Transport hub: View of Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) Bandar Klang station which is not yet operational near Jambatan Kota and Klang Municipal Council headquarters. (Inset) Bunga melur will be the official flower of the soon-to-be Bandar Raya DiRaja Klang. — Photos: KK SHAM/The Star
Coastal Selangor town has everything in place to accelerate economic growth, says MPK president
AFTER 46 years, Klang Municipial Council (MPK) will be known as Majlis Bandar Raya DiRaja Klang (MBRK).
MPK president Noraini Roslan said the 133-year-old town would soon be proclaimed a royal city by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
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Last July, MPK received Cabinet approval to be upgraded to a city after it met the required criteria – Klang has sustainable income and population of 1.1 million, while MPK has annual income of over RM100mil.
The local authority was established in May 1890 as Klang Health Board.
Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim and other entrances into Klang are being upgraded in the run-up to its new status as a royal city.
Noraini said the council’s new emblem would feature the Sultan Suleiman Royal Mosque and Jambatan Kota, among other elements.
The city’s official flower will be bunga melur (jasmine), which has a sweet floral scent and symbolises purity.
She said the new city council flag would be white, red and yellow.
Noraini said there would also be a new mace, which was a symbol of MBRK’s authority.
Klang’s Jalan Tengku Kelana is a bustling business enclave which houses the famous Little India shopping centre.
This will be the fourth city in Selangor, in addition to Shah Alam (declared in 2000), Petaling Jaya (2006) and Subang Jaya (2020) and the nation’s 20th city.
Noraini, who was appointed MPK president in January 2022, had been instrumental in Subang Jaya attaining city status.
Noraini said Klang served as the capital of Selangor twice.
“It was first declared capital of Selangor in 1890 during the British colonial era but later lost its status to Kuala Lumpur.
Noraini: Klang is the centre of development for this part of Selangor.
“In the 1970s when Kuala Lumpur was given to the Federal Government, Klang was again declared the state capital but later lost this position to Shah Alam.”
Noraini said Port Klang was the largest and busiest port in Malaysia and second-largest port in South-East Asia.
It also ranks as the world’s top 13th container port and is a strategic hub for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“We have MSMEs and SMEs that are economic engines and are ahead of (those in) Kuala Lumpur.
“In Draft Local Plan 2035 (Amendment 1), changes are being made to meet the demand for more industrial zones to support the logistics industry,” she said, adding that Klang had become the centre of development for this part of Selangor.
Klang’s businesses have created employment opportunities for those in neighbouring districts as well as Greater Klang Valley.
Mohammed Khusrin says the elevation will give Klang wider recognition.
“Our population is on the rise. We are seeing new housing schemes, malls, condominiums, apartments and office blocks being built in Klang, Bukit Raja, Meru, Kapar and Port Klang.
“People from Greater Klang Valley come to Klang for leisure, seafood and even shopping.”
MPK acting deputy president Zaireezal Ahmad Zainuddin said the town had an excellent road network.
“Roads and highways from the north, south, east and west of the peninsula are linked to Klang and joined by Port Klang.”
Among the connections are Federal Highway Route 2, New Klang Valley Expressway, Shah Alam Expressway, South Klang Valley Expressway, North-South Expressway and the soon-to-be-completed West Coast Expressway.
Abdul Bakir: The town has a long and distinguished association with the Selangor sultanate.
He added that Klang’s Westport had been indicated as the terminus of the proposed East Coast Rail Link project.
KTM Komuter connects Klang to other cities in Selangor while the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) line, which connects Johan Setia LRT3 station in Klang to Bandar Utama station in Petaling Jaya, is expected to begin operations by March 1, 2025.
Selangor Palace representative Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi said the official title of royal city would give Klang the wider recognition it deserved as the main sea gateway into Malaysia and one of the fastest-growing urban areas.
“City status will further nurture Klang economically and will boost tourism.
“It is sure to have positive social economic impact on Klang town and its surroundings,” he said.
Former MPK president Datuk Abdul Bakir Zin said he was proud to see Klang municipality elevated to royal city status.
Lim: I have lived here all my life so I am delighted that my hometown is receiving this honour.
“It is great to finally get official recognition for a place with such a long and distinguished history associated with the Selangor sultanate.”
Kopitiam owner Lim Guat Lan, who was born and bred in Klang, said the upgrade to royal city would open up new opportunities.
“I have lived in this area all my life so I am delighted about the honour my hometown is receiving.”
In anticipation of Klang’s proclamation as a city, the council has begun to rejuvenate entrances into the town, including Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim where more than 300 trees will be planted.
MPK Landscape and Recreational Department deputy director Azzura Zainal said they decided to have 22 box leaf persimmon trees (Diospyros buxifolia) and leopard trees (Caesalpinia ferrea) on both sides of the entrance along Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim.
Klang’s Westport will be the east coast rail Link terminus.
“Further down on the inner road flanking both sides, we have coniferous trees – 302 junipers in pots.
“We want to establish the identity and image of Klang City through its major entrances.”
Azzura said landscape expansions were an important step towards building a city that co-existed harmoniously with greenery.
“All trees, shrubs and grass must be maintained.
“We will have a team to do regular checks to ensure the trees are kept at a certain height.
A view of Jambatan Kota crossing Sungai Klang.
“Green landscapes will help reduce driving stress and improve road safety too,” she said, adding that the project would cost RM1.8mil.
Azzura said it was crucial to have green areas that acted like sponges in Klang’s landscapes.
“With the high rainfall, green islands along Persiaran Sultan Ibrahim will help hold surface runoff and release it at a slow pace into drains that lead into Sungai Klang nearby.”
She said most of the space along the roads was made up of impervious material.
“Rainwater that is not absorbed into the ground becomes dangerous surface runoff.”
Azzura said the council would also beautify road medians by having decorative cages with flower motifs placed around lamp posts, guard rails and road barriers.
