Shah Alam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shah Alam
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
City and state capital
|
|||
| City of Shah Alam Bandaraya Shah Alam |
|||
|
From top, left to right:
The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque, i-City, Shah Alam Square, the Shah Alam Royale Theatre, and the Sultan Alam Shah Museum |
|||
|
|||
| Nickname(s):
Bandar Anggerik
Orchid City |
|||
| Motto(s):
Indah Bestari
Beautiful, Brilliant |
|||
 Shah Alam
Location in Selangor
Shah Alam
Location in Peninsular Malaysia
Shah Alam
Location in Malaysia
Shah Alam
Location in Southeast Asia
Shah Alam
Location in Asia
|
|||
| Country |  Malaysia |
||
| State |  Selangor |
||
| District | Petaling and Klang | ||
| Establishment | 1974 | ||
| State capital status | 7 December 1978 | ||
| Municipality status | 1 January 1979 | ||
| City status | 10 October 2000 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | City council | ||
| • Body | Shah Alam City Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 290.3 km2 (112.1 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2017)
|
|||
| • Total | 740,750 | ||
| • Rank | 6th in Malaysia | ||
| • Density | 2,551.7/km2 (6,608.8/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+8 (MST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Not observed | ||
| Postal code |
40xxx, 47xxx
|
||
| Area code(s) | +60(3) | ||
Shah Alam is a big city in Malaysia. It is the capital city of the state of Selangor. The name "Shah Alam" comes from Persian and means "king of the world".
Shah Alam is located in the Petaling District and a small part of the Klang District. It became the capital of Selangor in 1978. This happened because Kuala Lumpur, the old capital, became a special federal territory in 1974. Shah Alam was also the first planned city in Malaysia after the country became independent from Britain in 1957.
Contents
History of Shah Alam
After Malaysia gained independence in 1957, the country grew quickly. Shah Alam was once known as Sungai Renggam. This area was famous for its rubber and oil palm farms. Before Malaysia's independence, it was called Batu Tiga. It had been a trading center for rubber and palm oil for hundreds of years.
In 1973, the Selangor government decided to build a new town here. A town planning expert from the United Nations suggested this location. It was a good spot between Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang.
The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, chose the name Shah Alam. He named it after his father, Sultan Alam Shah. Many buildings and streets in the city are also named after the late Sultan.
Shah Alam officially opened in 1974. Its goal was to be the new administrative center for Selangor. On December 7, 1978, Shah Alam was declared the capital of Selangor. It started with an area of about 41.68 square kilometers.
How Shah Alam Grew
Shah Alam grew bigger several times between 1983 and 1997. The last time it expanded was on January 1, 1997.
- 1983: It added Sections 25-28 (Sri Muda). This added 11.41 square kilometers.
- 1994: It added Setia Alam, Bukit Jelutong, and Subang Airport. It also added Kota Kemuning and Sg Kandis. This added 208.6 square kilometers.
- 1997: It added Paya Jaras and parts of Sungai Buloh. However, it gave Putra Heights and Subang Hi-tech Industrial Park to Subang Jaya. This added 28.6 square kilometers.
Thanks to these expansions, Shah Alam now covers about 293 square kilometers.
Becoming a City
Shah Alam officially became a city on October 10, 2000. Dato' Haji Abu Sujak Haji Mahmud became its first mayor. He wanted Shah Alam to be a modern city with a special identity. He called it a Bandaraya Melayu ("Malay City"). This meant it would show the achievements of the Malay people in all areas.
Geography and Layout
Shah Alam is mostly located in the Petaling district. A small part is in the Klang district. Its total area is 290.3 square kilometers. Because it has grown so much, it shares borders with other cities. These include Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya to the east. The Klang district is to the west. Kuala Selangor and Selayang are to the north. Kuala Langat is to the south.
Shah Alam is also a major city in the Klang Valley. This area includes Kuala Lumpur and its nearby towns. The Klang River flows through Shah Alam on its way to the Strait of Malacca.
Most of Shah Alam's land is flat. However, the northern part of the city has some rolling hills.
City Design
Shah Alam's design is similar to Petaling Jaya or Subang Jaya. Most of the city is covered by housing areas. Shopping and business centers are spread out in different "Seksyen" (sections). There are 56 sections in total.
Shah Alam can be divided into three main parts: north, central, and south.
- North Shah Alam has 18 sections, including Sections U1, U2, and Kampung Melayu Subang.
- Central Shah Alam is where all the state government buildings are. It includes Sections 1 to 24.
- South Shah Alam has 12 sections. These include Section 25 (Sri Muda), Section 30 (Jalan Kebun), Section 31 (Kota Kemuning), and Section 32 (Bukit Rimau).
