The state capital of Selangor is Shah Alam, and its royal capital is Klang, while Kajang is the largest municipality.[7]Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya received city status in 2006 and 2019, respectively.[8] Selangor is one of four Malaysian states that contain more than one city with official city status; the others are Sarawak, Johor, and Penang.[9][10]
The state of Selangor has the largest economy in Malaysia in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), with RM 384 billion (roughly $82 billion) in 2022, comprising 25.6% of the country's GDP.[11] It is the most developed state in Malaysia; it has good infrastructure, such as highways and transport, and has the largest population in Malaysia. It also has a high standard of living and the lowest poverty rate in the country.[12]
Etymology
The origin of the name Selangor is uncertain. A common suggestion is that the name refers to the Malay word langau, a large fly or blowfly that is found in the marshes along the Selangor River (Sungai Selangor) in the state's north-west. According to local lore, a warrior who escaped from Malacca after the Portuguese conquest, took a break from his journey north and rested under a tree here. However, he was disturbed by a persistent fly, whereupon he decided to explore the area. When he found the place to his liking and chose to settle there, he named the place "satu (se) langau" meaning "a large blowfly".[13][14]
In the absence of a firm etymological explanation, alternative theories abound. One suggestion is that the name may have originated from a kind of tree found in Kuala Selangor and along Selangor River named mentangau.[15] Another theory claims the state's name is derived from the term Salang Ur where ur means "town" or "village" in Tamil, meaning village of the Salang people.[13] It has also been proposed that the name is derived from a combination of salang (stabbing) and jemur (dry in the sun), indicating that it was once a place where traitors were stabbed (salang) then left to roast in the sun (jemur).[13]
The most important settlement of the area in the ancient period may have been Klang. Ancient artifacts including Bronze Age axes and bronze bell dating from the 2nd century BC,[16][17][18] and iron tools called "tulang mawas" ("ape bones") have been found in or near Klang.[19] The Mao Kun map dating to the Ming dynasty and used by the Admiral Zheng He during his voyages of expedition between 1405 and 1433 refers to places in Selangor such as the Klang River estuary (吉令港) and perhaps a hilly area.[20] The Malay Annals indicates that the Selangor area was under the control of the Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century; however, Selangor at that time was not a unified domain—separate river states such as Klang and Jeram existed in the region.[19] According to the Malay Annals, Tun Perak was appointed the chief of Klang during the reign of Muzaffar Shah. Later, the son of Mansur Shah and Hang Li Po named Paduka Sri Cina was made raja of Jeram near Langat, which may be due to the presence of Chinese miners there.[19]
After the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese in 1511, the area came under the control of Johor Sultanate and was later governed by Sri Agar Diraja, son of the Bendahara family of Johor.[21] In the 17th century, Johor was involved in a war against Jambi, and the Sultan of Johor engaged the help of Bugis mercenaries from Sulawesi to fight against Jambi.[22] After Johor won in 1679, the Bugis decided to stay and started to gain power in the region.[23] Many Bugis began to migrate and settled along the coast of Selangor such as the estuaries of Selangor and Klang rivers. Some Minangkabaus may have also settled in Selangor by the 17th century, perhaps earlier.[24] The Bugis and the Minangkabaus from Sumatra struggled for control of Johor; Raja Kecil, backed by the Minangkabaus, invaded Selangor but were driven off by the Bugis in 1742. In order to establish a power base, the Bugis led by Raja Salehuddin founded the present hereditary Selangor Sultanate with its capital at Kuala Selangor in 1766.[25] Selangor is unique as the only state on the Malay Peninsula that was founded by the Bugis.[26]
In the 19th century, the economy of Selangor boomed due to the exploitation of its tin reserves; mining occurred in various parts of Selangor, for example in Ampang, that led to the growth of Kuala Lumpur. In 1854, the Sultan of Selangor granted Raja Abdullah control of Klang, passing over Raja Mahdi, the son of the chief who previously ruled Klang, which led to the Selangor Civil War fought between 1867 and 1874. The war between the Malay factions was also partly a struggle for control of the revenues from tin.[27] Tin mining had attracted a large influx of Chinese migrant labourers, and Chinese clans allied with Selangor chiefs also joined the civil war. The conflicts between Malay and Chinese factions in Perak and Selangor, as well as concerns over piracy that affected coastal trade, led to increasing British involvement in the affairs of the Malay states.[28]
The Kota Darul Ehsan arch over the Federal Highway, which was built to commemorate the cession of Kuala Lumpur by Selangor to the federal government to form a Federal Territory.
