Balakong

BalakongorCheras Southis a township inHulu Langat District,Selangor,Malaysia.Located to the southeast ofGreater Kuala Lumpur,the township consists mainly of residential condominiums, office complexes and factories. Notable landmarks in Balakong include AEON Mall Cheras Selatan and Sin Ann Meow Temple.

History

Name

According to local Chinese residents, the name Balakong comes from the Chinese New Village, Balakong Chinese New Village. The village was drawn up and barred-wired by theBritish Empireunder theBriggs Planduring theMalayan Emergency.Another belief is that there was a river running through the village named Sungai Balak and that the village adopted the river's name. It is believed that "-Kong" in Balakong comes from the Hakka word for river ( giang ), and Balakong refers to the Hakka pronunciation of the river, Sungai Balak. It is believed that there was an upper and lower kong within the village.

Before 1990s

The village was surrounded by rubber plantation surrounding former tin mines. Most families in the village were rubber tappers. There was a primary school, a few Chinese temples, a wet market, a hilltop Lutheran church, a cowboy town street, a town hall, and a football field. The village was divided by Sungai Balak.

After 1990s

During Taming Jaya's development, locals mentioned that the developer of Taming Jaya rebuilt Balakong Road into a two-lane highway starting at The Mines and terminated at Cheras 11th Mile. A newer road was constructed that connected the village to Taman Connaught. Taming Jaya's developer also had developed a small-industry area and housing estate on a rubber plantation opposite the village. Since the early 2010's, Balakong has seen rapid commercial development in the form of Dataran C180 and Cheras Traders Square.

Education

List of schools in Balakong

Primary Schools

Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Balakong

Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Batu 11 Cheras

Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Connaught 2

Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Tun Hussein Onn

Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Tun Hussein Onn 2

Sekolah Kebangsaan Cheras Jaya

Sekolah Kebangsaan Desa Baiduri

Sekolah Kebangsaan Taming Jaya

Secondary Schools

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Damai Perdana

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Tun Hussein Onn 2

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Cheras Jaya

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Cheras Perdana

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perimbun

Politics

Balakong is represented in theDewan Rakyatof theMalaysian Parliamentby as part of theBangifederal constituency.Syahredzan JohanofDAPhas represented the constituency since2022.

On the state level,Balakongis represented in theSelangor State Legislative AssemblybyWong Siew KiofDAPsince the2018 Balakong by-electionafter the death of the incumbent assemblyman Eddie Ng Tien Chee.^[1]

On the local level, Balakong is administered by theKajang Municipal Council.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Balakong is accessible via theBalakong InterchangeofSILK ExpresswayKajang Dispersal Link Expressway,which connects theBESRAYA ExpresswaySungai Besi ExpresswaynearSeri Kembanganin the west to theGrand Saga ExpresswayCheras–Kajang Expressway(part of theNational Route 1system). The township has since developed into an integrated township with residential, commercial and industrial areas.

Public transport

The MRTKajang Line,running parallel to National Route 1, serves the locality via theBandar Tun Hussein OnnandCheras 11 Milesstations. Opened in 2017, they are part of theKlang Valley Integrated Transit System.Cheras 11 Miles station is located at Balakong Interchange of the Grand Saga toll road.