Mont Kiara is upscale, affluent, surrounded by greenery, and one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the Klang Valley
Located within a 15-minute drive from the urban centres of Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya – and just 10 minutes’ to Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Mont Kiara is a strategic location and an elite enclave nestled in the Kiara foothills – the largest reserve of greenery within 5 kilometres in any direction.
A combination of shopping plazas, offices, and high-rise apartments, along with a limited number of guarded bungalow communities surrounded by high walls, occupy a dense area of just under two square kilometres (1.9km2 including Kampung Segambut Dalam).
The lush greenery of Icon Residence Mont' Kiara seen on the exterior.
This densely populated area is relatively built up, compared to almost anywhere else in the Klang Valley. The majority of developments in Mont Kiara were completed by 2010, with a handful of mixed developments having been completed as recently as 2018.
Mont Kiara has the highest concentration of high-rise residential developments anywhere in the Klang Valley. FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
With sparse land available for development, Mont Kiara is widely considered to be a matured neighbourhood. Due to Mont Kiara’s already compact footprint, and a marked increase in demand for available land in the area, developers have planned their latest residential projects within the vicinity of Segambut, an area situated just a ten-minute drive from Mont Kiara.
Despite the high concentration of developments in the area, Mont Kiara is dotted with numerous parks and gardens situated among residential communities and commercial plazas. The multiple retail hubs host a wide range of recreational options including art galleries, gyms, eateries, artisanal cafés, and retail shops offering global as well as homegrown brands.
Visitors admiring artworks at the launch of Artseni at Gateway Kiaramas in Mon’t Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
Mont Kiara has always been regarded as an ideal neighbourhood for expatriates, dignitaries, and some of the nation’s elite – this affluent neighbourhood boasts landed properties priced upwards of a million ringgit, an established nightlife, and some of the Klang Valley’s finest grocers, restaurants, and international schools.
Mont Kiara is home to two prominent international schools, the British Garden International School, and the American syllabus Mont Kiara International School. The French school of Kuala Lumpur, Lycée Français Kuala Lumpur (LFKL), is located within 3 kilometres of Mont Kiara, at the end of Jalan Dutamas Raya.
A twenty-five meter pool facility at the Mont Kiara International School (MKIS) in Kuala Lumpur.
According to price data supplied by PropertyAdvisor.my, the median prices per square foot (psf) of high-rise properties transacted in Mont Kiara have increased by about 40 percent during the last ten years (from 2008 to 2018) – from an average of RM 479.53 psf in 2008 to RM 879.84 psf in 2018.
This compact neighbourhood is situated next to an intersection of four expressways – the New Klang Valley Expressway, the North-South Expressway, the Duta–Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE), and the Sprint Expressway. Through the PLUS Expressway at the northern end of Mont Kiara, the DUKE expressway connects Mont Kiara to either Ampang, Ulu Klang or Gombak. The Kerinchi Link, connects motorists from Mont Kiara or Kepong to Petaling Jaya while bypassing downtown Kuala Lumpur.
AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star.
While there is a distinct lack of public transportation networks running through Mont Kiara proper, the Segambut KTM station, the nearest rail station to Mont Kiara, is located just 10 to 15 minutes' drive away. RapidKL buses link Mont Kiara to Segambut KTM Komuter station and neighbouring Desa Sri Hartamas to the Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT station.
Security
Contributed by Shamir R., a crime and safety consultant from PreventCrimeNow.com
Because Mont Kiara is known for a high number of expats living there, the neighbourhood tends to be a hunting ground for snatch thieves and muggers – and since most Mont Kiara residents have a healthy routine of exercising early in the morning before the sun is up, this has raised concerns of snatch thefts and muggings.
In response to the concerns of residents, the police and auxiliary police have increased their patrols – the auxiliary police have conducted courses to increase their efficiency and engaged in community policing activities. This has given the residents a sense of security.
Most developments come with a minimum of 3-tier security these days, which typically include a guard house, guard patrols, and card access control for residents.
This helps to a slight extent but it does not mean the neighbourhood is safe. There are various factors to consider, the first would be to determine how secure the guardhouse really is.
Some developments have guard houses which are not properly equipped – which prevent the guards from effectively executing their roles. The second would be how cooperative the residents are. Some neighbourhoods have residents who complain that guards are too strict, and their selfish behaviour has put the whole neighbourhood at risk – once the guards start to give leeway then criminals will take the opportunity to strike.
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