Klang - Places To Visit 1 - Jalan Tengku Klana

Some places don't really change, some aspects of a place improves, but on the whole a place retain their unique character. One such place is Little India , along Jalan Tengku Klana (across the Klang river bank towards Port Klang).

Most of the shops or businesses, albeit new ones are owned or operated by Indians, Indian Muslim & Punjabi traders and also some chinese owned businesses in between them . This place goes way back ?how far back take a guess! Place has not changed much except that the local restaurants/shops have improved on the cleanliness, decor & service.

The primary business of this place is Saree/Textile shops, Spice shops, Gold & Jewellery Shops, Restaurants, Audio/Video Shops (mainly Indian origins, though a lot now sell English movies). the picture above is the premier Saree center in Klang.

During the festival of "Thai Ponggal" (around Mid-January or month of "Thai" in Tamil calender) or harvest festival which mainly celebrated by Malaysians of Tamil origin, houses and shops are decorated with banana trees & coconut and mango leaves interwoven and strung in front of the houses and shops. They then boil "rice" with milk (albeit the right time by astrological indication) & let the milk pour over the pot & shout "Ponggool Ooo' Pongggal" singifying the prosperity for the year.

While the Tamils in Klang primarily are not farmers, the tradition of celebrating Ponggal is getting more fervour with each passing years. It seems there revival of sort or its just the younger generations are more interested in their traditions. For what ever the reasons, Little India of Klang does come alive.

Klang Town - Places To Go - Part2

This is the hindu temple which was renovated recently which is also known as Chetty Temple because it was funded by the chetty communities who were money lenders way back in the 50's to the 70's & early part of '80's long before Ah Longs flourished (including legal ones). Not sure if any the money lenders are still around. they certainly did not use 'strong arm tactics' in their business. I used to remember seeing an indian man in dhoti in a darkly lit shop which is half closed sitting on the floor behind a small ground desk. Thats the only furniture that was in the shop.

2 more famous landmark in Klang, the Catholic Church (Our Lady Of Lourdes) on the left and the Convent Girls school on the right. Both the buildings are next to to each other. The church was built in before the school, should about around 100 years and the school in 1928 (80 years old). Since i am not in Klang currently, i will continue about the interesting places in Klang on my coming blogs, don't go away.

Royal Klang

The Royal Town of Selangor has had a very distinguished past in the annals of Malayan History, and continue to make history till this day. Klang was the state capital of Selangor DE from 1974 - 1977 when KL was made federal capital of Malaysia. Shah Alam became the state capital in 1978.

Unfortunately most of the Klang folks are totally ignorant of its colourful past. Ask anyone in Klang, if they knew about the civil war of Klang between Raja Mahdi and Raja Abdullah between 1867 - 1874, they most probably say, "waa tak tau", or "Apa u cakap ni", or "Teriathu tambi" (in tamil).

The most likely can tell u where to eat the best nasi lemak, roti canai, tosai, mamak mee, yong tau foo, Bah Kut Teh ( still best in Malaysia), teh tarik and which Shopping Center is having a sale.

The local authority/town council most likely does not keep any kind of historical records, historical preserves of any kind. Local national schools don't teach about the history of the town to the students. There's practically no information center. There's a tin musem next to the District Police station, which no one knows.

There was news about the Selangor Sultan converting his Royal Palace into a royal musuem for tourism. There's an old British administratine building which has been renovated but not opened to public yet.

In the UK, if you go to any local counties, you will find a history of the local community, some historical buildings, a musuem, catherderal,castles,docks and so on. Most of the locals are very proud of their heritage. Every local council will have a Information Center of the place. Sign boards are prominently displayed. It does a lot for the local tourism.

Our local councillors go all over the world and learn nothing except have a good holiday. When they return, they do nothing, only waste taxpayers money.

Klang - My Home Town

I have been in Klang ever since when my father who worked in Jabatan Kastam DiRaja Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Customs) in Johor Bahru was posted here in 1970. It will always be my hometown, even though i journey to Penang every year (my birthplace - must be nostalgia).

I started my primary schooling here Sekolah Rendah Methodist (renamed SK Pelabuhan Klang) Port Klang, then went to SK Simpang Lima when i was in standard 6 just to get into SM La Salle Klang ( proud to be one) for my secondary education.

All of my siblings have made Klang their home. I suppose why some people still cling on to particular place because it has some unique character to the place. It can be the people, or the places or just some way people connect themselves.

I hope the town does not change too much tough. I hope the local councilors (newly elected ones after '08 elections), try to restore the Town to its true character. 

These days, the only characters that make the headlines are the royal scums who prey on helpless people. Too many house break-ins, car thefts, gangsterism, violent crimes, dirty rivers, clogged drains, poor transport service, dirty housing areas and every rotten egg you can find in urban living.

Ipoh City have managed the city quire nicely, it's quite clean and to some extend better town planning than Klang. I hope changes will take place for the better. Klang need not be PJ, Shah Alam or Subang. It ought to be a true "Royal" town, progress, but preserve its heritage. That means a place where people take pride living in their community, where outsiders want to come and start a life.

I have been to Rome, Milan, Dubai, London, Singapore, Bangkok but Klang will always be MY TOWN. I hope it will a place where i can spend the rest of my life hopefully.
By the way the Top Photo is stalls in Jalan Tengku Klana, a special place for the flower sellers whom ply their trade in front rows of shops along the streets.