Sekitar tahun 1830-an, terdapat beberapa riwayat pembukaan Kajang (di sebelah utara Rekoh), melibatkan orang asli suku Temuan, juga To' Lili (Bugis dari Riau), dan Raja Berayun (dari Mandailing):-

“Terdapat beberapa versi tentang asal-usul Kajang. Hampir semua hipotesis mengenai kewujudan Kajang bertitik-tolak daripada etimologi berdasarkan nama pondok berkajang atap mengkuang yang didirikan oleh peneroka asal.[40]

[40] Jenis Pandanus tectorius, lihat I.H. Burkill, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of The Malay Peninsula, Vol. II (I-Z), Kuala Lumpur: Ministry of Agriculture Malaysia, (1935) 2002, 1678.
Kajang bererti 'benda yg di-anyam dr daun nipah (buloh, mengkuang dll) utk atap atau pelindong panas dll' sementara 'pekajangan' membawa erti 'di-beri beratap (berbumbong) dgn kajang.' Teuku Iskandar, Kamus Dewan, 449.
Kajang juga bererti 'anyaman dr bambu (daun nipah, mengkuang dsb) untuk atap, penutup pedati sdb' sedangkan pekajangan membawa erti 'pl. [istilah pelayaran] butiran perahu atau sb kurung diberi beratap kajang.' Poewadarminta, Kamus Umum Bahasa Indonesia, 433.
Ada suku Kajang di Kecamatan Kajang, Kabupaten Kulukumba di Sulawesi Selatan. Sejauh yang kita tahu, suku ini tidak ada di Tanah Semenanjung).”

(Sumber: Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, 2021: "Tarikh Raja Asal: Derap Perantauan Kaum Mandailing dari Sumatra ke Tanah Semenanjung", m.s.224-225).

“Satu versi mengutarakan bahawa Kajang telah diterokai oleh 'orang asli' suku Temuan pada kira-kira 1580 (versi lain pada 1799) dan merekalah yang menamakan tempat itu 'Kajang'. Varian lain mengisahkan bahawa peneroka itu adalah seorang ketua orang asli bernama Batin Seri Alam atau Batin Berenggai Besi , dari Kelang atau Sungai Ujong.[41]

[41] Maklumat ini pernah dimuat dalam laman web Majlis Perbandaran Kajang www.mpkj.gov.my/web/guest/sejarah dan juga www.mpkj.gpv.my/main.asp?MPKj=wan&profil=2&S=3&tajuk=Sejarah%20Kajang#2. Catatan pada laman web tersebut diambil daripada pengkaji sejarah tempatan Shahabudin Ahmad, 'Asal Nama Kajang dan Sekitarnya', Minggu Sejarah Negeri Selangor 16-18 Julai, 1975, Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia Cawangan Selangor (Buku Cenderamata).”

(Sumber: Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, 2021: "Tarikh Raja Asal: Derap Perantauan Kaum Mandailing dari Sumatra ke Tanah Semenanjung", m.s.225).

“Terdapat fakta yang menyebut bahawa Kajang telah dibuka oleh ayah kepada Raja Alang iaitu Raja Berayun. Raja Berayun ialah seorang anak raja yang melarikan diri ke Selangor dari peperangan saudara di Sumatera. Di negeri Selangor beliau telah bersahabat baik dengan Sultan Abdul Samad. Raja Berayun kemudiannya telah membuka Kajang dan memerintah daerah Kajang dengan gelaran Tengku Panglima Besar.” (MAJLIS PERBANDARAN KAJANG (MPKj), 2006: |"SEJARAH KAJANG").

“Menurut Shahabuddin Ahmad, pengkaji sejarah tempatan Kajang, Raja Barayun yang 'telah membuka Kajang dan memerintah daerah Kajang dengan gelaran Tengku Panglima Besar', setepatnya, Tunku Panglima Raja. (Pemukiman di Kajang yang dibuka oleh Raja Barayun itu dekat dengan 'Jalan Mendaling' sekarang. http://www.mpkj.gov.my/main.asp?MPKj=wan&profil=2&S=2&tajuk=Sejarah%20Kajang#2 ….. Catatan pada laman web tersebut (Majlis Perbandaran Kajang) diambil daripada pengkaji sejarah tempatan Shahabudin Ahmad, 'Asal Nama Kajang Dan Sekitarnya', Minggu Sejarah Negeri Selangor 16-18 Julai, 1975, Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia Cawangan Selangor (Buku Cenderamata).” (Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, 2021: "Tarikh Raja Asal: Derap Perantauan Kaum Mandailing dari Sumatra ke Tanah Semenanjung", m.s.19, 225).