In 1874, Sultan Abdul Samad of Selangor accepted a British Resident in a system that allowed the British to govern while the Sultan remained the apparent ruler. Klang was the capital of the British colonial administration for Selangor from 1875 until 1880 when it was moved to Kuala Lumpur. Under the stability imposed by the British, Selangor again prospered. In 1896, largely through the coordination of the Resident Frank Swettenham, Selangor united with Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Pahang to form the Federated Malay States, with Kuala Lumpur its capital.[29]
The Federated Malay States evolved into the Federation of Malaya in 1948, which became independent in 1957. The federation became known as Malaysia in 1963, when its existing states federated with the other British colonies of Sarawak, North Borneo and Singapore. The city of Kuala Lumpur functioned as the national capital of Malaysia and as the state capital of Selangor. In 1974, Selangor relinquished Kuala Lumpur to the federal government.[30] The Sultan of Selangor commemorated the city's transfer by building an archway on the borders of the new Federal Territory and Selangor; this archway is the Kota Darul Ehsan that straddles a section of the Federal Highway between Bangsar and Petaling Jaya. The state capital was moved to Shah Alam after the cession.
Putrajaya, a new city designed to be the new administrative capital of Malaysia, was built by the federal government in Selangor; Sultan Salahuddin was asked again to cede land to the federal government.[31] Putrajaya became a federal territory in 2001.[32]
Topographically wise, Selangor is relatively level near the coast and gradually become more hilly and mountainous towards the east. The hill and mountain, surrounding the eastern and central portion of the state effectively forming a valley and a drainage basin of the Klang River, known as the Klang Valley, where most of the population are centered. The Klang Valley is often synonymously associated with another toponym, Greater Kuala Lumpur, though both terms vary between each other. Being one of the most heavily urbanized regions in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, cities that make up Klang Valley include the state and royal capitals of Shah Alam and Klang, as well as the federal capital, Kuala Lumpur, which is strategically situated in the heart of the state. It was once part of Selangor territory before it was ceded to the federal government in 1974 to form a Federal Territory. It was then followed by the 1995 cession of Prang Besar of Sepang District to the federal government, which became what is now the nation's administrative and judicial capital Putrajaya.
