Selangor's new urban development blueprint balances growth, climate resilience and digital innovation

New Straits Times

15-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor is positioning itself as Malaysia's model state for future-ready development, balancing economic growth with climate resilience, urban connectivity and digital innovation.
In 2023, Selangor contributed the largest share to Malaysia's gross domestic product at 25.9 per cent, equivalent to RM406.1 billion, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
Its economy grew 5.4 per cent that year, outpacing the country's expansion of 3.6 per cent.
As Selangor lays out its blueprint for smart, walkable, and integrated urban districts, attention is shifting to how development links communities both physically and socially.
"Mobility should mean the ability to walk comfortably — ideally in covered spaces that are resilient to sun and rain," said urban planning expert Lim Take Bane on the New Straits Times ' Beyond the Headlines podcast discussing the topic "Future-Proofing Cities".
Lim said transit-oriented development must reduce dependence on cars by integrating homes, public transport and commercial centres.
"The idea is simple. You live upstairs, take the train downstairs, and everything you need is within reach. When we do this well, we reduce traffic, stress and environmental impact," he said.
Lim said interface zones — areas where different development types converged — should be well designed to ensure smooth infrastructure transitions and avoid traffic bottlenecks.
He said cities must prepare for climate resilience, particularly urban flooding.
Selangor's plans for the state-of-the-art Kompleks Sukan Shah Alam (KSSA) are poised to set a new benchmark for eco-resilient urban design.
Lim said such strategies challenged urban planning norms and that forward-thinking designs were replacing hardscapes with multifunctional green zones that serve as both flood buffers and public parks.
By embracing this model, he added, KSSA could become more than just a sports complex — it could help future-proof the city against climate extremes and safeguard communities.
Economist Professor Dr Barjoyai Bardai said Selangor's ambition to lead in the digital economy must be supported by real-time data systems and intelligent infrastructure.
"The state government must invest in big data analytics to understand the well-being, consumption, income and health of its residents, which can then be tailored to real needs," he said.
Barjoyai said Selangor's strategic role in Malaysia's semiconductor roadmap was a key advantage.
"With hubs like Cyberjaya acting as a tech park, and strong academic and industrial institutions in places like Shah Alam and Rawang, Selangor is poised to lead not just in assembly but also in chip design and advanced manufacturing," he added.
Both experts agreed that public-private partnerships would be crucial to ensuring sustainable and balanced development.
The Selangor State Development Corporation had done well in initiating development collaborations, especially with international firms, they said.
"But the next step is to embed technology into these ventures.