The city has many shopping malls. Some popular ones are Aeon Shah Alam Seksyen 13, Plaza Alam Sentral, and Central i-City Mall. Busy business areas are mostly in the city center (Section 14), Section 13, and Section 9.
All main roads in Shah Alam have signs showing their names in both Roman and Jawi scripts. This includes newer areas like Setia Alam and Kota Kemuning.
Climate and Weather
Shah Alam has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it is warm and humid all year. The average high temperature is about 31.9 °C. The average low temperature is about 23.2 °C. March is usually the warmest month. November often has heavy rains because of the northeast monsoon.
City Management
The Selangor state government decided to develop Shah Alam into a town. So, the Shah Alam Town Board was created in 1963. This group was managed by the Selangor State Development Corporation.
When Shah Alam became the state capital, the Shah Alam Municipal Council (MPSA) was formed. This happened on January 1, 1979. The council first worked from a small shop in Section 3. Later, it moved to bigger buildings. In 1988, it moved to a new 28-story building called Wisma MPSA.
Local Government
Today, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) manages Shah Alam. It is part of the Selangor state government. When Shah Alam became a city on October 10, 2000, the MPSA became a city council. Since then, nine mayors have been in charge. The current mayor is Mohd Fauzi Yatim, who started in 2024.
Politics
Shah Alam is part of three areas in the national parliament.
- Sungai Buloh (P107) is represented by Ramanan Ramakrishnan.
- Shah Alam (P108) is represented by Azli Yusof.
- The southern part of the city, Kota Raja (P111), is represented by Mohamad Sabu.
All these representatives are from the Pakatan Harapan political group.
Economy and Business
Shah Alam's economy is partly based on state government activities, as it is the capital of Selangor. Beyond that, its main economy comes from manufacturing. Services also play a big role.
The Malaysian supermarket chain Giant Hypermarket has its main office in Shah Alam.
Manufacturing is very important to Shah Alam's economy. It was important even before Shah Alam became a city. Many factories are in the Batu Tiga area and Sections 26, 27, and 28. Big companies like CSR Sugar Refinery, Fraser and Neave, and Panasonic-Matsushita have plants here.
Shah Alam also has several car manufacturing companies. Volvo has the oldest car assembly plant in Malaysia. Proton was started in Shah Alam and has its main office here. Proton still uses its Shah Alam assembly plant, even though it has a larger one elsewhere. Toyota also has an assembly plant here.
Education and Learning
The Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is a large university located near the city. Its campus covers an entire section of the city called Seksyen 1. There is also a branch campus called INTEC UiTM in Seksyen 17. Students there prepare for studies abroad.
Other universities in Shah Alam include University of Selangor and Management and Science University (MSU). Shah Alam also has several centers for industrial education. These include Shah Alam Polytechnic and CIAST.
The city has many primary and secondary schools. For example, in Section 27 and 28, there are three secondary schools and seven primary schools. Currently, Shah Alam has 23 secondary schools, 1 technical school, 1 vocational school, and 37 primary schools. SMJK Chung Hwa is the only national-type secondary school in the city.
The Chinese Taipei International School (Kuala Lumpur) is located in Section 32, Shah Alam.
Transportation and Travel
_01.jpg)
_01.jpg)
Shah Alam is well connected to other major cities in the Klang Valley. It has a network of highways like the Federal Highway and New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE). These highways also connect the city to two main airports. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is about 30 km south. The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang handles domestic flights.
Major roads within the city are connected by roundabouts. These divide the city into different Sections. Each Section has local roads named after a theme. For example, Section 20's roads are named after animals. Shah Alam is unique because its city roads have their own numbering system.
The KTM Komuter train service helps residents travel to other cities. The Tanjong Malim–Port Klang Route stops at three stations in Shah Alam:
- KD11 Shah Alam Komuter station (Section 19)
- Padang Jawa Komuter station (Section 17)
- Sungai Buloh Komuter station (Section U20)
Another station, Batu Tiga Komuter station, is just outside Shah Alam. Passengers can change trains at KL Sentral and Subang Jaya stations to connect to other lines.
Shah Alam is also served by the Kelana Jaya line of the LRT. This provides quick train access for people in Taman Alam Megah via the KJ35 Alam Megah LRT station and KJ36 Subang Alam LRT station. Glenmarie is served by KJ27 SA07 Glenmarie LRT station.
The MRT Kajang Line has stations in north-eastern Shah Alam. These include KG04 PY01 Kwasa Damansara MRT station, KG05 Kwasa Sentral MRT station, and PY03 Sungai Buloh MRT station.
Buses and taxis also provide public transport. A bus and taxi hub is in Section 17. From here, people can take express buses to other cities in Peninsular Malaysia.
Healthcare Services
_of_Shah_Alam_hospital.jpg)
Shah Alam has many private clinics in its neighborhoods. The main government clinics are Klinik Kesihatan Shah Alam in Section 7 and another in Section 19.
