Kajang
Town
Other transcription(s)
• Jawi	کاجڠ‎
• Chinese	加影
• Tamil	காஜாங் Kājāṅ (Transliteration)
Seal
Motto(s):  Kajang Bandar Pilihan untuk Didiami (Kajang Choice City for Living)
Location in Malaysia
Kajang
Coordinates: 2°59′35″N 101°47′20″E / 2.99306°N 101.78889°E / 2.99306; 101.78889
Country	Malaysia
State	Selangor
Establishment	1709
Granted municipal status	1 January 1997
Granted city status	TBA
Government
• Yang Di-Pertua (President)	Dato' Haji Rosli bin Othman DPMS
Area
• Town	93.4 km2 (36.1 sq mi)
• Urban	790.43 km2 (305.19 sq mi)
Population  (2020[1])
• Town	236,240
• Density	1,326/km2 (3,393/sq mi)
• Metro	1,047,356[2]
Time zone	UTC+8 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	Not observed
Postal codes in Malaysia	43000 43200 43500 43650
Calling code	+60-3-87 +60-3-89 +60-3-90
Website	www.mpkj.gov.my

Kajang is a town in both Hulu Langat District and Sepang District, Selangor, Malaysia. Kajang, along with much of Hulu Langat District, is governed by the Kajang Municipal Council. Some parts of Kajang such as Seksyen 12 Bandar Baru Bangi, Kampung Sungai Merab, Desa Pinggiran Putra and Kampung Dato Abu Bakar Baginda are located in northeast Dengkil, Sepang District and is governed by the Sepang Municipal Council.^[3] Kajang town is located on the eastern banks of the Langat River. It is surrounded by Cheras, Semenyih, Bangi, Putrajaya and Serdang.

According to the 2020 census, the local authority area (which includes Kajang, Cheras, Balakong, Bangi, Semenyih and Pekan Hulu Langat) has a population of 1.05 million people.^[4]

Etymology

The name Kajang is believed to have originated from the language of Temuan tribes (Orang Asli) who populated the Langat valley in the 17th-18th centuries. In their language kajang referred to their art of weaving screwpine or pandanus leaves, which were prevalent in much of the country. A similar theory stated that settlers from the neighboring domain of Sungai Ujong (Negeri Sembilan) once constructed huts (pondok) in the area with thatched roof made from folded (lipat kajang) screwpine leaves.^[5]

It is also believed that the name kajang may have originated from the Buginese word berkajang, meaning camp or accommodation.^[6]

Geography and development

Kajang is a half hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur's central business district, primarily through Jalan Cheras and the Grand Saga Expressway; both routes are part of the Malaysia Federal Route 1 system.

The first planned township built and developed in Kajang is Bandar Baru Bangi which was first developed in 1974 by the Selangor state government. It has since acted as the satellite town and Central Business District of Kajang, with most banks and government offices operating out of the township. The Kajang bus and taxi terminal called Hentian Kajang is also located at the eastern end of the township. The district capital of Hulu Langat was shifted to Bandar Baru Bangi from Kajang in 1992.^[7]

In recent years, a few townships were developed in Kajang, such as Taman Prima Saujana, Sungai Chua and Taman Kajang Perdana (Kajang Highlands). High-end developments in Kajang include Bandar Seri Putra, Bandar Bukit Mahkota, Twin Palms, Sri Banyan, Country Heights, Jade Hills, Saujana Impian, TTDI Grove, Tropicana Heights and Prima Paramount. Areas surrounding these townships are accessible via the SILK Expressway, Kajang-Seremban Expressway, Grand Saga Expressway and the North–South Expressway Southern Route.

Some parts of Kajang such as Kampung Sungai Merab, Desa Pinggiran Putra and Kampung Dato Abu Bakar Baginda are located in northeast Dengkil, Sepang District and is governed by the Sepang Municipal Council.^[8] While technically being a part of Sepang District under Mukim Dengkil, the above-mentioned townships are commonly associated with Kajang due to close proximity to Kajang proper (adjacent to Kampung Sungai Ramal which is separated by the North South Expressway) and the rather lengthy distance from Sepang and Dengkil towns proper. The townships uses the postal code of Kajang instead of Sepang and Dengkil, also due to the reasons above.^[9][10][11]

While Bandar Seri Putra and Bukit Mahkota are located adjacent to Bangi Lama (Bangi old town) as well as Bandar Baru Bangi, the townships along with Bangi Lama uses the postal code of Kajang instead of Bandar Baru Bangi. The townships of Bandar Baru Bangi, Bangi Lama, Bandar Seri Putra and Bukit Mahkota are located in Mukim Kajang.^[12]

History

Orang Asli tribes had already established settlements in what is now Kajang as early as the 16th century, however the first recorded settlement was found in 1709 by additional Orang Asli settlers who relocated from the Klang valley.^[13] Kajang town in its present form was founded in the 1870s, in the aftermath of the Klang War. In its early days, it was settled by Mandailings and Minangkabau people from Sumatra in the then-Dutch East Indies, followed by Chinese tin miners.^[14]

As with other towns in Selangor, Kajang as a modern town owes its rise in particular to tin mines and plantations which were opened around the 1890s. A famous coffee estates was Inch Kenneth Estate managed by the Kindersley brothers, who were among the first to plant rubber in the country on a commercial basis.^[15]

