By Danial Dzulkifly
KLANG, Feb 5 – With Klang officially recognised as a royal city, the stage is set to establish the Greater Klang Valley administrative area, a significant step forward in positioning Selangor as an economic powerhouse, said Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
The Menteri Besar said the Greater Klang Valley will become the second catalyst for the state’s progress, bringing together the cities of Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, and Klang to form a special economic zone, placing it among the top five megacities in Asia.
“The goal is for the Greater Klang Valley to compete with and become an alternative to cities like Singapore, Greater Seoul, and Greater Tokyo.
“Via collaborations between the state and Federal governments, discussions are underway to designate it as a Special Economic Zone to unlock its full potential,” he said in his address during the declaration ceremony of Klang’s royal city status at the Wyndham Achmar today.
The Greater Klang Valley initiative aims to unite approximately 3.4 million residents, constituting nearly 50 per cent of Selangor’s population and 10 per cent of the national population.
Amirudin emphasised the importance of a collective effort to prioritise attention, funds, and resources for mature cities within the region to promote their rejuvenation and regeneration.
“The overarching goal is to attract investments in cutting-edge digital industries, including high-tech technologies like artificial intelligence, data centre placements, and innovative models for government service management systems,” he said, adding the initiative also aims to streamline overlapping aspects and promote sustainable management practices.
Similarly, Selangor is also about to embark on major public infrastructure projects along Sungai Klang, mainly the Selangor Maritime Gateway Economic Development Zone (ZPE-SMG).
Other significant projects include constructing the light rail transit (LRT) line connecting the LRT3 route in Klang to areas like Jeram, Kuala Selangor, and Tanjong Karang, extending to Sabak.
Amirudin said another major project is the planned Kita Selangor Rail Line, which will position Klang as the central point between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya to areas like Jeram, Kuala Selangor, and Tanjong Karang.
With the rail line’s construction, west coast residents can take the train and reach Klang, Petaling Jaya, or Kuala Lumpur within 30 minutes to an hour, reducing the reliance on private vehicles.
Earlier, the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj officially declared the transformation of the Klang Municipal Council into the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK), which came into effect on November 23, 2023.
This marks Klang as the fourth city in Selangor, following Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Subang Jaya, and the first royal city in the state.
The event also witnessed the oath-taking ceremony of Datin Paduka Noraini Roslan, previously the Klang Municipal Council president, as the city’s first mayor.
