Ampang
Encyclopedia
Ampang is a suburb of Kuala Lumpur
(KL) in the Titiwangsa
constituency, partly located in the state of Selangor
, Malaysia and was historically a tin
mining town. Its area in Kuala Lumpur is identified as being along the Ampang Road
and Ampang Hilir.
. In 1857, Raja Abdullah, a representative of the Selangor Sultanate, opened up the Klang Valley
for tin
prospectors. 87 Chinese prospectors went up the river Klang and began prospecting in the Ampang area, which was then jungle. Despite 69 of them dying due to the pestilential conditions, a thriving tin mine was established. Kuala Lumpur, along with Ampang, was made capital of Selangor in 1880 and the capital of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
, a leading businessman in the early 1900s, built a villa in 1935 on Ampang Road. 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 in 27 August 1958 and much later refurbished to become the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC). Eu Tong Sen also owned a tin mine in Ampang which was the first to install an electricity generator in 1914.
Founded in March 1896, the Selangor Turf club horse racing
venue was one of the most popular landmarks in Ampang until it was demolished in 1 March 1997 to make way for the Petronas Twin Towers
project.
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.
At 3°9′38"N 101°44′9"E, Ampang is situated to the east of the Kuala Lumpur city centre. Ampang has several large lakes due to its tin mining history.
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.
. Most of the embassies are located along Ampang Road, including the British, French, Chinese, Russian, Singaporean, Indonesian, Irish and Thai embassies. The American embassy is also located in Ampang at the corner of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan U Thant
.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
(KL) in the Titiwangsa
Titiwangsa
Titiwangsa is one of the main areas located in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It can be accessed through the Titiwangsa LRT and Monorail stations. The Kuala Lumpur General Hospital is located south of Titiwangsa. The Eye on Malaysia, a large observation wheel, was formerly located here...
constituency, partly located in the state of Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") 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, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, Malaysia and was historically a tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
mining town. Its area in Kuala Lumpur is identified as being along the Ampang Road
Jalan Ampang
Jalan Ampang is a major road in Klang Valley region, Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.-Proposal to rename Jalan Ampang to Jalan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad:...
and Ampang Hilir.
History
Ampang's history is closely related to the history of Kuala LumpurHistory of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the largest city in Malaysia; it is also the nation's capital. The history of Kuala Lumpur began in the middle of the 19th century with the rise of the tin extraction industry.-Pre-independence era :...
. In 1857, Raja Abdullah, a representative of the Selangor Sultanate, opened up the Klang Valley
Klang Valley
Klang Valley is an area in Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor. An alternative reference to this would be Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan Area or Greater Kuala Lumpur. It is geographically delineated by Titiwangsa Mountains to the...
for tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
prospectors. 87 Chinese prospectors went up the river Klang and began prospecting in the Ampang area, which was then jungle. Despite 69 of them dying due to the pestilential conditions, a thriving tin mine was established. Kuala Lumpur, along with Ampang, was made capital of Selangor in 1880 and the capital of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
Architecture
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 SenEu Tong Sen
Eu Tong Sen was a leading businessman in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong during the late 19th and early 20th century. He was the son of Eu Kong Pui and Kong Pui's first wife, Madam Leung in Foshan, China...
, a leading businessman in the early 1900s, built a villa in 1935 on Ampang Road. The same location was used by the British government
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
as a military base. Over time it was renovated and reopened as the National Art Gallery in 27 August 1958 and much later refurbished to become the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC). Eu Tong Sen also owned a tin mine in Ampang which was the first to install an electricity generator in 1914.
Founded in March 1896, the Selangor Turf club horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
venue was one of the most popular landmarks in Ampang until it was demolished in 1 March 1997 to make way for the Petronas Twin Towers
Petronas Twin Towers
The Petronas Towers are skyscrapers and twin towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
project.
Many pre-war and British colonial
Crown colony
A Crown colony, also known in the 17th century as royal colony, was a type of colonial administration of the English and later British Empire....
buildings were extensively renovated and modernised. Lack of clear guidelines for architectural conservation
Architectural conservation
Architectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of mankind's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuit is known as an architectural conservator...
in the city means unregulated alterations of pre-war buildings are common.
Geography
Ampang Road
Jalan Ampang
Jalan Ampang is a major road in Klang Valley region, Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.-Proposal to rename Jalan Ampang to Jalan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad:...
(from Leboh Ampang in KL to the main road in front of Ampang LRT station
Ampang LRT station
Not to be confused with Ampang Park LRT station, a station on the Kelana Jaya Line.Ampang LRT station is a Light Rail Transit station operated by rapidKL served by the Ampang line in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the eastern terminus for passenger services on the line...
) 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
Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
Cheras is a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. The township is located to the south-east of Kuala Lumpur. Cheras is also adjacent to Ampang to the north and Kajang to the south, both of which are major cities within the metropolitan area of Kuala Lumpur.-Origins:Originally,...
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
Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2
Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 or MRR2 , Federal Route is a ring road build by the Malaysian Public Works Department to connect neighborhoods near the boundary of Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor...
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.
Embassies
Many embassies are located in the Ampang area, and still remain there despite the Malaysian government's move to the new administrative centre in PutrajayaPutrajaya
Putrajaya is a planned city, located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya, due to the overcrowding and congestion in the Kuala Lumpur areas...
. Most of the embassies are located along Ampang Road, including the British, French, Chinese, Russian, Singaporean, Indonesian, Irish and Thai embassies. The American embassy is also located in Ampang at the corner of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan U Thant
U Thant
U Thant was a Burmese diplomat and the third Secretary-General of the United Nations, from 1961 to 1971. He was chosen for the post when his predecessor, Dag Hammarskjöld, died in September 1961....
.