By Ng Pau Ling pauline@thestar.com.my
With a balanced mix of property and infrastructure developments, the industrial segment has benefited from Shah Alam’s growth, particularly its excellent access to seaports and airports within 30 to 45 minutes.

However, Area Management Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Stewart Labrooy reckons there is a need to reinvent Shah Alam by launching a new master plan for the older industrial areas.

Noting that the average age of warehouses in Shah Alam is 35 to 50 years old, he said they were “increasingly obsolete” for companies seeking new tech-friendly warehouse buildings.

“The challenge is to look into the ‘best use’ options for the existing industrial areas. E-commerce is an option, but the cost of land in Shah Alam is becoming prohibitive while new highways are opening alternative locations for logistics companies.

“Another challenge is the lack of large parcels of land in Shah Alam to cater to the ‘one million square foot’ type of warehouses that are sought by logistics companies,” he added.

Labrooy suggested that the new master plan should hold a mix of residential and commercial developments located side by side with logistics precincts, specialist hospitals, innovation labs, data centre business parks and specialised manufacturing facilities.

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