Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

Last updated

Ampang
Taman Tasik Ampang Hilir - panoramio.jpg
Ampang lake
Malaysia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ampang
Location within Malaysia
Coordinates: 3°9′38″N101°44′9″E / 3.16056°N 101.73583°E / 3.16056; 101.73583
Country Malaysia
State Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Constituency Titiwangsa
Government
   Local Authority Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur
   Mayor Mhd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz
Time zone UTC+8 (MST)
Postcode
68xxx
Dialling code +603-2, +603-4, +603-9
Police Dang Wangi
Fire Pudu

Ampang, or Ampang Hilir, is a ward and city district, in the eastern part of Kuala Lumpur (KL) in the Titiwangsa constituency. Its area in Kuala Lumpur can be identified as being along the Ampang Road and Ampang Hilir.

Contents

History

Ampang's history is closely related to the history of Kuala Lumpur. In 1857, Raja Abdullah, a representative of the Selangor Sultanate, opened up the Klang Valley for tin mining. [1] 87 Chinese miners from Lukut went up the river Klang and landed at Kuala Lumpur, then walked for a few miles through a jungle path to Ampang and began prospecting in the Ampang area. However, within a month 69 of the 87 miners had died due to the malarial conditions of the area, and Raja Abdullah sent another 150 men to continue the work. Eventually the death rate dropped, and the first tin was exported in 1859. The success of tin mining at Ampang led to the development of Kuala Lumpur. [2] The name "Ampang" means "dam" in Malay and the place was named in reference to the miners' dams. [3]

Kuala Lumpur of which Ampang Hilir is part of was made capital of Selangor in 1880, and the capital of Malaysia in 1963.

In 1974, following the declaration of Kuala Lumpur as a Federal Territory, the once-larger Ampang district was divided, with the western part going to the Federal Territory, and the eastern part remaining in Selangor, later to become Ampang Jaya. The district of Cheras was also similarly partitioned in 1974.

Architecture

Pre-war buildings on Ampang Road. Only one of the buildings pictured still retains the original windows. Eng Choon Assembly Hall, Jalan Ampang, central Kuala Lumpur.jpg
Pre-war buildings on Ampang Road. Only one of the buildings pictured still retains the original windows.

There are many pre-war buildings along Ampang Road. The Eng Choon Assembly Hall on Ampang Road for example was built in 1930. Its inner structure was rebuilt to support a taller building within. Eu Tong Sen, a leading businessman in the early 1900s, built a villa in 1935 on Ampang Road. [4] The same location was used by the British government as a military base. Over time it was renovated and reopened as the National Art Gallery on 27 August 1958 [5] [6] and much later refurbished to become the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC). [7] Eu Tong Sen also owned a tin mine in Ampang which was the first to install an electricity generator in 1914. [8]

Founded in March 1896, the Selangor Turf Club's former horse racing venue was one of the most popular landmarks in Ampang until it was demolished on 1 March 1997 to make way for the Petronas Twin Towers project. [9] [10]

Many pre-war and British colonial buildings were extensively renovated and modernised. Lack of clear guidelines for architectural conservation in the city means unregulated alterations of pre-war buildings are common. [11]

Geography

The busy Ampang Road at night leading straight to the Petronas Twin Towers. Jalan ampang.jpg
The busy Ampang Road at night leading straight to the Petronas Twin Towers.

At 3°9′38″N101°44′9″E / 3.16056°N 101.73583°E / 3.16056; 101.73583 , Ampang Hilir is situated to the east of the Kuala Lumpur city centre, bordering KLCC (Petronas Towers) and Bukit Bintang to the west, Dato' Keramat to the north, Ampang Jaya and Pandan Jaya (Selangor) to the east, and Maluri to the south.

Ampang has several large lakes due to its tin mining history.

