| Kampung Padang Balang | |
| Native Name: | Malay: کمڤــــــوڠ ڤادڠ بالڠ |
| Official Name: |
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| Settlement Type: | Malay Traditional Village in |
| Motto: | Tuah Sakato |
| Translit Lang1: | Other |
| Translit Lang1 Type1: | Arab |
| Translit Lang1 Info1: | Malay: ٱلقَــــرْيَةٌ فَـــــدَنْج بَلَــــنْج |
| Translit Lang1 Type2: | Chinese |
| Translit Lang1 Info2: | 甘榜巴当峇浪 |
| Translit Lang1 Type3: | Tamil |
| Translit Lang1 Info3: | பாடங் பாலாங் |
| Pushpin Map: |
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| Pushpin Label Position: | center |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 330 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | City |
| Subdivision Type3: | Metropolis |
| Subdivision Type4: | District |
| Subdivision Name4: | Setapak |
| Subdivision Type5: | Constituency |
| Subdivision Name5: | Wangsa Maju |
| Subdivision Type6: | Local Authority |
| Subdivision Name6: | Kuala Lumpur City Hall |
| Government Type: | Constitutional Democracy |
| Leader Title: | Regent |
| Leader Name: | Sultan Ibrahim |
| Leader Title1: | Premier |
| Leader Name1: | Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim |
| Leader Title2: | Minister |
| Leader Name2: | Dr Zaliha Mustafa |
| Leader Title3: | Mayor |
| Leader Name3: | Mayor Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh |
| Leader Title4: | Headman |
| Leader Name4: | Vacant |
| Established Title: | Establishment |
| Established Date: | 1830 |
| Established Title1: | Founder |
| Established Date1: | Datuk Ampat Balang Batang Kapas |
| Established Title2: | Original settlers |
| Established Date2: | Batang Kapas, Payakumbuh, Kuantan, Biduanda Temuan |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | MST |
| Utc Offset1: | +8 |
| Coordinates: | 3.2127°N 101.6983°W |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode |
| Postal Code: | 51100 Kuala Lumpur |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Police |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Sentul District Police Headquarters |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Fire |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | South Gombak Fire and Rescue Station |
Kampung Padang Balang or Padang Balang is the oldest surviving traditional village in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is circumferenced by Gombak Road, Jalan Kampung Bandar Dalam, Duta–Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE), Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 and Gombak River.
The first settler in Padang Balang was Datuk Balang, a Minang Datuk Ampat, who around 1820 to 1830 led a group of Batang Kapas refugee from Minangkabau, fleeing Dutch Invasion. They first landed at Sungai Ujong. Around the late 1820s Datuk Balang and his Batang Kapas followers, as well as a number of Payakumbuh peoples from Negeri Sembilan, move north to Kelang to open a new settlement at the northern Ulu Kelang (Kuala Lumpur), now known as Gombak. Padang Balang became the first settlement in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur opened in 1830. Datuk Balang was followed by the other group led by Datuk Sati, Datuk Samang and Datuk Jahan who also belong to Batang Kapas tribe. Soon the Batang Kapas groups were joined by tribe from the other part of Minangkabau especially the Kuantan peoples. [1]
The new settlement was named Padang Balang after Datuk Balang. Padang means even 'field' referring to the geography of Padang Balang that is flat and wide earth surrounded by Titiwangsa mountain. Balang in Datuk Balang name come from Minang nickname for tiger means 'stripe'. Balang was also the ancient Malay honorific title for the general of the army or nobleman.
Formerly, Padang Balang was a collection of many Minangkabau villages at Gombak.[2] In the past, it was also known as Segambut (from Minang's dialect of Sri Rambut). However, Segambut today has no relation to the original Segambut at Padang Balang. Padang Balang territory also used to include what are now the neighboring villages of Kampung Kerdas, Kampung Sungai Mulia, Kampung Changkat, Kampung Lembah Melewar, Taman Melewar, Greenwood, Kampung Chubadak, Kampung Lee Kong Chian, Taman Pelangi, Kampung Batu Muda and Kampung Bandar Dalam. Due to the rapid growth of population post the 'Ages of Keris and Pemuras', community at the outskirt breakaway to form smaller unit to smooth out administration affair and increase village security.
