SOCIAL ECONOMY CULTURE

According to Nelmawani Bungo and Nordin Hussin (2011), the Minangkabau, or the Minang people, is not new to Tanah Melayu and had been on transit across the straits of Melaka on the way to Makkah for the annual pilgrimage through Penang Port since the early 19th century. Apart from Klang and other parts of Tanah Melayu, the social and cultural environment of early Batu 6 Gombak was immigrants from West Sumatra. The majority were Minang, who had arrived or 'merantau' to Gombak to work in emerging industries like agriculture and mining. The Minang lived along the river and, as devout Muslims, began to participate in industrial movements and religious missionary efforts.

Batu 6 is not new to commercialisation. Most of the Sumatran and local Malays living in the area had been doing retail and other businesses. Transformation into a commercial and residential neighbourhood is only natural to support the growing community and demand. The region is currently densely populated with residential houses, warehouse factories, workshops, and shop lots. Among them are residences that converted into shophouses. Small businesses and hawkers may still be found nearly everywhere in the region today.

The majority of Batu 6 are Muslims from West Sumatra and speak the Minang language - a Malay language with different dialects. They have a strong community bond between their tribes. The Minang tribes in Batu 6 are Bonjol and Talu. The tribes or clans continues the culture of communal work or gotong- royong before any social events such as wedding ceremonies are part of the community's traditional culture.

1920's

The first Masjid was built near the Sungai Gombak, out of timber, bamboo and palm thatched roof