Sungai Balang
Encyclopedia
Sungai Balang is a small town in the district of Muar
, Johor
, Malaysia. It is located on Federal Route between the town of Muar
and Batu Pahat
.
Sungai Balang also noted as a sanctuary of migratory birds stopover along its coast beside Parit Jawa
.
in 1886.
Ali was sent by his father, Orang Kaya Said, the first Muar
headman (penghulu) appointed by Temenggong Ibrahim, to the Holy Land of Mecca upon the completion his religious study at in Malacca
at the age of 15 years. At that time, the resident of "Padang
" area which also included the area of Parit Sakai up to Parit Samsu; with its administration centre in Parit Bakar
, is said to have a common ('wakaf') house in Mecca
in the "Village of Shuib Ali" in the 19th century. The house was to put the children of officers and dignitaries of Padang acquiring religious knowledge and studies upon the end of their study in Malacca
. It was the wish of many peoples in Padang to send their children to further their study of religion in Mecca
or Egypt
so that they can become a pious and religious scholar. Some parents even accompanied their son during their study and stay until they died in the Holy Land in those day. According to aa account, Orang Kaya Ali returned to Padang after his father Orang Kaya Said died in Mecca. He then demanded that the position the headman of Muar
that was temporary given and being held by his cousin named Omar Junid acting in that position, during a time in the absence of the late Omar. However the request was rejected by Sultan Ali of Johor
because his age is still young and unsuitable to hold the position of the headman, a position as the royal government officer and the Muar representative of the Sultan.
To find solutions, Sultan Ali
appointed him as a minister but the appointment failed to satisfy Ali and his followers because the position does not give any meaning in the administration in the region of Muar. Thus, disputes arose between the Ali's followers and Omar's supporters causing the two groups fought and raised their flag of the their group, red for Ali and white for Omar that continued for several months and forced the Sultan came to Muar to handle and settle the situation between the followers of the two groups. To avoid bloodshed, the Sultan gave approval to the followers of Ali to open a new area in the southern part of Muar
to enable Ali to be appointed headman. Orang Kaya Ali retreated to the south coast in the Malacca Strait riding a big boat weighing about one ton bringing together adequate ration of food for 30 days and 16 followers to find new areas suitable opening a villages. After landing in an area about 30 km from Muar, followers of Ali opened a village and planted various trees and crops like durian, 'talas' and paddy . Eventually the new villages was developed and became prosper and famous across Muar. Ali along with his followers sailed along the coast of the Malacca Strait which was infested with a lot of pirates to the harvested crop to the sultan
The name "Sungai Balang" was immortalized for the village as the bravery and successes of Orang Kaya Ali and his followers opening the new areas and sailing along the coast to present the agricultural products had successfully eliminated piracy in the Malacca Strait which inspired Sultan Ali
's decree in naming Sungai Balang after their courage against the pirates in the Malacca Straits which were considered as great prowess achieved only by the 'warlords' or "Hulubalang" in Malay.
According to history, Mukim Sungai Balang was a gazetted areas including Sarang Buaya Kiri, Sarang Buaya Kanan and Sungai Balang and administered by a headman titled "Orang Kaya" and the two vice-headman. This administration ended in 1954 when the three areas were merged into a county (mukim) and given the name Mukim Sungai Balang.
Among the historic reminiscences in Sungai Balang existing today is the grave of Orang Kaya Ali in the Muslim cemetery in the town and the village primary school named Sekolah Kebangsaan Orang Kaya Ali after the founder of Sungai Balang.
One of the descendants of Orang Kaya Ali is his grandson who still living, Abdul Manaf bin Abu Bakar, owner of Toko Buku Manaf, the already closed famous bookstore in Jalan Abdullah, Muar. While the descendants of Orang Kaya Omar (headman Muar) is the cousin of Orang Kaya Ali, is the former Speaker of the Parliament-Dewan Rakyat, the late Tan Sri Mohamad Noah bin Omar
, father of Tun Rahah Mohd Noah(the widow of Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysian 2nd Prime Minister and mother of Dato Seri Najib Abdul Razak, current Malaysian 6th Prime Minister) and Tun Suhaila Mohd Noah (the widow of Tun Hussein Onn
, Malaysian 3rd Prime Minister and mother of minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
).
Muar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...
, Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, Malaysia. It is located on Federal Route between the town of Muar
Muar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...
and Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian, and south of Segamat and the new Ledang district. The capital of the district is Bandar Penggaram, Batu Pahat....
.
Sungai Balang also noted as a sanctuary of migratory birds stopover along its coast beside Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...
.
History
The history of the opening of Sungai Balang, literally means Balang River, a small town located bout 30 km from the town of Bandar Maharani, Muar began with the appointment of a Islamic religious scholar and cleric from Parit Sakai, Ali bin Said to become the Orang Kaya (noble lord) officer by Sultan Abu Bakar of JohorSultan Abu Bakar of Johor
Sultan Sir Abu Bakar ibni Daing Ibrahim was the 21st Sultan of Johor. He was also informally known as "The Father of Modern Johor", as many historians accredited Johor's development in the 19th century to Abu Bakar's leadership...
in 1886.
Ali was sent by his father, Orang Kaya Said, the first Muar
Muar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...
headman (penghulu) appointed by Temenggong Ibrahim, to the Holy Land of Mecca upon the completion his religious study at in Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
at the age of 15 years. At that time, the resident of "Padang
Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...
