The History of Kampung Chenderong Balai
Kampung Chenderong Balai is under the Labu Kubong sub-district in the Hilir Perak district, situated between the route from Bidor to Kampung Gajah and from Kampung Bahagia to Ipoh.
The exact origin of the name Chenderong Balai cannot be verified; however, according to the elders, the village once had a hall resembling a veranda that was frequently used as a gathering place for villagers to celebrate various festivities. The position of the hall became slightly tilted (condong) as it could not support the weight of the crowds entering it, due to the soft, marshy soil of the paddy fields.
Originally, Kampung Chenderong Balai was a large-scale land development area designated for paddy cultivation in the early 1940s. It was known as 'Bendang D.O.', named after the British District Officer of Lower Perak at the time. Many people from the north, particularly Kedah, as well as those of Banjar, Rao, Mandailing, and Javanese descent, came to develop this area. Each family was permitted to clear 2 hectares of land and was provided with free transportation and equipment to build homes and plant rice. The drainage and irrigation system here is known as the Trans Kerian - Sungai Manik program. During the communist insurgency in the early days of independence, the villagers also suffered at the hands of communist terrorists. British forces, assisted by Banjar and Malay fighters—most notably the 'Tentera Sabil' and the 'Parang Terbang' group—reportedly clashed with communists in Chenderong Balai and Sungai Manik. However, before the communists retreated into the Titiwangsa Range forests, they managed to burn down houses and take the lives of villagers. This event remains vivid in the memories of the elders in Kampung Chenderong Balai to this day. Many notable individuals from Kampung Chenderong Balai have contributed to Malaysia, including the country's renowned sports commentator the late Datuk Hj Hasbullah Awang, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai, Professor Ahmad Atory Hussein, a history lecturer at UKM and UUM, and many others. For those born in Chenderong Balai who are now living away, the sight of green paddy fields and flying egrets surely evokes a longing to return home. There is a sense of beauty and peace in Kampung Chenderong Balai that cannot be compared to the hustle and bustle of the city.
