) in 1901, the royal town remained the chief outlet for Selangor's tin, and its position was enhanced by the completion of the Klang Valley railway (to Bukit Kuda) in 1886. In the 1890s its growth was further stimulated by the development of the district into the State' leading producer of coffee, and then rubber.
In 1901 it became the official seat of Sultan Sulaiman (Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah). Today Klang is no longer State capital or the main seat of the Ruler, but it remains the headquarters of the District to which it gives it name.
Klang's modern history timelines:
- 1945 - Klang Town Authority formed.
- 1954 - Klang Town Council formed (27.5 km²)
- 1971 - Klang District Council formed, including areas surrounding Kapar and Meru towns.
- 1974 - 1977 - capital of Selangor when Kuala Lumpur became a Federal Territory and before Shah Alam was made the capital of Selangor.
- 1977 - Klang Municipal Council formed (60.9 km²)
[edit] Etymology
Klang may have taken its name from the Klang River which runs through the town. The entire geographical area in the immediate vicinity of the river, which begins at Kuala Lumpur and runs west all the way to Port Klang, is known as the Klang Valley.
Popular theories on the origin of the name are that it was derived from the Mon-Khmer word Klong or from the old meaning of the Malay word Kilang meaning warehouses, given that it was full of warehouses in the old days (kilang now means Factory).
[edit] Districts
Klang North and Klang South are divided by the Klang River. Generally, Klang North is more commercial while more residential areas and government offices are located in Klang South. Hence, Klang South tends to be busier and becomes center of social activity after working hours. This was triggered by the rapid growth of new and modern townships such as Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Bandar Botanic, Bayuemas and Glenmarie Cove at Klang South.
[edit] Politics
Klang encompasses of three parliamentary seats: Kapar (Mr. Manikavasagam a/l Sundaram - PKR), Kota Raja (Mdm. Siti Mariah Mahmud - PAS), and Klang (Mr. Charles Anthony Santiago - DAP). All three are held by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. These constituencies are subdivided into state seats.
[edit] Local cuisine
Klang is well known for its "Bak Kut Teh" (Chinese: 肉骨茶, Pinyin: Ròu Gŭ Chá), a herbal soup that uses pork ribs and tenderloins. A kind of virus struck pigs in the late the 90's that affected pig farmers nationwide led to the creation of Chick Kut Teh, that substitutes chicken for pork as it's halal for consumption for the muslims.
Klang is also famous for its banana leaf rice.
It is also well-known for its seafood at Teluk Gong. One of the famous delicacies here is the sweet and sour crab. One of the most popular restaurants there is called "Coconut Flower" which is usually packed every night. It is known for its crabs, prawns and a few other dishes.
Besides that, Klang is also famous for its "Rojak Klang". The most popular Rojak Klang stall in Klang is Rojak Klang Gani located at the Emporium Makan. This stall has been in operations for more than 30 years and still running.
Another famous delicacy is the "Cendol". Presently, the owner, Munusamy, of "Cendol Klang" store, located at the heart of Klang town centre, has come a long way to where it is today. Before the store came about, the sole-proprietor sold cendols along Jalan Nanas on his mobile-store attached to his motorcycle and had been so since 1972. Cendol was gaining popularity over time in the 90's and it was not until circa 2000 that the sole-proprietor moved into a store at the very same place where he had been selling. Rumors had it that he had gathered enough finances to support two of his children to study law in England, which would be seen as an enormous achievement for a person like Munusamy who started with nothing over 30 years ago.
Other famous local delicacies are "Lontong Klang", "Mee Bandung" and "Mee Jawa", which is similar to Mee Rebus in Johor. There are a number of restaurants/stalls selling Mee Jawa. One of the famous (and delicious) Mee Jawa is also located at food court at Emporium Makan (Opposite to Rojak Klang Gani). It also sells famous hailam noodle & the owner is Wak Sarip.
[edit] Shopping complexes
- Centro Business Centre[1]
- ÆON Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre (Bandar Bukit Tinggi Klang)
- Bukit Raja Shopping Centre (Bandar Baru Klang)
- Carrefour (Kapar Road)
- Giant (Bandar Bukit Tinggi & Meru Road)
- Harbour Place (Port Klang - under construction)
- Harbour Point (Port Klang - under construction)
- Intania Shopping Centre (under construction)
- Klang City Square
- Klang Mid Valley (Currently under construction, located adjacent to Klang City Square and Shaw Centrepoint)
- Klang Parade (Meru Road)
- Shaw Centrepoint (Klang Town)
- Tesco (Bandar Bukit Tinggi)
Stretching far apart from the city district of Klang, an island known as Pulau Ketam or translated as "Crab Island" offers its visitors mouth watering seafood dishes ranging from Crab to squid and freshness is assured as they are caught fresh from the seas its being surrounded by.
[edit] Hospitals
- Arunamari Specialist Medical Centre
- Hospital Bersalin Metro Maternity
- Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (formerly known as Hospital Besar Tengku Ampuan Rahimah),
also known as Klang General Hospital
- Klinik Damo & Pusat Bersalin
- Pantai Klang Specialist Hospital
- Puteri Klang Medical Centre (formerly known as Sentosa Medical Centre)
- Sri Kota Medical Centre, Klang
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Klang Municipal Council (MPK) portal
- CCTV surveillance around Klang
- Klang travel guide from Wikitravel