" area which also included the area of Parit Sakai up to Parit Samsu; with its administration centre in Parit Bakar
Parit Bakar
Parit Bakar is a small town in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It is well known for its furniture industry. It is subdivided to "Parit Bakar Darat" and " Parit Bakar Laut". Parit Bakar Laut is 1 km towards the coastline from Parit Bakar town centre. Parit Bakar is located about 8 km away from Muar...
, is said to have a common ('wakaf') house in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
in the "Village of Shuib Ali" in the 19th century. The house was to put the children of officers and dignitaries of Padang acquiring religious knowledge and studies upon the end of their study in Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
. It was the wish of many peoples in Padang to send their children to further their study of religion in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
or Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
so that they can become a pious and religious scholar. Some parents even accompanied their son during their study and stay until they died in the Holy Land in those day. According to aa account, Orang Kaya Ali returned to Padang after his father Orang Kaya Said died in Mecca. He then demanded that the position the headman of Muar
Muar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...
that was temporary given and being held by his cousin named Omar Junid acting in that position, during a time in the absence of the late Omar. However the request was rejected by Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah ibni Hussein Muazzam Shah was the 19th Sultan of Johor, who succeeded his father, Sultan Hussein after the latter died of natural cause in 1835. Over the next twenty years, Sultan Ali's claims to the office of Sultan of Johor were only recognised by some merchants and a...
because his age is still young and unsuitable to hold the position of the headman, a position as the royal government officer and the Muar representative of the Sultan.
To find solutions, Sultan Ali
Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah ibni Hussein Muazzam Shah was the 19th Sultan of Johor, who succeeded his father, Sultan Hussein after the latter died of natural cause in 1835. Over the next twenty years, Sultan Ali's claims to the office of Sultan of Johor were only recognised by some merchants and a...
appointed him as a minister but the appointment failed to satisfy Ali and his followers because the position does not give any meaning in the administration in the region of Muar. Thus, disputes arose between the Ali's followers and Omar's supporters causing the two groups fought and raised their flag of the their group, red for Ali and white for Omar that continued for several months and forced the Sultan came to Muar to handle and settle the situation between the followers of the two groups. To avoid bloodshed, the Sultan gave approval to the followers of Ali to open a new area in the southern part of Muar
Muar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...
to enable Ali to be appointed headman. Orang Kaya Ali retreated to the south coast in the Malacca Strait riding a big boat weighing about one ton bringing together adequate ration of food for 30 days and 16 followers to find new areas suitable opening a villages. After landing in an area about 30 km from Muar, followers of Ali opened a village and planted various trees and crops like durian, 'talas' and paddy . Eventually the new villages was developed and became prosper and famous across Muar. Ali along with his followers sailed along the coast of the Malacca Strait which was infested with a lot of pirates to the harvested crop to the sultan
The name "Sungai Balang" was immortalized for the village as the bravery and successes of Orang Kaya Ali and his followers opening the new areas and sailing along the coast to present the agricultural products had successfully eliminated piracy in the Malacca Strait which inspired Sultan Ali
Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah ibni Hussein Muazzam Shah was the 19th Sultan of Johor, who succeeded his father, Sultan Hussein after the latter died of natural cause in 1835. Over the next twenty years, Sultan Ali's claims to the office of Sultan of Johor were only recognised by some merchants and a...
's decree in naming Sungai Balang after their courage against the pirates in the Malacca Straits which were considered as great prowess achieved only by the 'warlords' or "Hulubalang" in Malay.
According to history, Mukim Sungai Balang was a gazetted areas including Sarang Buaya Kiri, Sarang Buaya Kanan and Sungai Balang and administered by a headman titled "Orang Kaya" and the two vice-headman. This administration ended in 1954 when the three areas were merged into a county (mukim) and given the name Mukim Sungai Balang.
Among the historic reminiscences in Sungai Balang existing today is the grave of Orang Kaya Ali in the Muslim cemetery in the town and the village primary school named Sekolah Kebangsaan Orang Kaya Ali after the founder of Sungai Balang.
One of the descendants of Orang Kaya Ali is his grandson who still living, Abdul Manaf bin Abu Bakar, owner of Toko Buku Manaf, the already closed famous bookstore in Jalan Abdullah, Muar. While the descendants of Orang Kaya Omar (headman Muar) is the cousin of Orang Kaya Ali, is the former Speaker of the Parliament-Dewan Rakyat, the late Tan Sri Mohamad Noah bin Omar
Mohamad Noah bin Omar
Tan Sri Haji Mohammad Noah bin Omar was a Malaysian politician. He was one of the leading figures during the founding of the United Malays National Organisation and became the first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.-Early Life:...
, father of Tun Rahah Mohd Noah(the widow of Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysian 2nd Prime Minister and mother of Dato Seri Najib Abdul Razak, current Malaysian 6th Prime Minister) and Tun Suhaila Mohd Noah (the widow of Tun Hussein Onn
Hussein Onn
Tun Hussein bin Dato' Onn who is of 3/4 Malay and 1/4 Circassian ancestry was the third Prime Minister of Malaysia, ruling from 1976 to 1981. He was granted the soubriquet Bapa Perpaduan...
, Malaysian 3rd Prime Minister and mother of minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Hishammuddin Hussein
Datuk Seri Panglima Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein is a Malaysian politician and member of the United Malays National Organisation . He is the current Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is the former Minister of Education, having served from 2004 to 2009. He has been mentioned as a likely...
).