Bahau

Bahau (zh-t|t=馬口) is the principal town of Jempol district, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The name Bahau is believed to have been derived from a Chinese phrase. Bahau is literally translated as "Horse's Mouth" while the nearby town, Mahsan means "Horse's Body" in Cantonese.

History

The earliest recorded role of the area around Bahau is as a town along the "Denai Penarikan" a water-land route through the interior of Peninsular Malaysia, linking Malacca in the West Coast, to Pekan, Pahang in the East Coast. The "Denai Penarikan" or the "Pulling Route" is a land route where merchants would pull their boats across land from Sungai Muar which flows westwards to Sungai Serting which flows eastwards.

The town did not flourish until the arrival of Chinese settlers moving inland in search of tin ore. The Chinese settlers established the town of Bahau and nearby Mahsan, and the town grew as the rubber, palm oil and timber trade (fading industry) began to dominate the town's economy.

Demographics

The population of Bahau is made up of mainly Chinese, Malays (from the Felda areas in the outskirts of the town) and Indians, who live in town and the estates on the outskirts.

Transportation

Road

Bahau is linked by federal and trunk roads to Kuala Pilah, Tampin and Gemas in Negeri Sembilan and Kemayan or Sg. Lui in Pahang.

Train

Bahau is accessible by train, being one the major stations on the East Coast railway line, which stretches from Gemas in the south to Tumpat in the north. The railway station is situated near Taman Kwang Hup

Town Areas

Mahsan, Jelai and Rompin, in the outskirts of the town are a comfortable short distance drive from Bahau.

Economy

The major source of income of the town of Bahau was timber industry which has contributed to the growth of the town in the past few decades. The cultivation of palm oil and rubber also had a significant impact on the town's economy and today, a prominent estate in the town are the IOI group, Golden Hope, KLK and small holder is speeding up.

In addition, industry in the town is also currently growing. Bahau's industrial area is located near Taman Kwang Hup. Car workshops, mechanics, spare-parts and accessories shops dominate the business in town because of the flourishing timber trade around the area. Hence, trailers and lorries usually frequent the town for repairs.

Commerce

The town centre is the commercial centre of the district since shops were built there in pre war.The town centre is known to locals as the 'Big Road'. The shops there are mostly run by Chinese traders and suppliers. The shophouses still bear the architecture from the colonial era, when Bahau was a Chinese settlement. Today, more commercial areas are being built outside town as the town grows and "Upwell" is the largest supermarket in town. Locals and visitors alike frequent the many restaurants and coffee shops in town. However, due to the increasing rent rates in the town centre, some old coffee shops have been closed down and some of these shops have moved to other places around and in the outskirts of the town.

Food

Among the notable foods in town are the chicken and mutton soup that is cooked with traditional herbs. There is also "chendol", a Malaysian dessert made from shaved ice, "chendol", a green, stringy jelly, a "gula melaka" (a type of brown sugar). The nearby town of Mahsan offers exotic food like wild boar, squirrels, lizards and bats. Malay hawkers will offer visitors the famous Negeri Sembilan cuisine, "Cili Padi Masak Kuning", a spicy curry with chicken.A restaurant in town (next to primary school) is famous for its "Oyster Sauce Chicken" and "Steamed fresh water Prawns". "Ami Laksa" , "wan tao long" and "Ah Soon chau kui tiao" situated in hawker center offered fantastic thrill of taste. "3 sister rojak" next to Catholic Church and "Fei Chai Yi Tao Bihon" at Taman Meranti is a must stop over location. "Low Mei, Tok Tok or Ham Sa Lei " behind Hong Leong Bank provides something extra.