Silver Leaf Monkey in Bukit MelawatiCommonwealth Forest Park
Malaysian forest can be classified as tropical rainforest. Selangor has 250,129 ha of permanent reserve forest, of which 82,890 ha are peat swamp forest and 18,998 ha formed mangrove forest along the coast. The permanent reserve forest makes up about 32 percent of the state land.[33][34]Forest parks that are situated in Selangor include Gabai Waterfall, Taman Rimba Templer, Taman Rimba Ampang, Taman Rimba Komanwel, Sungai Chongkak, Sungai Tua, Sungai Sendat, Sungai Tekala, Kanching, Gunung Nuang and Bukit Tabur.[35][36]
Reserved forests in Selangor are managed and conserved by the state's forestry department, as the Constitution of Malaysia provides that forestry comes under the jurisdiction of the respective states.[37] Selangor's forestry headquarters is located at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building, in Shah Alam.[38]
Selangor is also home to a statutory agency of the Government of Malaysia, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). Located in Kepong, FRIM promotes sustainable management and optimal use of forest resources in Malaysia by generating knowledge and technology through research, development and application in tropical forestry.[39][40]
Selangor has a few declared protected areas (PAs) in order to safeguard biodiversity and wildlife. They are Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve which was created to protect the now-extirpated Sumatran Rhinos,[41] Kutu Hill Wildlife Reserve,[42] and Bukit Sungai Puteh Hill Wildlife Reserve which is located at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor's border.[43] The state also has an ecotourism centre, Paya Indah Wetlands, which is located in the district Kuala Langat near Dengkil. It is a sanctuary to migratory and residential birds, introduced Nile hippos and crocodiles.[44][45]
Several Nature Sites in Selangor are at risk from development. These include Shah Alam Community Forest which is being cleared for housing, roads and a cemetery.[46] Similarly, Bukit Lagong forest reserve is at risk from quarrying and housing development.[47] Another threat is development for tourism such as has been proposed for Kuala Selangor Nature Park.[48]
As in the rest of Malaysia, Selangor has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classificationAf) bordering on a tropical monsoon climate. The climate is very much dictated by the surrounding sea and the prevailing wind system. It has high average temperature and high average rainfall.
Selangor is Malaysia's most populous state; it has the nation's biggest conurbation, the Klang Valley. Selangor's geographical position in the centre of Peninsular Malaysia contributed to the state's rapid development as Malaysia's transportation and industrial hub, creating jobs and attracting migrants from other states and from other Asian countries, especially Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and China. In recent decades, an influx of immigrants, particularly from Indonesia, has also contributed to Selangor's population.
Selangor's population has increased considerably in recent decades, due mostly to the development of the Klang Valley. The population was 1,426,250 in 1980, and by 2000 it had grown to 3,941,316,[51] and further increased to 5,482,141 in 2010.[52] As of 2015[update], its population was 5,874,100.[53]
The traditional culture of Selangor's Malay majority is also influenced by those of Bugis, Minangkabau, Mandailing, Javanese, and Banjarese ancestry; most of whom are Muslims. Javanese ancestry are dominant in west coast districts such as Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Klang, Kuala Langat and Sepang. Whereas Minangkabau descent are dominant in Gombak and Hulu Selangor.[55] Selangor's population also includes ethnic Chinese and Indian influences; those two groups form the largest minority populations. The 3,000 Mah Meri people, part of the Orang Asli—the indigenous peoples of the Peninsula—can be found on Carey Island and maintain their culture and language while adapting to the modern way of life.[56] With its advanced state of development, Selangor has more international ties through trade, business and education than other rural states.[citation needed]
Consisting of 19 chapters and 100 articles, the Constitution of the State of Selangor is the highest form of law in the state. It came into force on 26 February 1959 and was separated into two parts. Under the 1959 constitution, Selangor is a constitutional monarchy.
The Sultan of Selangor is the constitutional Ruler of Selangor. The role, powers, and duties of the Sultan are set forth in the 1959 constitution, which proclaims that the office of Sultan is vested with the executive power of the state, are the head of the religion of Islam in the state and the "fountain of honours and dignities" in the state.[60][61] This position is hereditary and can only be held by a member of Selangor's royal family. The current ruler is His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who has held this position since 2001.[62]
The State Executive Council, which along with the Sultan is Selangor's executive branch of government, was established by the constitution of 1959. It is composed of the Menteri Besar—who is its chairman and Selangor's head of government—and ten other members; all of whom are appointed by the Sultan of Selangor from members of the State Assembly. The current Menteri Besar is Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Menteri BesarAmirudin Shari.[59]
The state also has a legislative branch, called the Selangor State Assembly. It is similar to the Parliament but is limited to making laws relating to the state. Its members are elected, usually simultaneously with federal elections. The term of each state assembly member is limited to five years. The state assembly must be dissolved before or once it expires its term for a fresh election of its members.
