Selangor
Template:Subdivisions of Malaysia
Selangor (Jawi script: سلاڠور; also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity"; 雪兰莪) is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west. It completely surrounds the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
The state is a hereditary constitutional monarchy, of which the reigning Sultan (since 2001) is Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. Since March 10, 2008, the Menteri Besar (chief executive of the state government) has been Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, of the People's Justice Party (PKR) portion of Pakatan Rakyat. The current leader of the opposition in the Selangor State Assembly is Dato' Seri Dr. Mohamed Khir Toyo, who is part of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party in Barisan Nasional. He was also the 13th Menteri Besar of Selangor.
The state capital is Shah Alam, the first city in Selangor, and the royal capital is Klang. Another major urban centre is Petaling Jaya which was awarded city status on June 20, 2006. Selangor is one of only two Malaysian states with more than one city; the other is Sarawak.
Selangor is the richest state in Malaysia in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) and second richest behind Penang in terms of GDP per capita (PPP) at USD 11,762[1]. On 27 August 2005, Selangor was officially declared the first developed state in Malaysia by the then state government[2].
Etymology
The origin of the name Selangor is lost in history, although some sources claim the name to have come from the Malay word selangau, 'a large fly', most probably due to the abundance of flies in the marshes along the Selangor River in the state's northwest. A more plausible theory claims the state's name is derived from the term Selang Ur meaning "land of the straits" (selang means "straits" in the Malay language and ur means "land" in Tamil.)
History
In the 15th century, Selangor was ruled by the Sultanate of Malacca. After the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese in 1511, the area became hotly disputed between the Portuguese, Johor, Aceh and Siam. When the Dutch displaced the Portuguese from Malacca in 1641, they brought in Muslim Bugis mercenaries from Sulawesi. They established the present hereditary sultanate in 1740. In many districts, Bugis settlers displaced the Minangkabau settlers from Sumatra, who had established themselves in Selangor some 100 years previously.
In the 19th century, the economy boomed due to the exploitation of huge tin reserves and the growing importance of rubber. This attracted a large influx of Chinese migrant laborers. Chinese secret clan societies, allied with Selangor chiefs, fought for control of the tin mines. The increasing violence created social and economic havoc. It also opened a window of opportunity for the British government, which forced the Sultan of Selangor to accept a British Resident in 1874. Under the stability imposed by the British, Selangor again prospered. In 1896, largely through the coordination of the Resident Frank Swettenham, Selangor united with Negri Sembilan, Perak and Pahang to form the Federated Malay States, with its capital in Kuala Lumpur.
The Federated Malay States evolved into the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. In 1970, Selangor relinquished the city of Kuala Lumpur to the federal government. Putrajaya also became a federal territory in 2002.
Selangor is currently the richest, most industrialized and most urbanized of all Malaysian states[citation needed]. As Menteri Besar, Mohamed Khir Toyo declared Selangor a developed state on 27 August 2005.
Population and demographics
Selangor is Malaysia's most populous state with 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. This created jobs and attracted migrants from other states as well as overseas, especially from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and China. In recent decades, the influx of illegal immigrants, particularly from Indonesia, has further contributed to Selangor's population.
Selangor has a population of around 5 million (2008 estimate; the state's ethnic composition consisted of Malays 52.9%, Chinese Malaysians 27.8%, Indian Malaysians 13.3%, and other ethnic groups 6%.[3] Selangor's main population centres are Petaling Jaya (2007 est. pop. 550,000); Shah Alam (500,000); Klang (995,000); and Subang Jaya-UEP Subang Jaya (400,000).
The traditional culture of Selangor's Malay majority is influenced by those of Bugis, Johor, Minangkabau, Mandailing and Javanese ancestry, most of whom are Muslim. Selangor's population also has ethnic Chinese and Indian influences; those two groups have the larger minority populations. With its state of development, Selangor is more closely tied to the Western world through trade, business and education than other, more rural states.[citation needed].
Politics
Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Selangor came into force on the 26 of February 1959. The constitution is separated into two parts. Under the 1959 constitution, Selangor is a constitutional monarchy.
Selangor Sultanate
The Sultan of Selangor is the constitutional Ruler of Selangor. The role, powers and duties of the Sultan are set forth in the constitution of 1959. The constitution proclaims that the office of Sultan is vested with the executive power of the state, is the head of the religion of Islam in the state and the "fountain of honours and dignities" in the state.
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.
State Executive Council
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. The Menteri Besar and other members of the council are appointed by the Sultan of Selangor from members of the State Assembly. The current Menteri Besar is Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR, or People's Justice Party) who succeeded UMNO's Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr. Khir Toyo.
State Assembly
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 in elections which are usually held 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 to elect its members.
State Government Agencies
|
|
Administration
List of districts
Selangor is divided into 9 administrative districts.
- Gombak
- Hulu Langat
- Hulu Selangor
- Klang, along with Port Klang (formerly known as Port Swettenham)
- Kuala Langat
- Kuala Selangor
- Petaling, contains the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (formerly Subang International Airport)
- Sabak Bernam
- Sepang, contains the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
List of local authorities
There are 12 local authorities in Selangor, namely:
- Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor (MDHS)
- Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ)
- Majlis Daerah Sabak Bernam (MDSB)
- Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKj)
- Majlis Daerah Kuala Selangor (MDKS)
- Majlis Perbandaran Klang (MPK)
- Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS)
- Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA)
- Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ)
- Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ)
- Majlis Perbandaran Sepang (MPSpg)
- Majlis Daerah Kuala Langat (MDKL)
Cuisine
The traditional Malay cuisine in Selangor has received influences from Johor, Bugis, Jawa and Minangkabau.
Rojak Klang, Lontong Klang and Mee Bandung are famous cuisines in Klang and Shah Alam (Note: Mee Bandung is also touted to have originated from Johor). Other famous dishes include Mee Jawa (which is similar to Mee Rebus in Johor), Satay Kajang, Laksa Selangor, Soto (Soto Nasi Himpit and Mee Soto), Sambal Tahun, Bakso, Ketam Darul Ehsan, Ikan Masak Asam Pedas, Ayam Masak Kicap and Sayur Masak Rebung.
Klang bak kut teh is famous among the Chinese population. It is a herbal pork soup which is eaten with white rice. Coastal towns such as Klang and Kuala Selangor are also famed for seafood.
Image gallery
-
Batu Caves
-
Silver Leaf Monkey in Bukiit Malawati
-
Royal Selangor Pewter
-
Commonwealth Forest Park
-
Kanching Rainforest Waterfall
-
Pasar Borong Selayang
-
Pulau Ketam
-
Forest Reserch Institute of Malaysia (FRIM)
References
- ^ "Selangor Maju Criteria". Bernama. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ "Najib: Selangor's Development Due To Leadership And Cooperation". Bernama. August 26, 2005. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ SSIC - from YB Dato' Tang See Hang - Selangor State Executive Councillor.