Kuala Kubu Bharu

Kuala Kubu Bharu (also spelt Kuala Kubu Baru, Kuala Kubu Bahru or Kuala Kubu Baharu; abbreviated to KKB), is the district capital of Hulu Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia. It was built after the town of Kuala Kubu was found to be unfit to continue as a town due to its severe flood problem, particularly when it was completely destroyed in a flood disaster in 1883 (bharu is a Malay word meaning new). Kuala Kubu Bharu is located on the foothill of the famous Titiwangsa Mountain Range and well known as one of the vital water catchment area for the state of Selangor.

Kuala Kubu Bharu
Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Jawiكوالا كوبو بهرو
 • Chinese新古毛
Coordinates: 3°34′N 101°39′E
Country Malaysia
State Selangor
DistrictHulu Selangor
Founded1780
Established1925
Founded bySultan Ibrahim Shah
Government
 • BodyHulu Selangor District Council (MDHS)[1]
 • PresidentShukri Mohamad Hamin [2]
 • District OfficerHj Musa Ranli [3]
Area
 • Total1,756.301 km2 (678.112 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total194,387
 • Density111/km2 (290/sq mi)
Postcode
44xxx
Calling code+6-03-60
Vehicle registrationB, W
Kuala Kubu Bharu town Mosque.

Kuala Kubu Bharu is arguably the first garden township in Asia, planned by the first government town planner of British Federated Malay States (FMS), Charles Crompton Reade in 1925.[4]

History

Kuala Kubu Baru is located approximately 70 km from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur through Route 1 and is the main gateway for people heading to Fraser's Hill, which is a 45-minute drive away from KKB.

Before Kuala Kubu Baru's establishment in 1925, it started off as the town of Kuala Kubu. Well known as a mining town in the 18th century, originally located between two tributaries of the Selangor River. In its heyday, it was the second-biggest town in Selangor. It also served as a fort for Raja Mahadi and Syed Mashor when they fought against Tengku Kudin's army during the Selangor Civil War from 1867 to 1874. A fortress (kubu in the Malay language) was constructed in the area before the British colonial powers took over the town.

During the later part of the 19th century, Kuala Kubu was placed under administration of the Administrative Resident Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham, followed by JP Rodger and Edward Maxwell. At that time, Kuala Kubu was a gateway to the state of Pahang through what is today Route 55.

1883 flood and rebuilding

In February 1883, Kuala Kubu was destroyed by a great flood caused by a broken dam near the town. Many civilians were drowned and lost their home, the old town was severely flooded, and most of its facilities were damaged beyond repair. A Buddhist temple and a mosque (now known as Masjid Al-Hidayah Ampang Pechah) survived the flood. The old town has since been known as Ampang Pechah, or Broken Dam in the Malay language. The tragedy was probably known as Tragedi Kuala Kubu by local civilians.

33 people were killed, including the Magistrate and Tax Collector of Hulu Selangor during the British Malaya era, Cecil Ranking. Ranking had supposedly shot a white crocodile that was regarded as the river guardian despite being told not to do so. According to local beliefs, his act had caused the calamity to occur and all that was left of him was his hand. Ranking's hand was interred in a grave at the Kuala Kubu Planter's Club House (now demolished and replaced with Masjid Ar-Rahimiah). Since then, the old town has been known as Ampang Pechah (Broken Dam), and locals called flooding as the Kuala Kubu Tragedy.

After the tragedy, the British Federated Malay States (FMS) government built a new town near the remains of Kuala Kubu. The new town was named Kuala Kubu Bharu, with Bharu meaning "new" in the Malay language. The planning of this new site was undertaken by Charles Crompton Reade, the government town planner of the FMS in 1925 along the garden city ideas: with compact town centre encircled by a parkbelt; entrance to the centre were approached by two access designed in an angular fashion to provide a vista to the town upon approaching the centre. Kuala Kubu Bharu formally became the administrative centre of Hulu Selangor district in 1931.

This new town growth was hastened after 1931 after another major flood at the old town site. Reade's planning ideas of KKB along garden city lines has now been slowly recognized as the first garden city in the country. Another tragedy struck in 1951 when Sir Henry Gurney, the then British High Commissioner to Malaya, was assassinated by communist insurgents who ambushed his Rolls Royce along the Jalan Kuala Kubu Baru–Fraser's Hill road.

The Hulu Selangor District Council was established on 1 January 1975 to administer the district of Hulu Selangor, which included Kuala Kubu Bharu and the surrounding towns of Batang Kali and Serendah. On 15 January 1994, the Administrative Office of Hulu Selangor District Council moved to its present site at Jalan Bukit Kerajaan, replacing the former location in the former Old Market in Kuala Kubu Bharu town.

Ampang Pechah

Ampang Pechah is the original site of the Kuala Kubu located south from Kuala Kubu Bharu new town. A Buddhist temple, Guan Yin Ge Temple (觀音阁), Cecil Ranking's gravestone and Masjid Al-Hidayah Ampang Pechah are the only remaining proof of Kuala Kubu's existence.

Attractions

Historical architecture in Kuala Kubu Bharu includes traditional shophouses, spanning from the 1920s to the 1980s, as well as old fire and railway stations. A Buddhist temple (Guan Yin Ge Temple or 觀音阁) that survived the flood was refurbished in the 1980s, while Cecil Ranking's grave is located within the compound of MRSM Kuala Kubu Bharu and serves as a monument to the 1883 flood.