The meaning of Gombak is unknown but it is believed that the name comes from a village in Setapak called gombak (Gombak Setia). The district was created on 1 February 1974, the same day when Kuala Lumpur was declared a Federal Territory. Gombak is one of the few districts that has many cities and all of its sub-districts are cities except Batu 20, Kampung Sungai Pusu, and Setapak. Popular tourism places include Zoo Negara, Batu Caves, and Forest Research Institute Malaysia.
Kajang, Beranang, Cheras, Hulu Langat, Hulu Semenyih, Kelanang, Tanjong 12, Tarun, Sungai Makau, Sungai Lui, Sungai Kembong Beranang, Sri nanding, Simpang Balak, Rumah Murah Sungai Lui, Kampung Sungai Tangkas, Kacau, Kampung Pasir Batu 14 Semenyih, Desa Raya, Sungai Raya, Batu 26, Batu 23.
The name Hulu Langat means the beginning of Langat River. Hulu Langat has many major cities which are mostly located in the north of the district, such as Cheras and Kajang. Popular tourism places includes Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest[66] and Gabai River.[67]
The name Hulu Selangor means the beginning of river of selangor. Hulu Selangor have a city but majority of the settlements in the district are villages. The district is still largely covered with forests. Popular tourism places include Bukit Kutu,[69] and Kerling Hot Spring.[70]
Api-api, Kuala Selangor, Bukit Melawati, Ijok, Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Sungai Buloh, Pasangan, Ulu Tinggi, Ujong Permatang, Tambak Jawa, Taman PKNS, Sungai Sembilang, Simpang 3 Ijok, Pasir Penambang, Simpang 3, Parit Mahang, Kg. Baru Hulu Tiram Buruk, Bukit Talang, Bukit Belimbing.
The word "Kuala" means the meeting between two or more river while the word Selangor comes from the name of the river located in the district, Selangor River.[75] The combination of two words generates the name Kuala Selangor.[76] Popular place to visit includes Bukit Melawati,[77]Kuala Selangor Nature Park and Kampung Kuantan Fireflies.[78]
The name Sabak Bernam comes from the story that this place is opened by six friend (Malay : Sahabat berenam).[82] Sabak Bernam main economic activity is agriculture and it is popular for its paddy fields especially in Sekinchan.[83]
The economy of Selangor is a progressive market economy whose core sectors are commerce and agriculture. Selangor is the richest state in Malaysia in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (PPP).[99] On 27 August 2005, Selangor was officially declared the first developed state in Malaysia by the state government.[100][101][102]
Commerce and industry
Commerce, industry and services are a major contributor to the economy of Selangor, accounting for over 58% of the state's GDP. Several industrial sites produce electronic goods, chemicals and vehicles including Proton and Perodua cars.[103][104][105] Imported vehicles from manufacturers including Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen and BMW Motors are also assembled in the state.[106][107][108][109][110][111][112]
The services sector is the second largest contributor to GDP, accounting for 60.1% of the state's GDP.[115]
Agriculture
Agriculture, a thriving sector of Selangor's economy, contributes 1.4% of the state's GDP.[115] Significant crops grown in the state are star fruits, papayas and bananas.[116] Selangor is not a major producer of rice; however, paddy fields exist in Kuala Selangor and Sabak Bernam.[117][better source needed] Other agricultural activities in the state include the establishment of palm oil and rubber plantation sites.[118][119]
Selangor is also well known as a haven for massage and spa lovers.[125] Since 2009, there has been an increase in businesses operating as traditional massage and reflexology parlors. While most of the businesses are genuine, some brothels masquerade as massage parlours and spas; the Royal Malaysian Police frequently raid such establishments when they receive tip-offs from the public.[126]
Transport
Selangor is linked to the rest of Malaysia by comprehensive air, road and rail connections. Public transport in the state is present but underused. Most of the major highways that run through the west coast of the peninsula, including the North–South Expressway, serve Selangor as well.[127] The high-speed roads and expressways are tolled; motorists using these roads pay the tolls using stored value cards such as Touch 'n Go and SmartTAG. Cash transactions at all tolls in Malaysia were phased out between 2015 and 2017.[128]
