Kuala Kubu Bharu Traditional Cache
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Kuala Kubu Bharu (alternately known as Kuala Kubu Baru, Kuala Kubu Bahru or Kuala Kubu Baharu; commonly referred to as KKB), is the principal town ofHulu Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia. It was built after the town of Kuala Kubu was destroyed in a flood in 1883 (bharu is a Malayword meaning new). Kuala Kubu Bharu is located on top of a hill.
Kuala Kubu Baru, or KKB as it is fondly known, is often thought of by travellers as a sleepy town in Selangor, but a deeper look into its origins reveals a history that is both enriching and charming.
It is located approximately 70 km from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur through highway 1 and is the main gateway for people heading to one of Malaysia’s favourite hill stations,Fraser's Hill, which is a 45-minute drive away from KKB.
KKB began as a mining town in the 18th century, originally located between two tributaries of the Selangor River. In its heyday, it was the second biggest town in Selangor. It also served as a fort for Raja Mahadi and Syed Mashor when they fought against Tengku Kudin’s army during the Selangor civil war from 1867 to 1874. A fortress (kubu in the Malay language) was constructed in the area before the British colonial powers took over the town.
During the later part of the 19th century, the old Kuala Kubu was placed under administration of the Administrative ResidentSir Frank Athelstane Swettenham, followed byJP Rodger and Edward Maxwell. At that time, Kuala Kubu was a gateway to the state ofPahang through what is today highway 55.
However, tragedy struck in 1883 when a heavy downpour caused the Kuala Kubu dam to burst open and flood the town, affecting its tin mining activities and killing 33 people, including the then District Officer Sir Cecil Ranking. Thirty-eight homes were also destroyed.
Ranking had supposedly shot a white crocodile which was regarded as the river guardian despite being told not to do so. According to local beliefs, his act had caused the calamity to occur and all that was left of him was his hand. Ranking’s hand was interred in a grave at the Kuala Kubu Rest House. Since then, the old town has been known as Ampang Pecah (Broken Dam), and locals termed the flooding as the Kuala Kubu Tragedy.
After the incident, the British government established a new town, calling it Kuala Kubu Baru (“baru” meaning new in the Malay language) in an area close by. Kuala Kubu Bharu formally became the administrative centre of Hulu Selangor district in 1931.
Another tragedy struck in 1951 when Sir Henry Gurney, the then British High Commissioner to Malaya, was assassinated by communist insurgents who ambushed his Rolls Royce along the Jalan Kuala Kubu Baru-Fraser’s Hill road.
The Hulu Selangor District Council was established on 1 January 1975 to administer the district of Hulu Selangor which included Kuala Kubu Bharu and the surrounding towns of Batang Kali and Serendah. On 15 January 1994, the new Administrative Office of Hulu Selangor District Council has moved to the present site at Jalan Bukit Kerajaan, replacing the former location in the former Old Market in Kuala Kubu Bharu town.
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Haqre gur ebpx, ovt gerr
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