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Shah Alam is the state
capital of Selangor, Malaysia situated within the Petaling District and a
small portion of the neighboring Klang District. It is located about 25
kilometers (16 mi) west of the country's capital,
Kuala Lumpur. Shah Alam
replaced Kuala Lumpur as the capital city of the state of Selangor in 1978
due to Kuala Lumpur's incorporation into a Federal Territory in 1974. Shah Alam was the first planned city in Malaysia after independence in 1957.
Its current name was chosen by the then state Sultan of Selangor, Sultan
Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, after his late father Sultan Alam Shah. Many
other monuments, buildings and even a street are named after the late
Sultan. Shah Alam was opened in 1963 with the purpose of making it the
administrative centre of Selangor once
Kuala Lumpur was made a Federal
District on February 1st, 1974.
Shah Alam was granted city status on 10 October, 2000 with Dato' Haji Abu
Sujak Haji Mahmud as the first mayor. Abu Sujak declared the vision of
making Shah Alam a modern city with a unique identity of "Bandaraya Melayu"
or Malay City, showcasing the achievements of the Malay race in all
sectors. In line with this identity, Shah Alam was declared the first city
in the world with no entertainment outlets to avoid any vice activities.
The city is administered by Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) after
accorded a city status in 2000.
Shah Alam is well connected to other main cities in Klang Valley via a
network of major highways, namely the Federal Highway , New Klang Valley
Expressway (NKVE), Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS), Guthrie Corridor
Expressway (GCE), North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) and the
newest highway Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA). Highways also connect
the city to two major airports.
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) located 30 km south of the
city serves international flights and is connected via the ELITE highway,
while the
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang caters to domestic
flights and is connected via the Federal Highway. Major roads within the
city are connected via roundabouts that divide the city into different
Sections. Each Section contain a network of local roads named according to
a chosen theme; for example, Section 20's roads are named after animals.
The KTM Komuter commuter train service provides for residents who use
public transportation to other major cities, connecting Shah Alam via the
Batu Caves-Port Klang Route. This route stops at three stations within
Shah Alam: the Shah Alam Komuter station situated at the southern part of
the city in Section 19, the Padang Jawa Komuter station at Section 17 and
the Sungai Buloh Komuter station at Section U20. Another
KTM Komuter
station located at the outskirts of Shah Alam is the Batu Tiga Komuter
station situated near UEP Subang Jaya in Batu Tiga. Residents would then
transfer to different routes at the KL Sentral station.
Buses and taxis provide public transport in commercial areas in the city.
A bus and taxi hub is located at Section 17, providing offices for several
mini buses, express buses and taxi companies as well as rental car
services. This hub also provides for passengers that travel on express bus
services to major cities throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
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