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the country's main airport, is located in Sepang District in the south of the state; it consists of the Main Terminal Building, Satellite terminal A and klia2.[129][130] Selangor also has the domestic Subang Airport, which is a major hub for corporate and private aviation in south-east Asia.[131][132]
Port Klang, the busiest seaport in Malaysia by sea, is located at the western tip of Selangor.[113]
Paid bus routes in Kuala Lumpur connect Klang Sentral in Klang,[133] Kompleks Perhentian Kajang in Kajang,[134] One Utama Bus Transportation Hub in Petaling Jaya,[135] and Terminal Seksyen 13 in Shah Alam to other states in Malaysia.[136] Public bus services that connects towns in Selangor are also available such as Rapid Bus. Rapid Bus, operated by Rapid KL, offered services in Klang Valley area, namely Subang Jaya, USJ, Puchong, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Klang south of the Federal Highway and Area Six, which covers Damansara, Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara and areas of Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Klang north of the Federal Highway.[137] The services was introduced on 23 September 2006 when Rapid KL decided to revamp the Klang Valley bus network. Other bus operators in Selangor includes Wawasan Sutera Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd (Klang and Banting), MARA Liner Sdn Bhd (Rawang and Hulu Selangor), Handal Ceria Sdn Bhd (Puchong, Klang south and Sepang) and The Selangor Omnibus Company Berhad (Damansara Damai and Kuala Selangor).[138]
Starting from 15 July 2015, free public bus services named Bas Smart Selangor are also available all over Selangor. It was initiate to encourage the citizens to use public transport.[139][140] On 7 November 2017, a phone application called Selangor Intelligent Transport System to check Smart Selangor buses routes and schedules was launched.[141]
The MRT Kajang line, or previously known as SBK (Sungai Buloh-Kajang) Line, is the ninth rail transit line and the second fully automated and driverless rail system in the Klang Valley area, Malaysia after the Kelana Jaya Line. It is a part of Greater KL/Klang Valley Integrated Transit System. The line is numbered 9 and coloured Green on official transit maps.
The first MRT line covers a span of 46 kilometres from Kwasa Damansara to Kajang, passing the Kuala Lumpur city centre where the alignment goes underground. The line will be serving a corridor with 1.2 million residents within the Klang Valley region from north-west to the south-east of Kuala Lumpur. The line starts from Kwasa Damansara which is located to the north-west of Kuala Lumpur, which runs on an elevated guideway to the Semantan portal, passing through Kota Damansara, Bandar Utama, Seksyen 17 and Damansara Town Centre. Kwasa Damansara provides a cross-platform interchange between the SBK line and Sungai Buloh–Serdang–Putrajaya line (SSP line). The line continues in twin-bore tunnels to the Maluri portal, passing through the city centre and the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur. Interchange to other lines is provided from Muzium Negara to Maluri with the exception of Cochrane in the Kuala Lumpur city. Beyond Taman Pertama, the line passes through Cheras and ends in Kajang via an elevated guideway. The line serves a corridor with an estimated population of 1.2 million people
The MRT Putrajaya line previously known as MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya line (MRT SSP) is the twelfth rail transit line, the fourth fully automated and driverless rail system in Klang Valley area. It is a part of the larger rail transport system in Kuala Lumpur known as Greater KL/Klang Valley Integrated Transit System. The line is numbered 12 and coloured gold on transit maps.
It is one of three planned MRT rail lines under Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project by MRT Corp. Phase 1 between Kwasa Damansara and Kampung Batu was operational on June 16, 2022. The remaining line is expected to be operational in 2023.
