The region of Southeast Asia has become home for most of the world religions. Buddhism and Hinduism, mainly introduced by trade and conquest, are the oldest and have proven to be the most enduring in the region, with archaeological evidence dating back to around the 5th century CE for Buddhism and the 11th century CE for Hinduism. By comparison, Islam arrived in the region later, as historical evidence shows that active Islamization of the Malay World took place from the 13th century CE onward, although Muslim traders had been in the region much earlier.
The process of Islamization brought about a major cultural transformation in the greater part of the Malay World. This religion became such an important influence that Malay culture became synonymous with Islam.
Later, the advent of European colonialism in the 16th century brought Christianity – in this case, Catholicism – as a new religion to the area. Protestantism soon followed in the wake of Dutch and British expansionism. As a result of the influx of Chinese communities during the British administration, the existence of Confucianism, taoism and ancestor worship became more prominent. The presence of Sikhism in Malaysia also dates back to the arrival of Sikhs in the Malay Penisula under the British. [1]
2. Our Uniqueness
Although Islam is the official religion of the country today, the Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of worship and the rights of adherents of other religions to practice their beliefs. One can notice the existence of mosques, churches and Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist and Sikh temples in close vicinity to each other. This can be shown in the Kajang Heritage Treasure Hunt held on 21st September, 2008 in conjunction with the International Day of Peace. More than 10 religious entities inclusive of mosques, churches, Hindu temples, Buddhism temple, Taoist temples and Sikh temple are within the 4km walk of Kajang town. This harmonious co-existence of so many different ethnic groups and religious beliefs has made Malaysia unique in the region for having the greatest number of public holidays in honour of the religious festival.
[1] Extract from The Encyclopedia of Malaysia – Religions and Beliefs by Prof. Dr M. Kamal Hassan & Dr Ghazali bin Basri
Kajang is famous for its sate Kajang (alternate spelling satay), a form of skewered barbecued meat. Informally, Kajang is known as the "Satay Town", and is famous among tourists and locals alike. The most famous place to eat Satay is Haji Samuri which has a huge restaurant next to the local stadium as well as Restoran Malaysia which is located near Plaza Metro Kajang.
Though Kajang is a well-known tourist destination for satay, tourists rarely stay overnight. Hence, accommodation is not readily available. Of the available accommodation, the most notable is Metro Inn which is located approximately 2km from the heart of Kajang town. However, many prefer to stay in Kuala Lumpur or even Putrajaya.
Other hotels in Kajang are New City Hotel and Crystal Oriental Hotel which are located approximately 2km from the heart of Kajang town. Uptown Hotel is located opposite Metro Point.
Last Updated on Thursday, 16 October 2008 12:57
Education
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 27 August 2008 17:50
Kajang is a town surrounded by many schools, mainly SMAP Kajang, SMK Tinggi Kajang (Kajang High School) Official Website, SMJK Yu Hua Kajang Official Website, SMK Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SAAS), SMK Saujana Impian, SMK Convent Kajang, SMK Jalan Bukit Kajang, SMK Kajang Utama, SMK Jalan Reko and more. SMK Tinggi Kajang is reported to be one of the oldest schools in the country. During World War II, the Japanese buried their dead soldiers on the hill slopes where some of the new school blocks are now located.
Kajang also has the highest density of higher learning institutions. Among them are: 1) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) 2) Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) 3) University of Nottingham 4) Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UTAR) 5) Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College (KLIUC) 6) Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor (KUIS) 7) Kolej Kejururawatan Masterskill 8) New Era College (NEC) 9) Malaysian France Institute 10) Institut Latihan Kehakiman dan Perundangan 11) Akademi Percukaian Malaysia 12) Kolej Professional Mara, Beranang 13) Istitut Kemahiran Belia Negara 14) Pusat Khidmat Latihan Negara (PLKN), Semenyih
One of the universities located near Kajang is Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten). Another, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia), in nearby Bangi, is one of the largest national universities. Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College (KLIUC), also known a Kolej Ikram is another educational institution based in Kajang. An English university from United Kingdom, the University of Nottingham also has a campus in nearby Semenyih, which is easily accessible from Kajang. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) opened a Business School at Bandar Baru Sungai Long in 2005. Another public university, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) lies in Serdang, within a short distance from Kajang whilst New Era College(www.newera.edu.my) are also located in Jalan Bukit, near the Kajang KTM Station.
More On Kajang