Tourist attractions in KKB include an art gallery and the old railway station. There are a few budget hotels, a golf course, bus terminal and KTM Komuter train station.

Other sites in Kuala Kubu Bharu include:

  • Buddhist Temple of the old town known as Guan Yin Ge Temple (觀音阁), which survived the 1883 flood but was abandoned during Malayan Emergency period, was eventually rediscovered and refurbished in 1980s by local Buddhist community and Penang Kek Lok Si Temple. The Temple was renamed as Guan Yin Gu See Temple (觀音古寺).[5]
  • Broken Dam (Ampang Pecah), the site of the old town of Kuala Kubu
  • Chiling waterfalls, 50 meters tall.
  • the site of Sir Henry Gurney's murder at Jalan Kuala Kubu Bharu–Raub (Federal Route )
  • A dam built in Kampung Pertak (15-minutes drive from the town), better known as Sungai Selangor Dam; the highest dam in Malaysia.
  • Kuala Kubu Bharu Golf course
  • The old mosque of Kuala Kubu, Masjid Al-Hidayah Ampang Pechah
  • The stone monument (1925) commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V, located in front of Masjid Ar-Rahimiah Kuala Kubu Bharu
  • The art-deco clock tower (1937), located in front of Hulu Selangor District and Land Office, on top of the hill (Bukit Kerajaan) overlooking the town of KKB. This clock tower was built to commemorate the coronation of King George VI
  • Alor Lempah, a recreational area along the Selangor River, located south of KKB, near the original site of Ampang Pechah
  • Bukit Kutu (formerly known as Treacher's Hill). Popular with hikers.
Kuala Kubu Bharu Hospital

Facilities
  • Hulu Selangor District and Land Office
  • Hulu Selangor District Police Headquarters
  • Government office at Bukit Kerajaan
  • Masjid Jamek Al-Rahimiah
  • Perpustakaan Syed Masahor (Hulu Selangor District Library)
  • Kuala Kubu Bharu post office
  • Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor (MDHS) headquarters
  • Stadium Mini Kuala Kubu Bharu
  • Hospital Kuala Kubu Bharu

Kuala Kubu Bharu has been a retreat for Malaysian writer Rehman Rashid, who completed his celebrated book, 'A Malaysian Journey'; he also devoted KKB in its Epilogue (August 31, 1992). KKB is also referred to in a song by Malaysian singer, Sudirman Arshad, JOGET KENANGAN MANIS, where he suggested Kalau Pergi Kuala Kubu Tulis Nama Atas Batu. (translate: If you go to/visit Kuala Kubu write your name on the rock/stone).

Getting there

Public transport
Kuala Kubu Bharu bus station

Kuala Kubu Bharu is easily accessible by public transport from Kuala Lumpur. KTM Komuter's northern run from the city reaches  KA14  Kuala Kubu Bharu railway station, which is stationed west of downtown KKB. The station is on KTM Komuter's 2 Port Klang Line from Port Klang, passing through Kuala Lumpur and Rawang station before terminating at Tangjung Malim. KKB station is the second last station of the Komuter line. Kuala Kubu Bharu is also located on the bus route from Tanjung Malim from Rawang.

Car

Kuala Kubu Bharu is located near the junction of federal routes 1 and 55. Route 55 runs from Kuala Kubu Bharu, passing through the hill resort of Fraser's Hill and terminates in Raub in Pahang.

The PLUS Expressway does not directly serve Kuala Kubu Bharu. One must exit PLUS at Tanjung Malim (exit 121) and enter highway and then head south.

Route 55 sometimes serves as an toll-free alternative to the Karak Highway as the gateway to East Coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan for Selangor/Klang Valley motorists.

Politics

Kuala Kubu Bharu (N6) forms its own electoral district of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly. The area is currently represented by Lee Kee Hiong of the DAP[6]

On the national level Kuala Kubu Bharu is part of the Hulu Selangor (P09) parliamentary constituency, currently represented by YB June Leow Hsiad Hui[7] of the federal ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan.

Notable people
  • Cecil Ranking, District Magistrate and Tax Collector
  • Thomas Gerrard, World War I flying ace, was born in town
  • Rehman Rashid, Writer
  • Syarif Masahor / Syed Masyhor, Warrior
  • Eja, Actress, host and model

sisters towns

Huntingdon, England

References
  1. mdhs.gov.my https://www.mdhs.gov.my/ms. Retrieved 17 June 2019. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Mohamad Hamin, Shukri. mdhs.gov.my https://www.mdhs.gov.my/ms/mdhs/pengurusan/profil-ydp. Retrieved 17 June 2019. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Ranli, Musa. "Hj". selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  4. "Kuala Kubu Bharu A Garden City Tour (Asia's First Garden Township) - Portal Rasmi Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor (MDHS)". mdhs.gov.my/. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  5. "新古毛观音古寺". Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  6. Kee Hiong, Lee. "YB". dewan.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  7. Hsuid Hui, June Leow. "YB". parlimen.gov.my. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  • Adopted from Tragedi Kuala Kubu 1883 - Buku Rekod Malaysia Edisi Kedua, Ghulam Jie M Khan
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