The approved rail alignment is 52.2 km in length, of which 13.5 km is underground. A total of 37 stations, 11 of which are underground, will be built. The line will stretch from Sungai Buloh to Putrajaya and will include densely populated areas Sri Damansara, Kepong, Batu, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Tun Razak, KLCC, Tun Razak Exchange, Kuchai Lama, Seri Kembangan, and Cyberjaya. It is expected to have a ridership of 533,000 passengers per day once completed
The expansion plan will also extend the Ampang Line to the suburb of Puchong and the south-west of Kuala Lumpur.[147] The plan also involves the construction of a new line, tentatively called the Kota Damansara-Cheras Line, which will run from Sungai Buloh in the north-western flank of the city, to Kajang.[143]
In September 2009, Syarikat Prasarana Negara began a public viewing of the details of the alignment of the Ampang Line and Kelana Jaya Line at various locations.[148] The public could provide feedback on the route during the three-month display period.[149] The extension will add 13 new stations and 17.7 kilometres (11.0 mi) of new track to the network. The new terminus will be at Putra Heights where the line will meet the Kelana Jaya Line and Ampang Line to provide a suburban interchange.[147] Construction began in mid 2013 and the project was fully operational by July 2016.[150]
Selangor water works provides water supply in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. It was run by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (SYABAS) which is owned by the state government. There are seven dams in Selangor; Sungai Selangor Dam, Sungai Tinggi Dam, Sungai Semenyih Dam, Sungai Langat Dam, Klang Gates Dam, Sungai Batu Dam, ORS Sungai Labu Dam and Tasik Subang Dam.[153]
Television in Selangor consists of seven free-to-air stations, one satellite television network and two internet television services. Three of the seven free-to-air stations are managed by Radio Televisyen Malaysia, a federal government-owned media company headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, while the four commercial stations are owned by Media Prima, an integrated media company headquartered in Bandar Utama, Selangor.[163][164] The satellite television service is owned by Astro All Asia Networks and it is available nationwide.[165] One of the Internet television services is owned by the state government of Selangor.[166]
Radio stations in Selangor are available in the FM and shortwave frequencies and are transmitted from Gunung Ulu Kali, Selangor and Kajang, Selangor.[167][168]
There are a few types of radio stations operating in Selangor, namely, commercial radio stations, local community radio stations, federal government-owned radio stations, and specialized radio stations. Commercial radio stations available in Selangor are operated by media companies such as Astro Radio, Star Media Radio Group, Media Prima, Suara Johor and BFM Media. Local community radio stations are only available in certain regions. For example, UFM (93.6) operated by Universiti Teknologi MARA is only available in Shah Alam, Klang, and Petaling Jaya, while Putra FM (90.7) operated by Universiti Putra Malaysia is only available in Serdang and Seri Kembangan. Both radio stations target university students.
The nine Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) radio networks available are Klasik FM, Muzik FM, Ai FM, Traxx FM, Minnal FM, Asyik FM, Selangor FM, KLFM, and Pahang FM. There are three specialised radio stations as well, namely IKIM.fm (91.5) operated by IKIM, Salam FM (102.5) operated by JAKIM, and Bernama Radio (93.9) operated by BERNAMA. The regions of Selangor that border other states can also receive two other Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) radio stations; Perak FM (89.6 MHz/95.6 MHz; Selangor-Perak border) and Negeri FM (92.6 MHz; Selangor-Negeri Sembilan border).
Full list of radio stations available in Selangor:
^"Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State, 2022". Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Department of Statistics, Malaysia. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State, 2022
^W. Linehan (October 1951). "Traces of a Bronze Age Culture Associated With Iron Age Implements in the Regions of Klang and the Tembeling, Malaya". Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 24 (3 (156)). Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 1–59. JSTOR41502997.
^ abcR. O. Winstedt (October 1934). "A History of Selangor". Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 12 (3 (120)). Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 1–34. JSTOR41559525.
^Patrick Pillai (2015). Yearning to Belong: Malaysia's Indian Muslims, Chitties, Portuguese Eurasians, Peranakan Chinese and Baweanese (Illustrated ed.). ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. p. 19. ISBN9789814519670.
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