In a recent conversation with FMT, Faisal Surani, curator with the Klang Municipal Council gave some insight about four such places.

Japanese Lane

The row of pre-war shophouses along Jalan Stesen Satu, formerly known as Jalan Melayu, is a quaint sight.

“Many of these shophouses were constructed in the 1890s. However, not many people know that this street was also once known as Japanese Lane,” said Faisal.

He explained that from 1910 onwards, many Japanese who came to Malaya settled here in shophouses.

“However, it wasn’t until World War II that we discovered their real intention,” he said, adding that the Japanese army later set up an administrative centre, military residence, and barracks – all within the vicinity.

“Many of them were photographers back then. In hindsight, we now know what they were really doing with these photographs. Looks like they were planning for a while,” he shared, referring to the Japanese invasion that took place years later.

A nobleman’s mansion

The unassuming double-storey residence next to Chennai Silk Palace can be easy to miss despite its massive structure. However, this was once the home of a nobleman.

It was constructed in 1910 and completed in 1912. It was the residence of Wan Muhammad Amin Wan Muhammad Said, who was a nobleman (holding the rank of the third “Dato Bentara Kiri Amar Diraja”) in the palace.

“He was also the author of ‘Kenang-kenangan Selangor’ and in fact, he wrote the manuscript in this mansion,” shared Faisal.

The manuscript, published in 1937, contained detailed information about the history of Selangor and the Klang War.

Additionally, Che Fatimah Muhammad Akil, the widow of Sultan Abdul Samad, the fourth Sultan of Selangor, stayed in the mansion as well.

From 1942 to 1945, it was the residence and barracks of the Japanese military, he explained. After the surrender of the Japanese, the mansion was renovated and functioned as a rest house from 1946 to 1948.

Subsequently, the building was taken over by various organisations such as the Klang Municipal Board and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS). On July 6, 2012, the Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation (PADAT) took over the premises.

“However, there are plans to convert the mansion into the Selangor Islamic Museum in the future,” shared Faisal.

Rembau Street

Today, Jalan Tengku Kelana in Klang is popularly known as “Little India” as it houses a large number of Indian businesses.

“This is one of the oldest streets in Klang. I believe that it can be traced back to the times of the Malacca Sultanate, and there used to be a lot of Minangkabau people who made their homes there,” Faisal shared, adding that back then it was known as Rembau Street.

There is a tale that the street was named by a Minangkabau man from Negeri Sembilan by the name of Syed Ali, whose grave still exists on the same street, he added.

He said not many people are aware that Tun Perak also lived on this street when he was elected to be a “Penghulu” (chief) in Klang during the 15th century.

After the Klang War in 1874, the area was heavily developed. “Even Loke Yew and Loke Chow Kit constructed shophouses there,” he explained. Both men were instrumental in the development of Kuala Lumpur back then.

At the end of the 19th century, the street became the hub where rubber was collected in Selangor before it was exported. The arrival of the 21st century also saw many Indian traders setting up shops in the area.

“In 1963, the name of the street was changed to Jalan Tengku Kelana,” he shared.

Klang Public Library

In the 1890s, residents in Klang who wished to read went to a “reading room”. There was no public library. This went on until World War II, Faisal explained, adding that there was also limited reading materials then.

However, when the reading habit picked up, a district officer of Klang, Mubin Sheppard, proposed the opening of a public library.

The Klang train station was chosen as the venue but although the library was well-stocked, the space was rather small.

Klang residents wanted a bigger library and received some funding from the Sir Henry Gurney Memorial Fund. The late Sir Henry Gurney was a British colonial administrator who was killed by the communists during the Malayan Emergency.

Despite also receiving contributions from the government, private companies, and schools, the total funds collected was still not sufficient to build a library.

So, individuals from Klang came together to raise the additional funds required. The cost to construct the library amounted to $60,000, and when it was opened, it was stocked with 7,000 books.

“What’s unique about the library is how the residents of Klang, of various races, came together for a common cause,” he shared warmly.