Kajang town in Selangor at night, with Metro Plaza Kajang in the background

During the Japanese invasion, Kajang was bombed on 12 January 1942, a day after the fall of Kuala Lumpur. The bombs, meant for the railway station, missed its target, and hit a nearby church instead.^[16]

In 1948, a Communist insurgency against British forces and their allies across Malaya began, which led to the Malayan Emergency with fighting soon spreading to Kajang. Guerrilla leader Lau Yew died in combat just outside Kajang in July 1948; British forces photographed his corpse and printed the image onto leaflets to distribute around Kajang.^[17]

Kajang was granted municipal status on 1 January 1997. Previously it was under the jurisdiction of the Hulu Langat District Council (Majlis Daerah Hulu Langat, MDHL). Kajang was the administrative centre of the Hulu Langat region until it was relocated to Bandar Baru Bangi in 1992.^[18]

Demographics

Kajang's population of 236,240 consists of a wide demographic population.^[19]

Kajang's main population centres are Sg. Sekamat, Taman Saujana Impian, Sg. Kantan, Sg. Jelok, Sg. Ramal, Sungai Chua, Jalan Reko, Jalan Bukit, Taman Jenaris, Taman Prima Saujana, Taman Kantan Permai, Taman Kajang Perdana, Taman Sri Ramal, Taman Bukit Mewah, Kajang Prima, Bandar Teknologi Kajang, Hillpark and Bandar Baru Bangi.

Landmarks

Kajang Jamek Mosque

The city centre of Kajang is the colonial quarter near the Stadium Kajang MRT station, including the streets of Jalan Mendaling, Jalan Stadium, Jalan Sulaiman and Jalan Raja Haroun. The buildings in the area were constructed around the 1900s to 1930s.^[20] The architecture of these shophouses are a combination of traditional Chinese and European designs. The ground floor was used mostly for commercial activities and the upper floor as the family living quarters.

Famous mosque in Jalan Reko next to Kajang MRT station

One of Kajang's landmarks is Kajang Stadium which is situated in the heart of the town. The stadium can accommodate up to 5,000 people and is used throughout the year for the community soccer competitions.

Another landmark is the Kajang Jamek Mosque, which is recognisable by its bright yellow facade.

Transportation

Food and tourism

Dato' Nazir Building (Medan Sate) where Sate Kajang Haji Samuri is situated

Kajang is famous for its satay, a form of skewered barbecued meat. Informally, Kajang is known as the Satay Town.^[21]

Government and infrastructure

The Malaysia Prison Complex (Kompleks Penjara Kajang), Prison Department of Malaysia is headquartered in Kajang.^[22][23]

Shopping

Lotus's Kajang, in Saujana Impian, Kajang

Kajang has multiple shopping complexes, amongst them is the Billion Shopping Center formerly in Kajang town, which now has relocated to Bandar Teknologi Kajang. Other shopping centres located in Kajang are Plaza Metro Kajang, Metro Point and Kompleks Kota Kajang. Metro Avenue is a new shopping district located opposite SMJK Yu Hua Kajang and Kajang High School.

Facilities and amenities

Hospital Kajang is the primary public hospital in the city.

Private medical centres function 24 hours and include facilities such as Poliklinik MUC @Metro Point, Klinik Mediviron Prima Saujana, Kajang Plaza Medical Centre (KPMC) and KPJ Kajang Specialist Hospital.

The Hulu Langat District Police Headquarters are located in the town centre, across the Highway 1 junction from the Post Office. Federal government agencies with their branch in Kajang include the National Registration Department, Immigration Department, Transportation Department, and Hulu Langat Education Office.

Education

SK Sungai Kantan

Tertiary

New Era University College

Kajang is home to institutions of higher learning, which includes:

• Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Sungai Long Campus
• Universiti Tenaga Nasional
• Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur
• New Era University College
• German-Malaysian Institute
• Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute (MFI)
• Universiti Kuala Lumpur Medical Science and Technology (MESTECH)

Politics

The Kajang town Post Office

After the 2018 Malaysian general election, Kajang became part of the Bangi parliamentary constituency in the Dewan Rakyat of the Malaysian Parliament. The seat is held by Syahredzan Johan from PH-DAP.

In the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, Kajang is one of three state seats within the Bangi parliamentary district; the other two are Balakong and Sungai Ramal. The incumbent Assemblyperson for Kajang is David Cheong from PH-PKR.

Until 9 May 2018, Kajang was part of the Hulu Langat parliamentary constituency in the Dewan Rakyat of the Malaysian Parliament.

In the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, Kajang was one of three state seats within the Hulu Langat parliamentary district; the other two were Semenyih and Dusun Tua.

Notable people

Kajang Plaza

• Lt Adnan Bin Saidi, Malayan military officer who took part in the Battle of Singapore, Bukit Chandu during World War II.
• Datuk Ramli bin Ibrahim, Malaysian choreographer.^[24][25][26]
• Ning Baizura, singer.
• Nora Danish, actress.
• Suresh Navaratnam, Malaysian cricketer, represented Malaysia for 21 years and captained the National Team.
• K. Sanbagamaran, former Selangor FA and Malaysia national football team player.
• Jonathan Ramachandran, represented Malaysia for International Mathematical Olympiad.^{[27][28][29][30][31]}
• D. Christie Jayaseelan, football player.
• K. Reuben, football player.
• Safee Sali, football player.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kajang.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kajang.

• Kajang Municipal Council Official Website