A sprawling residential area greets you. This is Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh. It’s a new town almost as large as a city. Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh sits north of Kuala Lumpur. The journey from the city center is about 22 kilometers. Shah Alam is a little further at 29 kilometers. You can reach Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh via the North-South Expressway. The Sungai Buloh toll makes access easy. Bukit Rahman Putra and Kampung Paya Jaras Dalam are nearby neighbors.
Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh is a planned community. It’s located in the Sungai Buloh Mukim. That’s in the Petaling District. Shah Alam City Council governs this area. Two schools serve the community. They are Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh and Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh.
Emkay developed Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh. Construction began in the 1980s. The project transformed part of the Sungai Buloh reserve forest. This involved 1588 hectares of land. The total cost was RM 1 billion. It opened officially in July 1993. Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh offers a modern living experience. This contrasts sharply with the area’s more historical past.
The wider Sungai Buloh area has a rich and sometimes tragic history. It was once home to one of the largest leper colonies in the British Commonwealth. Established in 1930. People from diverse backgrounds lived there. Malays Chinese Indians Eurasians and Turks formed a unique community. It was a self-sufficient settlement based on garden city principles. The colony operated until the present day functioning also as a research center.
Tragedy struck in May 1991. The Bright Sparklers Fireworks factory exploded. A massive fire followed. More recently in 2023 a Learjet crashed. This happened on a major road leading to Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh. Ten people died. This event cast a shadow over the usually peaceful community. Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh continues to grow. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the people and the enduring spirit of its place in history. It’s a place where past and present intertwine. A vibrant community thrives alongside echoes of a more challenging past.