Overview

Balakong is a township in Selangor. The history behind how and why it was created is quite enthralling. The Japanese occupation of China during World War II resulted in an enormous influx of Chinese into Malaya, of which over a half million were squatters without a place to call home. As the British colonial rule declined, insurgents named as Malayan Communists recruited a vast number of these vagrant Chinese into the rebellion in an attempt to drive out the British. The British Lt. General Sir Harold Briggs created nearly 500 new villages cordoned off with fences and police sentries to settle the homeless Chinese, effectively cutting off the manpower for the communists. One such village was Balakong New Village.

Property Development

Today, it primarily consists of residential condominiums with comprehensive office complexes and factories. It is located in the dead centre of the border that separates Kajang and Cheras. One of the major attractions is the MINES Wellness City located just a short 10 minute drive away. 1,300 acres of the world’s largest opencast tin mine was transformed into seven wondrous units – The Mines Resort & Golf Club, The Mines Beach Resort & Spa, The Mines Shopping Fair, Palace of the Golden Horses, Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), The Mines Wonderland and the Mines Waterfront Business Park – which together form the MINES Wellness Centre.

Amenities and Facilities

Balakong also has many shopping centers that include Jusco Cheras Selatan, Giant Balakong, Econsave Balakong and Carrefour Bandar Tun Hussein Onn. One of Malaysia’s three horse racing clubs, Selangor Turf Club, is located within a 10 minute drive. Nouvelle Industrial Park in Balakong proudly showcases modern industrial architecture for effective and dynamic business operations. There are multiple private and public schools within close distance. Australian International School Malaysia and Alice Smith School are private schools whereas SMK Cheras Jaya, SK Cheras Jaya, SK Taming Jaya and SJK Balakong are national schools. The closest places of religious worship are Masjid Taming Jaya, Masjid At-Taqwah, Masjid Manbaeil Uloom, Sri Bala Subramaniar Temple, Gereja Presbyterian Balakong and Nalanda Buddhist Society. The multi-specialty international, Columbia Asia Hospital in the vicinity of Balakong provides citizens with excellent healthcare facilities. Other amenities include banks, post office and petrol stations.

Accessibility and Transportation

The easiest way to access Balakong is via the SILK Highway which links directly to the Cheras-Kajang Highway which exist at the North-South Expressway Southern Route. The Serdang KTM Komuter Station is just a 10 minute drive away. From Kuala Lumpur, the Sungai Besi Highway or the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway can be used to reach Balakong within a half hour.