The government-owned Shah Alam Hospital opened on October 5, 2015. It cost MYR 565 million to build. It is also used as a teaching hospital for medical students. It is located next to the government clinic in Section 7.
There are seven private hospitals in Shah Alam. These include KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital and Avisena Specialist Hospital.
Culture and Community
Population and Groups
As of 2023, Shah Alam has a population of 438,745 people. The main ethnic groups are:
| Ethnic groups in Shah Alam | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Population | Percentage |
| Bumiputera | 326,865 | 74.5% |
| Chinese | 74,587 | 17.0% |
| Indian | 35,100 | 8.0% |
| Others | 2,193 | 0.5% |
Places of Worship
Shah Alam is famous for its mosque, the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque. It is also known as the Blue Mosque. It is one of the largest mosques in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It can hold 24,000 people praying at once.
The mosque has a large blue and silver dome. It is 51.2 meters wide and 106.7 meters tall. There are four tall minarets, each 142.3 meters high. The mosque was built after Shah Alam became the capital of Selangor in 1974. It was finished on March 11, 1988. Since Shah Alam is the capital of Selangor, Islam is the main religion for most residents.
The Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM)'s Samadhi Vihara is a Buddhist temple. It has a unique lotus-top Shrine Hall. It serves as a center for Buddhists in the Klang Valley. It is the only Theravadin-based temple in the area.
Fun Places to Visit
Garden of Islamic Arts The Blue Mosque overlooks the Garden of Islamic Arts. This is a beautiful park inspired by the Quranic Garden of Paradise. This 14-hectare park has nine galleries. They show Islamic art like calligraphy, sculptures, and paintings. Sometimes, traditional Islamic performances happen here.
Sultan Alam Shah Museum The Selangor State Museum (Sultan Alam Shah Museum) shows many treasures and items about Selangor's history. Next to the museum is the former Selangor State Library. The Selangor Islamic Arts Complex is also nearby. It has many Islamic artworks and treasures, including different types of Islamic calligraphy. An Islamic Art College is inside this complex.
The city has many parks and gardens. These include the Shah Alam Lake Gardens (with seven artificial lakes) and the Shah Alam National Botanical Park.
i-City Shah Alam
i-City is a 72-acre area in Section 7, Shah Alam. It is known for its bright LED lighting decorations at night. Besides the lights, it has a water theme park, a 3D museum, a Ferris Wheel, and a Snowwalk. It's a popular spot for taking photos.
Sports and Activities
Shah Alam has a large sports complex called Kompleks Sukan Shah Alam.
The huge Shah Alam Stadium is part of this complex. It used to be the home stadium for Selangor F.C.. Shah Alam Stadium was once the biggest stadium in Malaysia with 80,000 seats. It was featured in a challenge on The Amazing Race Asia Season 1. Teams had to ride go-karts around its track.
There is also the Melawati Stadium, an indoor stadium that can hold 40,000 people. It has been used for sports matches and concerts. The boxing finals of the 1998 Commonwealth Games were held here.
The Shah Alam Sports Complex also has the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre. There is a Go-Kart track in the Stadium Shah Alam parking area. The Shah Alam Extreme Park is in Section 13.
Shah Alam hosted two events for the 1998 Commonwealth Games: road cycling and boxing.
Recreation and Fun
.jpg)
Uptown Shah Alam Uptown Shah Alam is in Section 24, near the LKSA highway. It's a very popular place for locals. It's more than just a flea market. There are food stalls, concerts, and games happening often.
Bon Odori Festival
Bon Odori is a yearly Japanese festival. It honors the spirits of ancestors. In Malaysia, Bon Odori festivals are held every year in Penang and at the Panasonic Sports Complex in Section 21, Shah Alam. These festivals help locals learn about Japanese culture. They offer Japanese food, drinks, art, and dance. It's free to enter and is organized by Japanese groups.
Wet World Water Park Wet World is known as Malaysia's largest water theme park chain. Wet World Shah Alam is one of its locations. It offers many fun water activities for families.
Shah Alam Lake Garden The Shah Alam Lake Garden is a 43-hectare public park in Section 14. It was designed by a famous landscape architect. It was Selangor's first public park when it opened in 1985. The park has three man-made lakes. Many animals like peacocks, geese, and storks live there.
The lake garden is a big attraction. It has gazebos, walkways over the water, jogging paths, and playgrounds. There is also a floating seafood restaurant and many water activities for families.
International Connections
Shah Alam has connections with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities."
Sister Cities
Shah Alam currently has two sister cities:
|
More to Explore
- Shah Alam Transfer Station
- List of sections in Shah Alam
See also
In Spanish: Shah Alam para niños
