Selangor (Jawi: سلنجور, population 4.1 million) 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, Negri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west. It totally surrounds the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

The name Selangor is said to come from the Malay word selangau, 'a fly' (Musca vicina), most probably due to the abundance of flies in the marshes along the Selangor River in the state's north-west.

Selangor is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan ("Abode of Sincerity").

The state is a hereditary constitutional monarchy and has been ruled since 2001 by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. The Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) is currently Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir bin Toyo, of the Barisan Nasional coalition, who is a dentist.

Selangor is Malaysia's most populous state, largely thanks to the rapid economic growth taking place there, mostly propelled by industry, and the growth of the Kuala Lumpur conurbation (known as the Klang Valley, due to its sprawl within the floodplain of Klang River).

The capital city is Shah Alam and the royal capital is Klang. A third major city is Petaling Jaya.

On 27 August 2005, Selangor was officially declared the first developed state in Malaysia. Selangor is also the richest state in Malaysia.

The population in the year 2000 was 3,947,527. Selangor's ethnic composition in 1995 was: Malay (1,270,170 or 44%), Chinese (852,425 or 35%), Indian (426,213 or 18%), Other (273,179).

History

In the 15th century, Selangor was ruled by Melaka. After the fall of Melaka to the Portuguese in 1511, the area became hotly disputed between the Portuguese, Johor, Aceh and Siam. After the Dutch displaced the Portuguese from Melaka, they brought in Bugis mercenaries from Sulawesi, (who established the current 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 migrants. Chinese secret clan societies, allied with Selangor chiefs fought for control of the tin mines, and the increasing violence created social and economic havoc. It also opened a window of opportunity for the British, who forced the Sultan of Selangor to accept a British Resident at his capital of Klang 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 the Selangor city of Kuala Lumpur. The Federated Malay States evolved into the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. In 1974, Selangor relinquished the city of Kuala Lumpur to the federal government. Putrajaya also became a federal territory in the mid-1990s.

Selangor currently is the richest, most industrialized and most urbanized of all the Malaysian states. The Menteri Besar of Selangor declared the Selangor as a developed state in 2005.

Politics

The constitutional head of Selangor is the Sultan, which is a largely ceremonial role. This position is hereditary and can only be held by a member of Selangor's royal family. The current Sultan is Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who has been in this position since 2001.

The head of government is the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister), who heads the state's executive branch of government, the state executive council or more commonly known in its shortened form as 'exco'. The current Menteri Besar is Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir bin Toyo, of the Barisan Nasional coalition.

The state also has a legislative branch, called the 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.

Administration

List of districts

• Klang
• Petaling - with Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
• Sepang - with Kuala Lumpur International Airport
• Kuala Selangor
• Sabak Bernam
• Ampang Jaya - old name Hulu Langat
• Kuala Langat
• Hulu Selangor
• Gombak

List of local authorities

• Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor
• Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ)
• Majlis Daeran Sabak Bernam
• Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKj)
• Majlis Daerah Kuala Selangor
• 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
• Majlis Daerah Kuala Langat

Cities and major towns

• Shah Alam (state capital)
• Petaling Jaya
• Cyberjaya
• Klang
• Kajang
• Kuala Selangor
• Bangi
• Rawang
• Subang Jaya
• UEP Subang Jaya
• Port Klang
• Sepang
• Kuala Kubu Bharu

Culture

The traditional culture of Selangor's Malay majority is influenced by those of Bugis, Johor, Minangkabau, Mandailing, Javanese and Melaka.

Selangor's population also has Chinese and Indian influence; those two having larger minority populations.

Being the most developed state in Malaysia, Selangor also receives a lot of Western influence.

Cuisine

Rojak Klang, Lontong Klang and Mee Bandung are famous cuisines in Klang. Other famous dishes include Mee Jawa (which is similar to Mee Rebus in Johor), Satay Kajang, Ketam Darul Ehsan and Sayur Masak Rebung.

Klang Bak Kut Teh is famous among the Chinese population. It is a herbal pork soup which is eaten during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Coastal towns such as Klang and Kuala Selangor are also famed for their seafood.

External links

• Official website
• Rail map
• Geographical maps
• History of Selangor

States of Malaysia | Selangor

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