“Mengikut Selangor Journal (1897), Kajang didirikan oleh Inche Lili dari Riau 120 tahun sebelum itu, iaitu pada tahun-tahun 1770-an, di bawah naungan Sultan Muhammad. … Oleh kerana air bah, Inche Lili mendapat restu daripada Sultan Muhammad untuk berpindah meninggalkan Kajang ke kaki bukit di dekat muara Sungai Merbau. Inche Lili memberi nama pemukiman barunya itu 'Bandar Kajang', sama seperti nama tempat pemukimannya sebelum itu. (J.M. Gullick, ed., Selections from Selangor Journal, Kuala Lumpur: MBRAS, 2007, 80, memetik keterangan seorang penghulu Kajang pada 1890-an). Sultan Mohamed mengangkat Inche Lili menjadi Dato' Bandar Kajang dan mengaungerahkannya 'cap kuasa' (ertinya wewenang) untuk memerintah kawasan itu, mulai dari Sabak Dua hingga ke hilir Sungai Subang Hilang. Setelah Tok Lili meninggal dunia, Sultan Abdul Samad memindahkan kuasa kepada Toh Bandar Patok dan Nakhoda Umar, kedua-duanya kaum kerabat Tok Lili, untuk menggantikannya.” (Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, 2021: "Tarikh Raja Asal: Derap Perantauan Kaum Mandailing dari Sumatra ke Tanah Semenanjung", m.s.225).

“TRADITIONS OF ULU LANGAT

The following incidents are taken from statements made by Penghulus Raja Mahmud, of Semenyih, Said Yahya, of Cheras, and Jahya of Kajang, respectively, concerning the origin of the various settlements under their charge, and may be of interest to your readers. Of course I cannot be responsible for the statements made but have collected the information as it was otherwise likely to be lost, and as it may prove of some slight assistance to some future compiler of a history of the State. The only important omission is the early history of the settlement at Ulu Langat, which has not yet been written. It was formerly under the rule of the Toh Langat, who was, however, a personage of less importance than the Toh Unku Klang. The Dusun Tua (or “Old Orchard”) at the Hot Springs was, it need hardly be said, originally planted by Sakais, but was appropriated by one Si Timah, a daughter of Toh Langat, who sold it to the “Towkay Bahru” of Ulu Langat. Toh Langat's boundaries are said to have been Sungei Sabak Dua, Bukit Blachan, Bukit Rang and Ginting Peras.” (Sumber: 1897: The Selangor Journal: Jottings Past and Present, Volume 5, hlm.305-306).

“KAJANG

The Penghulu of Kajang states that Kajang is about 120 years old, and that it was founded by Toh (then Inche Lili, of Rio, under authority from Sultan Mohamad ibni-el Marhum Sultan Ibrahim, who had brought him as one of his following from Rio to Selangor.

The boundaries of Inche Lili's domain were the district of Ulu Langat from Sungei Sabak Dua upstream following the Dato' Langat's boundary and downstream following the boundary of Dato' Ali as far as Subang Hilang. Inche Lili's first arrival was not very auspicious; the new settlers on their first voyage up the Langat River had to force their way through the dense and thorny growth of rattans and screw-palms which then all but met across the stream. They presevered, however, and build themselves houses near the head waters of the Sungei Kajang where Haji Mat Nor now resides.

Their new houses were roofed with hastily improvised awnings (or “kajangs”) of pandanus leaves, there being no bertam leaves obtainable on the spot (which was then a mere swamp), and hence Kajang town and river got their names. Owing to the excessive dampness of the locality, however (it is said that a flood “lifted” off the roofs of their houses, after which the name of the stream was lengthened to Sungei Kajang Ber-angkat). Inche Lili and his following (six in number) found themselves compelled to move to a drier situation, though not before they had reaped their first padi-crop, which brough them in 4,000 gantangs of padi. On determining to move Inche Lili's first step was to pay a visit to Kuala Langat in order to obtain an audience from Sultan Mahomad at Telok Pulai. He had no difficulty in effecting this, and obtained permission from H.H. the Sultan to move to any place he liked. Inche Lili and his following accordingly removed and established themselves at the foot of the hill near the mouth of Sungei Merbu, and gave to the new settlement the name of Bandar Kajang, after the place they had abandoned. At Kuala Merbu he afterwards received a visit from H.H. Sultan Mahomad, who proclaimed him Dato' Bandar of the “district” of Kajang, and gave him a seal with authority to rule the country from Sabak Dua downstream as far as Subang Hilang. After staying about 15 days, the Sultan returned to Kuala Langat, leaving instructions for the new Dato' Bandar to try and start mining operations at Sungei Merbu. Toh Lili, as he must now be called, set to work by introducing three Chinese Towkays from Klang (? Kuala Lumpur) - viz. Ah Nyu, Ah Pow and Kah Sut - who commenced work at first with only ten coolies. The mining was successful and the three Towkays made enough to retire on, in spite of the low price of tin. Eventually the first-named Towkay died at Kajang, the second returned to Klang, and the third to China. Later, one Ah Keh (a Hokien Chinese from Kanchong) started to mine Sungei Kladi in company with Chay Toon, and the “Towkay Bahru” got authority from Raja Abdul Samad to open the local “Farms”.”

