Setapak is a mukim in Gombak District, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Formerly a tin-mining and rubber estate area, in Malay tapak means 'step' so Setapak means 'one step', probably referring to the close proximity of the suburb to Kuala Lumpur. Another explanation of the origin of its name traces to its historical roots.^{[citation needed]}

History

The earliest inhabitants of Setapak were the aborigines (orang asli), and the Minangkabaus.^[1] On 12 April 1884 Frank Swettenham, the British Resident of Selangor pleaded for the re-appointment of Batu Tapak as the headman of the aborigines living in that area, and hence the name Setapak, in honour of the headman.

Geographical definition

The mukim (commune/subdistrict) of Setapak is situated north-east of Kuala Lumpur in the constituency of Gombak and has an area of 62 square miles (160 km²). The northern limit of Setapak is Gunung Bunga Buah; its north-eastern limit is Genting Sempah on the Pahang border; to the east is Bukit Dinding and to the south-east is the Rifle range. The state constituency of Gombak Setia roughly corresponds to the boundaries of the mukim of Setapak; before 1974 it also includes what is today the parliamentary constituencies of Wangsa Maju and Setiawangsa.

The Gombak River with its source in Gunung Bunga Buah, is the main river flowing through the mukim. Setapak consists of Gombak town, Kampung Padang Balang, Kampung Baru Air Panas and a number of other villages.^[2]

Today, what is regarded as 'Setapak' consists of the township of Wangsa Maju, as well as the first few kilometres of Jalan Pahang and some surrounding areas. The Titiwangsa Recreational Park is located just south of Setapak. Loke Yew Hill is a place of major historical interest in this town. Named after the Chinese philanthropist, this hill contains ruins of a fortress surrounding the dilapidated villa which belonged to the Loke family. It is also the burial ground for the Loke family.

In 1961 the Zoological society was formed, and the National Zoo of Malaysia (Zoo Negara) in Setapak was officially opened by the Prime Minister on 16 November 1963. The Zoo is situated about 13 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, onroute to Ulu Klang and situated on a 42-acre (17 ha) semi-virgin jungle with a reserve of 100 acres (40 ha) for further development.

Member of Parliament/ State Assembly

Education

• Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARUC)
• Institute CECE
• VTAR Institute
• Al Diwan International Centre for Teaching Arabic (at Taman Melati Utama)
• Setapak High School
• Mun Yee Primary School
• Chong Hwa Primary School
• Chiao Nan Primary School
• Sekolah Sri Utama

Public transportation

The Kelana Jaya Line has five LRT stations in the Setapak region -  KJ1  Gombak LRT station,  KJ2  Taman Melati LRT station,  KJ3  Wangsa Maju LRT station,  KJ4  Sri Rampai LRT station and the  KJ5  Setiawangsa LRT station.

In the future, the whole area will be served by an elevated station on the MRT Circle Line under the name of  CC12  Setapak MRT station.

Kumpool, which is a Vanpool ride-sharing service to Wangsa Maju LRT Station also available here.

Governmental Institutions

• Puspakom Kuala Lumpur
• JPJ Wilayah Persekutuan
• Department of Immigration (Malaysia) Wangsa Maju Branch

Attractions

• The P. Ramlee Memorial is located at Taman P. Ramlee (formerly Taman Forlong)
• Royal Selangor Pewter factory
• The Ayer Panas Hot Springs is located in Ayer Panas, Setapak
• Masjid Zaid bin Haritsah, Kampung Sungai Mulia - Beautiful roadside mosque
• Padang Balang Minangkabau Traditional Village
• Surau Tinggi Kampung Bandar Dalam - Old traditional Malay mosque
• Choo Sian Temple (聚仙廟) - elaborate and beautiful Chinese temple
• Setapak Central (formerly KL Festival City)

Incidents

Setapak has been categorised as a hot spot for drug activities in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian authorities had in the past caught several drug abusers in the suburb.^[3][4]

A lecturer from Palestine was shot dead in Setapak in front of Idaman Puteri Condominium on 21 April 2018 at 6am.^[5] The attack was widely condemned by Malaysians.