By Danial Dzulkifly
KLANG, Feb 5 – Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said that the royal city of Klang has all the makings of a sustainable and efficient city, which includes ongoing public infrastructure projects and a robust financial foundation.
In his address today during the ceremony proclaiming Klang a royal city, Amirudin highlighted the growing importance of Klang as a thriving economic hub, serving as a centre for administration, industry, and tourism, showcasing the diverse and vibrant localities and cultural communities.
He said some of the key public infrastructure projects that will contribute to Klang’s development include the upcoming Kapar Hospital, a power generation plant on Pulau Indah with a 1,200 MW capacity, and the West Coast Expressway (WCE), which is expected to improve connectivity from Klang to the west coast areas of Selangor up to Taiping, facilitating transportation to the northern regions.
“This signals that Klang has laid the essential foundations for rapid and sustained growth.
“The state administration is confident that Klang can meet the challenges, aligning with the vision of positioning Selangor not only as the most advanced state in Malaysia but also among the top five in Asia through the Greater Klang Valley,” he said at the ceremony held at Wyndham Achmar Klang, here today.
Amirudin also highlighted Klang’s strategic importance as the host of the twelfth busiest port globally and the second busiest in Southeast Asia, making Selangor an economic gateway to the rest of Asean.
“When meeting with local and international investors, I often mention that Selangor is the gateway to Asean, serving as the entry point to Southeast Asia. Selangor, with its port in Klang, is the gateway to Malaysia’s economy,” he said.
Furthermore, Amirudin outlined plans for the First Selangor Plan (RS-1) mid-term review this year to optimise the administration’s performance.
“Similarly, the Klang Municipal Council (had previously) formulated a three to five-year urban development plan, involving the redevelopment of major cities and commercial centres,” he said.
Acknowledging global challenges faced by mature cities, including land limitations, Amirudin also stressed the need for the development of quality and affordable housing, efficient infrastructure, and improved waste management in Klang.
He emphasised that addressing these challenges promptly is essential for creating economic opportunities and establishing a well-organized economic environment for sustainable management.
Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj officially announced the change of status of the Klang Municipal Council (formerly known as MPK) to the Klang Royal City Council or MBDK, which took effect on November 23, 2023, making it the fourth city in Selangor, after Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Subang Jaya, and the first royal city in the state.
The ceremony also saw the swearing-in of Datin Paduka Noraini Roslan, who served as MPK president, as Klang’s first mayor.