(Sumber: 1897: The Selangor Journal: Jottings Past and Present, Volume 5, hlm.306-307).

Tarikh tahun 1770-an ini dianggap tidak tepat kerana tempoh pemerintahan Sultan Muhammad ialah tahun 1826-1857: “Riwayat dan pentarikhan ini jadi masalah (Mengikut versi ini, Kajang dibukan sekitar 1777; pada waktu itu, yang memerintah adalah Raja Lumu gelar Sultan Salehuddin (1766-1782), iaitu Sultan Selangor yang pertama. Sultan Muhammad hanya naik takhta pada 1826 dan memerintah sampai 1857, dan sebelum itu sebagai Raja Muda (1801-1826)).” (Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, 2021: "Tarikh Raja Asal: Derap Perantauan Kaum Mandailing dari Sumatra ke Tanah Semenanjung", m.s.225). Dari sumber asal: “The traditions of Kajang date its foundation to the 1770s, but there are difficulties of chronology that suggest that, if it was founded so early, it was small and of little importance until the reign (1826-57) of Sultan Mohamed, who granted to a Rhio Bugis, To' Lili, the title of Dato' Shahbandar with authority over Kajang and its environs. The story is that To' Lili applied to the Sultan at Telok Piei (Kuala Selangor) with the credentials of having led a party up the Langat River 'through dense and thorny growth of rattans and screw pines which then all but met across the stream'. They 'built themselves houses near the head waters of the Sungei Kajang', so named because the houses were roofed with 'hastily improvised awnings (or “kajangs”) of pandanus leaves, there being no bertam leaves obtainable on the spot'. Sultan Mohamed is reported to have visited Kajang later on, where To' Lili had begun to mine for tin. The story, as told in 1895, asserted that To' Lili founded Kajang 120 years before, i.e. in 1775, but that is irreconcilable with the involvement of Sultan Mohamed, whose reign began in 1826. The foundation of Cheras and Semenyih also is dated by legend as c. 1855.” (J. M. Gullick @ Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Vol. 80, No. 2 (293) (December 2007): |"A Short History of Ulu Langat to 1900", m.s.4-5).

MAKLUMAT LANJUT: Peta Persempadanan Kajang (Sekitar 1850-an)

Sekadar anggaran lokasi di dalam beberapa peta, berpandukan perinciannya di dalam Selangor Journal (1897):-

Bulatan Ungu: Lokasi awal: “Inche Lili's first arrival was not very auspicious; the new settlers on their first voyage up the Langat River had to force their way through the dense and thorny growth of rattans and screw-palms which then all but met across the stream. They presevered, however, and build themselves houses near the head waters of the Sungei Kajang where Haji Mat Nor now resides. Their new houses were roofed with hastily improvised awnings (or “kajangs”) of pandanus leaves, there being no bertam leaves obtainable on the spot (which was then a mere swamp), and hence Kajang town and river got their names. Owing to the excessive dampness of the locality, however (it is said that a flood “lifted” off the roofs of their houses, after which the name of the stream was lengthened to Sungei Kajang Ber-angkat). Inche Lili and his following (six in number) found themselves compelled to move to a drier situation, though not before they had reaped their first padi-crop, which brough them in 4,000 gantangs of padi.”

Bulatan Merah: Lokasi selepasnya: “Inche Lili and his following accordingly removed and established themselves at the foot of the hill near the mouth of Sungei Merbu, and gave to the new settlement the name of Bandar Kajang, after the place they had abandoned. At Kuala Merbu he afterwards received a visit from H.H. Sultan Mahomad, who proclaimed him Dato' Bandar of the “district” of Kajang, and gave him a seal with authority to rule the country from Sabak Dua downstream as far as Subang Hilang. After staying about 15 days, the Sultan returned to Kuala Langat, leaving instructions for the new Dato' Bandar to try and start mining operations at Sungei Merbu. Toh Lili, as he must now be called, set to work by introducing three Chinese Towkays from Klang (? Kuala Lumpur) - viz. Ah Nyu, Ah Pow and Kah Sut - who commenced work at first with only ten coolies. The mining was successful and the three Towkays made enough to retire on, in spite of the low price of tin. Eventually the first-named Towkay died at Kajang, the second returned to Klang, and the third to China. Later, one Ah Keh (a Hokien Chinese from Kanchong) started to mine Sungei Kladi in company with Chay Toon, and the “Towkay Bahru” got authority from Raja Abdul Samad to open the local “Farms”.”

(Sumber: 1897: The Selangor Journal: Jottings Past and Present, Volume 5, hlm.306-307).

Kiri: Peta 1904
Kanan: Peta 1945

Kiri: Peta 1962
Kanan: Peta 2026 (Mapcarta, 2026).

Gambar satelit 2026 (jarak dekat) (Mapcarta, 2026).

• 1890-an: Pembangunan Awal Kajang