Transportation

Car

Ampang Road (from Leboh Ampang in KL to the main road in front of Ampang LRT station) is the main road to Ampang Jaya and is easily accessible from Jalan Tun Razak or Jalan Ulu Kelang from the Hulu Kelang or Setapak direction. It is also accessible from Cheras through Jalan Shamelin, from Jalan Tun Razak through Jalan Kampung Pandan via Taman Cempaka, from Kampung Pandan through Jalan Kampung Pandan Dalam via Taman Nirwana, from the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 via Pandan Indah & Taman Kencana and from Hulu Langat town through the mountain pass. Wangsa Maju, Setapak, central Kuala Lumpur, Ampang Park and Salak South surround Ampang.

Public transportation

Ampang Park LRT station  KJ9  is the principal metro/rail station in Ampang Hilir. It is also a major bus node for rapidKL buses (routes 300, 302, 303, 402, GO KL Green) Other nearby stations are LRT KLCC  KJ10  and MRT TRX  SBK20 .

Embassies

Many embassies are located in the Ampang area, and still remain there despite the Malaysian government's relocation to the new administrative centre in Putrajaya. The embassies are located along Ampang Road, including those of the United Kingdom, France, China, Russian Federation, Indonesia, Ireland and Thailand. The Singapore High Commission and the US embassy are also located near Ampang at the corner of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan U Thant.

Art and culture

The National Art Gallery is in the direction of Kuala Lumpur's downtown area. It displays creative and contemporary art pieces and sculptures. Located just next to the National Art Gallery is the Istana Budaya, Malaysia's cultural centre where performances and theatres are held.

Other attractions

Ampang Hilir is notable for being home to the Ampang Park Shopping Complex, Malaysia's first shopping complex, which was demolished in 2018 to make way for the Sungai Buloh-Putrajaya metro line.

See also

Sister cities

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Razak Hussein</span> Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1970 to 1976

Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Dato' Haji Hussein was a Malaysian lawyer and politician who served as the second prime minister of Malaysia from 1970 until his death in 1976. He also served as the first deputy prime minister of Malaysia from 1957 to 1970. He is referred to as the Father of Development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheras, Kuala Lumpur</span> Suburb and Mukim in Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Cheras is a suburban and a district, straddling both the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Hulu Langat District in the state of Selangor, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Lumpur City Centre</span> Central business district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) is a multipurpose development area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. KLCC refers to the area within and surrounding the KLCC Park but the term has also been widely used by buildings nearby to the vicinity.

Bandar Tun Razak is a township and parliamentary constituency in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is named after the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur</span> Area of central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kampung Baru or Kampong Bharu is a Malay enclave in central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One of the most valuable tracts of land in the capital, it has been estimated to be worth up to US$1.4 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puchong</span> Town in Selangor, Malaysia

Puchong is a major town and a parliamentary constituency in the Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wangsa Maju</span> Township in Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Wangsa Maju is a township and a constituency in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This area is surrounded by Setapak, Taman Melati and Gombak district in Selangor. Wangsa Maju is one of the major suburbs in Kuala Lumpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Setapak</span>

Setapak is a town and mukim straddling both norteastern Kuala Lumpur and Gombak District of Selangor, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maluri</span>

Maluri is a suburb in the constituency of Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, situated near the border of the constituency of Titiwangsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kampung Datuk Keramat</span>

Kampung Datuk Keramat or more commonly referred to as Keramat among the locals is a large zone in the Titiwangsa constituency, falling within the boundary of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is located northeast of downtown Kuala Lumpur and borders the district of Ampang in Selangor. The Klang River runs roughly from northeast to the west and acts as a natural divider of Keramat and Ampang.

