Contributed by Savills Malaysia managing director Datuk Paul Khong

Old Klang Road (OKR) is a neighbourhood that has established to become a mature suburb located on the fringes of Kuala Lumpur leading towards Port Klang.

The British Federated Malay States initially constructed this long trunk road in 1908 and presently, runs parallel to the Federal Highway and connects Mid Valley Megamall on its eastern end to Sunway Pyramid via LDP at Commerce Leisure Square.

Given its prominent location of being close to the KL city, it has now become one of the most desired addresses for redevelopment and is a magnet for new high-rise residential property projects.

Various new developers like MRCB, UOA Group, EXSIM Group, Bukit Kiara Properties Sdn Bhd, Binastra Group and many others have set foot in this neighbourhood.

In recent years, we have seen many new areas being rejuvenated and rebuilt with high-rise condominiums such as Seputeh 9, The Verve Suites, The Petalz, Southbank Residence, Saville, Miller Square, Scott Gardens, The Sands Residences and various others.

The popular focus points of redevelopments are the existing old sites fronting onto Old Klang Road at the eastern front end near the Mid Valley vicinity and MRCB’s Seputeh 9 vicinity where a new link is being built connecting to the NPE which is also near Sri Sentosa neighbourhood.

With the constant growth of the city and Klang Valley over the last few decades, OKR is a now well-connected major arterial road in a prime and strategic location within the heart of Klang Valley. It runs off from Mid Valley Megamall as its main landmark.

It is connected directly to various highways such as Federal Highway, New Pantai Expressway, LDP and leads directly to KESAS, NKVE, and Bukit Jalil Highway. 

There is no LRT or MRT line in the immediate vicinity, and the closest station around is MRT Kuchai Lama which is presently under construction.

Over the years, commercial properties built here interspersed with dilapidated industrial developments and matured residential neighbourhoods nearby such as Taman Desa, Taman OUG, Taman United, Taman Sri Sentosa, and PJS 5, to name a few.

Many of these areas and neighbourhoods have since aged and blighted. Old and dilapidated houses and abandoned or under-utilised industrial developments can be seen in the vicinity.

It is no easy task to amalgamate sizeable plots of land for redevelopment purposes. It is a painful and expensive exercise to acquire lands for redevelopment from various individual owners who are generally not compelled to sell their lands. 

The old industrial plots around here are still an easier bet as they are more sizeable, especially when the old factories are badly under-utilised.

The newer projects in the OKR vicinity are now mostly vertical to counter the limited availability of lands in the city.