WELCOME TO SUBANG JAYA — OUR ISLAND WITHOUT THE SEA

BY TEH ENG HOCK

 Budak Subang Jaya ada gaya!

But let’s be honest, it takes much more than fashion sense to be called a Subangite. You can wear the latest sneakers, strut around with branded bags, or sip overpriced coffee at SS15, but a true Subang native can sniff out an impostor faster than you can say “bubble tea.”

We Subangites are a peculiar bunch. Insular? Maybe. Proud? Definitely. We may be landlocked, but we’ve built our own little island of self‑sufficiency. Do we really need to leave our city? Schools, colleges, universities: check. Clinics and hospitals: check. Shopping malls, hypermarkets, boutiques, and everything in between: check. Multiple expressways, LRT stations, KTM Komuter stops, and even a Bus Rapid Transit system: check.

And here’s the ultimate flex, we even have our own airport. That’s right, Subangites can literally fly out of their own backyard. The only thing missing is a cruise terminal or a cable car system to Genting. Maybe one day lah.

I grew up in Subang Jaya. My first home as a newborn was in SS12. My primary and secondary schools were in SS14. My first movie experience? Subang Parade, of course, back when the cinema was tucked away in the annex, not where GSC sits today.

Many of my schoolmates married each other. And guess what? Most never left Subang Jaya. Sure, some went overseas for studies, but they always came back. They may have moved out of their parents’ homes, but their new house is usually just five minutes away. Subangites don’t migrate, we multiply.

We’re proud of Subang Jaya, which was once among the leading townships in technology. Back in the 90s and noughties, we were early adopters of dial‑up Internet. Remember that screeching modem music? To us, it was the soundtrack of progress. Then came DSL broadband, and later fibre optics. Subangites were always quick to plug in, log on, and complain about Streamyx speeds.

Just as Penangites can spot an islander from a mainlander, so can a true blue Subangite. Owning property here doesn’t automatically make you one of us. Living next door? That makes you our neighbour, maybe even a friendly one, but not a Subangite.

To earn the title, you must eat, live, and breathe Subang. You must take extreme pride in being part of this city. And most importantly, you must assimilate. We’re nicer than FIFA lah; your grandmother doesn’t have to be born here for you to be one of us.

A not-so-gentle note to property developers who like to tumpang nama Subang Jaya: please lah! Putra Heights is not Subang Jaya. Tropicana Metropark is not Subang Jaya. Don’t simply hijack our name to sell condos. Subang Jaya is Subang Jaya. Full stop.

Now, let’s talk traffic. Subang Jaya is so congested that some of us joke about closing off the highway exits. Shut down the KESAS interchange; we don’t want Kota Kemuning folks clogging our roads. Block off Bandar Sunway; they already have too many cars spilling into our city. If we were Penang Island, we’d probably suggest blowing up the bridges to keep mainland traffic out.

After one too many bubble teas, some even propose cutting off the SS areas from USJ. Because SS12 to SS19 are the original Subang Jaya. USJ? Hmmph. All jams are from and to USJ. Before USJ was developed, our biggest complaint was the loud aircraft flying overhead. Life was simpler then.

By and large, we want to be exclusive, not inclusive. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not atas, not elitist. We’re just… special. In our own quirky, stubborn, lovable way. That’s Subang Jaya style.

So, budak Subang Jaya ada gaya. But it’s not about fashion. It’s about identity, pride, nostalgia, and a dash of traffic‑induced madness. We’re not perfect, but we’re ours. And once you’ve lived here long enough, you’ll understand why Subangites guard their city like it’s an island, even if it’s just a landlocked city with way too many malls.