Jalan Ampang or Ampang Road is a major road in the Klang Valley region, Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Built in the 1880s, it is one of the oldest roads in the Klang Valley. It is a main road to Ampang Jaya and is easily accessible from Jalan Tun Razak or Jalan Ulu Klang from the Hulu Kelang or Setapak direction. It is also accessible from Cheras through Jalan Shamelin, from Jalan Tun Razak through Jalan Kampung Pandan via Taman Cempaka, from Kampung Pandan through Jalan Kampung Pandan Dalam via Taman Nirwana, from the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 via Pandan Indah and Taman Kencana and from Hulu Langat town through the mountain pass. Wangsa Maju, Setapak, central Kuala Lumpur, Ampang Park and Salak South surround Ampang. Jalan Ampang became the backbone of the road system linking Ampang to Kuala Lumpur before being surpassed by the Ampang–Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH) in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ampang Jaya</span> Town in Selangor, Malaysia

Ampang Jaya, more commonly known as just Ampang, is a town, a mukim and a parliamentary constituency straddling parts of the Hulu Langat District and Gombak District, in eastern Selangor, Malaysia. It is located just outside the eastern border of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapid Bus</span> Malaysian bus business

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd is the largest bus operator in Malaysia operating mainly in urban areas of Klang Valley, Penang & Kuantan. As of February 2023, Rapid KL service brands unit of Rapid Bus, has operates 113 normal routes and also 69 MRT Feeder Bus routes, along with 8 Nadiputra routes in Putrajaya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandan Jaya LRT station</span> Railway station in Ampang Jaya, Malaysia

Pandan Jaya LRT station is a Malaysian low-rise rapid transit station situated near and named after Pandan Jaya, in Ampang Jaya, Selangor. The station is part of the Ampang Line. The station was opened on December 16, 1996, as part of the first phase of the STAR system's opening, alongside 13 adjoining stations along the Sultan Ismail-Ampang route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandan Indah LRT station</span> Malaysian low-rise rapid transit station

Pandan Indah LRT station is a Malaysian low-rise light rapid transit (LRT) station situated near and named after Pandan Indah, in Ampang Jaya, Selangor. The station of the LRT Ampang Line, was opened on December 16, 1996, as part of the first phase of the STAR system's operations, alongside 13 adjoining stations along the Sultan Ismail-Ampang route.

Cempaka LRT station is a Malaysian low-rise rapid transit station situated near and named after the nearby Taman Cempaka, in Ampang Jaya, Selangor. The station is part of the Ampang Line, and was opened on December 16, 1996, as part of the first phase of the STAR system's opening, alongside 13 adjoining stations along the Sultan Ismail-Ampang route.

Cahaya LRT station is a Malaysian low-rise rapid transit station situated near and named after the nearby Taman Cahaya (Malay; English: Cahaya Estate, in Ampang Jaya, Selangor. The station is part of the Ampang Line, and was opened on December 16, 1996, as part of the first phase of the STAR system's opening, alongside 13 adjoining stations along the Sultan Ismail-Ampang route.

Gombak is a locality in the mukim of Setapak in the coterminous Gombak District, Selangor, Malaysia.

The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to Selangor.

References

  1. Ho Kay Tat (27 October 1986), "Not enough visitors to the Gedung", New Straits Times Malaysia, p. 5
  2. J.M. Gullick (1955). "Kuala Lumpur 1880–1895" (PDF). Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 24 (4): 10–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2015.
  3. J.M. Gullick (1983). The Story of Kuala Lumpur, 1857–1939. Eastern Universities Press (M). pp. 2–4. ISBN   978-9679080285.
  4. John Kam (31 July 1980), "What a magnificent heritage", New Straits Times Malaysia, p. 16
  5. Lam Seng Fatt (7 July 1985), "Art's big brother", Sundate, New Sunday Times Malaysia, p. 1
  6. "MaTiC History". Malaysia Tourism Centre. Archived from the original on 21 March 2003. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  7. Ooi Kok Chuen (11 December 1994), "Documenting the works of artists", New Sunday Times Malaysia, pp. 14–15
  8. D. Devika Bai (4 September 1995), "Where the Old World still beckons", New Straits Times, p. 1
  9. "Historic turf club reduced to rubble", New Straits Times Malaysia, pp. City Extra, 1 March 1993
  10. Annie Frieda Cruez (26 August 1992), "Celebrating with a tinge of sadness", New Straits Times Malaysia, p. 6
  11. "Historical bungalow reduced to rubble", New Straits Times Malaysia, p. 2, 24 May 1991