The completion of the highways over the last decades have driven the growth in Shah Alam. An ideal mixture of industrial, commercial and residential properties further provided job opportunities, skilled talents and a sustainable living environment for the citizens. Landserve Sdn Bhd managing director Chen King Hoaw shares his insights on the housing market of Shah Alam.

What are the strengths of Shah Alam compared to the other areas of Klang Valley?

Chen: Due to its status as the state capital, the city is blessed with excellent infrastructures such as highways and roads which connect Shah Alam to the seaports and airports, as well as all the other cities in the Klang Valley within a 30 minutes driving distance.

As the first planned township after the independence of our country, Shah Alam has industrial, residential, commercial and administrative precincts that cater to different needs since its inception.
For example, it accommodates several state government departments and offices, and these facilitate the public in dealing with the authority.

It is also home to multi-national companies and established manufacturers that engage in manufacturing, logistics, and import and export activities. These companies have provided a vast pool of talents and job opportunities.

Besides, Shah Alam is known for its colleges and universities. Apart from UiTM and MSU, other institutions of higher learning in Shah Alam include the University of Selangor, PTPL College, Shah Alam Polytechnic, Pusat Latihan Pengajar & Kemahiran Lanjutan (CIAST) and Advance Technology Training Centre (ADTEC).

Please define the characteristics of the Shah Alam housing market.

Chen: All types of residential properties are available in Shah Alam, including landed and high-rises. As for serviced-apartments and SOHO, the housing types only came into the market two decades ago.

Most of the houses in Shah Alam are owner-occupied. There are also property investors in Shah Alam who purchased their properties for rental returns. These investors are generally focused on high rises located in Section 7 near to the UiTM, and also Section 13 which is in proximity to the MSU.

Where are the most vibrant parts of Shah Alam?

Chen: The popular residential addresses in Shah Alam are Section 13 to 25, Kota Kemuning, Bukit Rimau, Bukit Jelutong, Setia Alam, i-City, Alam Impian, Kemuning Utama, and Denai Alam.

On the other hand, the vibrant commercial hubs in Shah Alam are located in Section 7, Section 13, Worldwide Business Park, Alam Avenue, IDEAL Convention Centre, Bukit Jelutong, Setia Alam, Kota Kemuning and Bukit Rimau.

Concerning industrial developments, the most popular areas are the Hicom Industrial Estate, Taman Perindustrian Axis, Shah Alam Teknologi Park (Section 33), Section 28, Section 15, Section 16, Bukit Jelutong Business And Technology Centre, Kawasan MIEL, Kota Kemuning Industrial Park and Taman Perindustrian Bukit Raja Selatan.

In recent years, we are witnessing more developers come in to join in the development at Shah Alam. What are the reasons that attract these industry players to build in Shah Alam?

Chen: The completion of several highways over the last decades have opened up Shah Alam, further increasing the demand for properties. Coupled with the shortage of land in Klang Valley, it led the developers to spill over to the adjoining regions.

City of Elmina (Sime Darby), Eco Ardence (Eco World), i-City (i-Bhd), Kota Kemuning (Gamuda Land), Setia Alam (SP Setia), are some of the townships by the builders who are known for their financial capabilities and appetite for massive developments.

What is the most sought-after housing type in Shah Alam?

Chen: Given the soft property market today, affordable residential properties such as apartment, serviced-apartment and condominium near the higher learning institutions and hypermarkets would enjoy stronger demand. The newly planned neighbourhoods such as Bukit Jelutong, Setia Alam, Kota Kemuning are predominantly catered to buyers from the medium to high-income segments.

What is the current outlook for the industrial properties?

Chen: There are all types of industries in Shah Alam such as food processing, packaging, chemicals, petrochemicals, aluminium, steel, engineering, electrical goods, plastic moulding, automobile, logistics and more.

The prominent companies include Proton Holdings Bhd, Goodyear Malaysia Bhd, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, Ninja Van Malaysia, Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, UMW and Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd.

The industrial properties benefited from Shah Alam’s infrastructures, particularly the excellent access to seaports and airports which are within a 30 to 45 minutes drive away. Also, there is a vast pool of skilled and semi-skilled workers living in Shah Alam and nearby cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya and Klang.

What are the new industrial areas worth investing in?

Chen: We would name Elmina East Industrial Park and Taman Perindustrian Bukit Raja as the industrial area to look at.

What about the overall outlook of Shah Alam?

Chen: The market is healthy as it is being underpinned by strong demand. We expect the property prices and rental to remain stable with upside potential in the near to medium term. It is because the area has all the shopping, education, medical and recreational facilities that contribute to a proper working and living environment.

Furthermore, the LRT3 project which connects Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya to Bandar Parkland in Klang is underway. With nine of its 26 stations being located in Shah Alam, it will increase connectivity between Shah Alam and many parts of the Klang Valley.

Chen King Hoaw is the managing director of Landserve Sdn Bhd. He is a valuer and estate agent registered with the BOVAEA with more than 25 years experience in the valuation, estate agency and property management professions.

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