Shah Alam’s suburbs have now become a favoured place for people who want to live in greener, quieter surroundings and yet still have easy access to amenities.
If you’ve been eyeing property there or have a move planned, here are a few things you need to know about Shah Alam.
It can seem far away but it’s closer than you think
Long ago, the Federal Highway was the only way to easily access Shah Alam, but that has changed over the years. It is now accessible via the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE), Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) and the Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS).
Wherever you choose to live, do take note of the easiest access to the major highways and bear in mind peak congestion times. Take note that some areas in Shah Alam are prone to bottlenecks so plan your commute times accordingly.
Public transport is an option, if you live in the right area
Public transport, at least to areas outside of Shah Alam, has expanded enough to become less time-consuming alternatives than driving all the way to areas such as Cheras, Ampang or Puchong.
The RapidKL LRT line extension has now expanded from Kelana Jaya to major stops in Subang as well as Shah Alam. Feeder buses from Shah Alam Section 14 will ferry passengers to Putra Heights LRT, while in Section 27, the Taman Alam Megah suburb also has an adjoining LRT station.
While the MRT interchange has yet to be built, you can now switch lines on the Kelana Jaya route to head to either the new Puchong lines as well as the Star LRT, that travels to both Ampang and Sri Petaling. The long-running Komuter train service also has stations in Shah Alam such as the Shah Alam KTM and Batu Tiga KTM stations.
As for buses, there is the free Selangorku bus service that starts from the Section 19 Kommuter station, ending at Section 7 in Wisma Jakel. Shah Alam also has a central bus terminal with routes to various parts of the Klang Valley.
Shah Alam’s breadth can seem overwhelming
Do note that Shah Alam is quite spread out so if you’re the type who likes walking everywhere – this isn’t quite the place to do it. Cycling, however, isn’t too much of a problem as Shah Alam’s roads are well-maintained. Give yourself time to get used to the area’s layout and make adjustments for the slightly longer time you’ll need to get from one place to another. Once you figure out the lay of the land, you’ll discover that Shah Alam does deserve its city status.
Not a place for nightlife
The majority of Shah Alam’s residents are more conservative Muslims, so if you’re the type who likes your clubs or pubs, you’ll have to seek them elsewhere. The good news is that you still have plenty of options if you drive out to nearby Klang or Subang.
Depending on your lifestyle, this lack of a clubbing scene might be either be a downer or an asset. It might be the latter if you’d like to enjoy a more serene atmosphere during festive occasions or public holidays. So if the quiet life is what you’ve dreamed of, Shah Alam is the place to be.
Family-friendly
Shah Alam is considered a good place for families thanks to its good infrastructure and amenities, cleanliness and plenty of options for schooling, whether public or private. There are still prime areas waiting to be developed so if you’re looking for less crowded suburbs for your family, Shah Alam might be it.
Landed properties are easy to get, high-rises more sought after
Thanks to the demand for housing in the area, there are plenty of developments to choose from. You might find a bargain on landed property but only if you’re willing to opt for older housing further in. Housing nearer the city centre tends to be more expensive, while those wise enough to have invested in the area early would have gotten themselves bungalows at cheaper prices than in neighbouring Petaling Jaya or Subang Jaya.
Still, if you bargain-hunt, you might be able to score yourself decent prices – or at least decent when compared to the rest of the Klang Valley.
It’s a green haven
The highlight of Shah Alam has to be its Malaysian Agriculture Park in Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam. With 817ha of rainforest, it’s the kind of green lung that’s rare to find elsewhere in the Klang Valley.
Shah Alam City Council also works with the community to encourage community gardens and you can also find ecologically-friendly structures such as the popular Setia City Mall. The council is targeting to plant 80,000 trees yearly in parks and playgrounds in the area. So if the environment is something that concerns you, Shah Alam truly is a breath of fresh air.
A golfer’s dream
If you’re a keen golfer, the good news is that there are up to 16 golf clubs and golf courses in Shah Alam. A pretty impressive amount, likely thanks to the large land area available. Which means you don’t have to go very much out of your way to indulge your hobby.
Potential for growth
Whether you’re moving there or looking to invest, the demand and existing community in Shah Alam means it has good future prospects. With a lot of prime undeveloped land, there’s a lot of potential for expansion and unlike expensive condos in the Kuala Lumpur city centre, there’s no property glut as yet.
Self-contained enough you won’t have to leave home
Except for maybe the nightlife, Shah Alam has everything else you need. Banks, hospitals, shopping centres, government offices – you can get your needs met in Shah Alam proper without needing to drive far out to meet your daily needs.
Shah Alam, in summary, is a place with a lot of potential to grow and offers a change from the frenetic pace often felt elsewhere in the Klang Valley. With that in mind, you’ll better appreciate what it has to offer.
If you are considering moving to somewhere else, here’s why you may want to consider moving to Petaling Jaya.
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