The remainder of villages that make up the current Kampung Padang Balang today are Kampung Padang Balang (around Masjid Saidina Ali KW and Surau Osmaniyah), Kampung Padang Balang Hulu (around Surau Jumaeah), Kampung Padang Balang Hilir (around Masjid Jamek Padang Balang) and Kampung Paya Rumput (at the current night market and Tahfiz Darul Furqan).
| No | Name | Year | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Datuk Ampat Balang | 1830-1851 | Founding Father of Padang Balang | |
| 2 | Datuk Ampat Sati | 1852-1863 | Founding Father of Padang Balang | |
| 3 | Datuk Ampat Samang | 1863-1867 | Founding Father of Padang Balang | |
| 4 | Datuk Ampat Jahan | 1868-1870 | Founding Father of Padang Balang | |
| 5 | Onyang Abdul Malik | 1870-1880 | ||
| 6 | Datuk Ampat Binok bin Datuk Ampat Balang | 1880-1990 | Son of Datuk Ampat Balang | |
| 7 | Datuk Ampat Fakeh Pasisia | 1890 | ||
| 8 | Datuk Alam Merah Bukit Kuantan | 1890-1901 | ||
| 9 | Datuk Ampat Salleh Pasaman | 1901-1903 | ||
| 10 | Datuk Ampat Duamin | 1903-1930 | ||
| 11 | Datuk Ampat Abdullah | 1930-1961 | During Abdullah tenureship, British government who just return right after Japan Imperial Army surrendered and communist insurgency began passed law in 1945, requiring all villages in Kuala Lumpur to appoint a headsman. Abdullah become the first headsman registered in Kuala Lumpur City Hall record. | |
| 12 | Datuk Ampat Abdul Manaf bin Binok | 1961-2000 | Son of Datuk Ampat Binok. During Abdul Manaf tenureship, Kuala Lumpur was sold to the Federal Government to become the Capital City. Headsman office was abolished by the City Hall to erase the Selangor and Malay historical trace from Kuala Lumpur, thus Abdul Manaf become the last Datuk Ampat of Padang Balang. | |
| - | Interregnum | 2000-2018 | After the demise of Abdul Manaf, the City Hall issued Draf Kuala Lumpur 2020. In the plan, Padang Balang was labelled as squatters which upset the villagers. The chairman of Masjid Saidina Ali K.A.W Hj. Zainal Abidin b. Hj. Ma’as take the lead to resist the City Hall plan. | |
| 13 | Haji Rosden Bin Haji Mohd Yassin | 2018-2020 | Political appointment post the victory of Pakatan Harapan in General Election to reintroduce the headsman office in Kampung Padang Balang. The office was abolished again when the Pakatan Harapan government was toppled less than two years from its formation. |
Malay makes up the majority of the Padang Balang population. A third of them are descendants of the early Minangkabau and native born-Selangor settlers while most of the rest are settlers from other Malay states like Kedah, Pahang, Johor, Terengganu, Perak and Kelantan (as well as their Kuala Lumpur-born descendants), whilst the other remaining Malays are descendants of later immigrants from other parts of Sumatra island as well as the island of Java, both in present-day Indonesia (who also comprise a portion of the local Malay populace).
In addition, There are also a few Pakistani immigrants and Chinese settlers of Hakka and Cantonese descent.[4]
The Padang Balang peoples are followers of Islam.[4]
Although never gazetted as a tourist spot, its status as the oldest surviving traditional village in Kuala Lumpur has attracted many foreign tourists to Padang Balang. Among in the list is the Joker actor and 30 Second to Mars vocalist, Jared Leto.[5] [6]
Over 90% of the Padang Balang land has agricultural status. Although most of the orchard has been chopped down to give way to residential, fruit trees like durian, rambutan, and mangosteen still can be found in abundance. Many agricultural activities also take place along the Gombak rivers.
