Shah Alam to Relax Rules To Attract Foreign Investment
Ever since its inception, Shah Alam has always maintained its lowkey approach to development. In its early years, besides being the administrative capital of Selangor, it was more known as a quiet, low density residential area surrounded by enclaves of small to large industrial zones. But in the last 10 years, due to the population boom and folks migrating from more developed areas such as Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya. The attractions are obvious - Shah Alam offered cheaper homes, a well-planned infrastructure and obviously less densely populated that its neighbours.
But the one thing it was lacking was in terms was the sparse commercial centres and with it, entertainment outlets. This has been the policy in Shah Alam all the while, the commercial areas were limited to the shopping malls in city centre and surrounding shops, and pockets of shoplots at every section of housing areas. Any other large commercial outlets were generally not available.
But changes are on the horizon, slowly. In an effort to attract foreign investment, the city council have are greenlighting the knowledge-based i-City development project, which will contain the city’s first cinema.
According to the Star,
The cinema is part of the final phase of the i-City, which comprises a shopping mall and a citywalk which are scheduled to be completed in 2015. The intelligent centre is located at Section 7 of the state capital.
“We are making an exemption for the i-City to encourage international companies and franchisors to invest in the intelligent centre,” Shah Alam mayor Mazalan Md Noor said.
“But they still have to adhere to the existing rules and regulations, especially on the operating hours,” he said.
(source)
While its still some time away from completion, this looks like a positive development for the ever growing population of Shah Alam.