Due to its proximity to Titiwangsa Mountains, Padang Balang is a favourite location for birdwatchers. In addition to many local birds like Pegar, Wak-Wak, Puchong, Ayam-Ayam, Bangau, But-But, Burungantu (Owl), Enggang (Hornbill), honey bird, hummingbirds, etc., Padang Balang also hosts various foreign birds like flamingos and pelicans from National Zoo of Malaysia (approximately 15 km from the village).[7]
Padang Balang is known as the center for Islamic studies, as many religious schools and institutions were built within its territories.[18] The village also served as headquarter of several Islamic movements, for example Markaz Darul Tarbiyah. Many conservative religious political leaders from Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and National Trust Party (AMANAH) also regularly meet at Padang Balang. Among them are the late senior journalist Haji Subky Abdul Latif, former Minister of Federal Territories, Khalid Abdul Samad and former Deputy Minister of Law, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin[19] Therefore, the village is dubbed as Serambi Makkah (The verandah of Makkah) of Kuala Lumpur.
Previously, Padang Balang practiced Adat Papatih, a Minangkabau traditional system similar to the system in West Sumatra and Negeri Sembilan.[27] The village was governed by Ampat Basa, consisted of elders and religious leader, selected from among the villagers. Ampat Basa was led by headman, known as Datuk Ampat, and assisted by the other elders of Ampat Basa. However, when Kuala Lumpur was sold to the federal government to be made the capital city, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall abolished the headman office, to erase the traditional system completely. Abdul Manaf bin Binok, the grandson of Datuk Balang who holds the office of Datuk Ampat the time, thus become the last headman of Padang Balang. Abdul Manaf still hold the office until his demise in 2000, making him also the last headman in Kuala Lumpur. The void in leadership brought Padang Balang into period of disunity. Some part of Padang Balang seceded to form new villages like the case of Kampung Lembah Melewar and Kampung Bandar Dalam tambahan. Disparation was made worse by political rivalry between UMNO and PAS. The Pakatan Harapan government who won the election in 2018, reintroduced the Headman office, but the appointment was based on political appointment, and not democratically selected among the Waris as per Adat Pepatih. Padang Balang again, went into interregnum when the Pakatan harapan government was toppled in 2020.
In 2010, the peoples of Padang Balang, Bandar Dalam and its alliances formed Malay Traditional Villages Community Action Front (Malay: Barisan Bertindak Penduduk Perkampungan Tradisi Melayu) to resist the unpopular publication of Kuala Lumpur 2020 draft by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. The resistance coalition was led by the then Chairman of Masjid Saidina Ali K.A.W Hj. Zainal Abidin b. Hj. Ma’as and the self-appointed Headman of Kampung Bandar Dalam, Hj. Ishak b. Surin. They were joined by the community of its former alliances inside Kuala Lumpur from Kampung Sungai Merali, Kampung Chubadak, Kampung Sungai Mulia.[28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]
The City Hall Mayor at that time was Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail from Kedah, while the Minister of Federal Territories was Senator Raja Nong Chick from Perak, both are from outside Kuala Lumpur or Selangor.[34] The fight continues and succeeded in influencing political leaders from all sides. This move however only delayed the finalization of Kuala Lumpur Plan 2020 draft to 2012. Despite this, he Barisan Nasional government who ruled that time refuse to publish the final plan out of fear of losing their political support. Less than two years from its expiry date, in November 2018, the newly appointed Minister of Federal Territories, Khalid Abdul Samad from Pakatan Harapan government officially published the Kuala Lumpur Plan 2020. This motive, however, is not for implementation but to give way to the preparation for the new draft for Kuala Lumpur Plan 2040.
In Kuala Lumpur Structural Plan 2040 (PSKL2040), Padang Balang is recognized as one of the nine traditional village in Kuala Lumpur. The other villages also recognized in this plan is Kampung Sungai Mulia, Kampung Sungai Merali, Kampung Banda Dalam, Kampung Chubadak Hulu, Kampung Puah, Kampung Pandan Melayu, Kampung Pandan India and Kampung Pasir Baru.[35]