KLANG, July 5 — For years, Klang’s reputation travelled faster than many of its visitors.
To some, the royal town was synonymous with traffic jams, ageing shoplots and internet jokes branding it “ghetto”.
To others, it was simply where people went for bak kut teh before driving home.
Now, just days after the opening of the LRT3 Shah Alam Line, Klang Royal City Council mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain believes the city has a chance to rewrite that narrative.
The new rail connection, coupled with a month of complimentary rides announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last Monday, has made Klang easier to reach than at any point in its history, removing what had long been one of the biggest reasons people stayed away, he said.
“My message is simple: Klang has never been closer to you. For the longest time, people hesitated to visit us because of the perceived distance or the notorious traffic jams on the Federal Highway.
“Now, the commencement of the LRT Shah Alam Line completely changes the game. We are now seamlessly connected to the rest of the Klang Valley.
“You can hop on a train at Bandar Utama, skip the gridlock entirely and step off right into the heart of our historic royal city,” he told Malay Mail.
“The barrier of distance is gone.
“If you haven’t visited Klang yet, you no longer have an excuse. The royal city is officially at your doorstep,” he added.
For Abd Hamid, however, getting people to Klang is only half the challenge.
The bigger task is convincing them to stay long enough to discover a city whose identity stretches far beyond its famous bak kut teh.
He points to landmarks such as Sultan Suleiman Royal Mosque, Bangunan Sultan Suleiman and Gedung Raja Abdullah as reminders of Klang’s place in Selangor’s royal history, while Little India along Jalan Tengku Kelana offers a vibrant mix of spice shops, textile stores and temples.
“As a royal city, our classic infrastructure tells the story of Malaysia’s birth,” he said.
Food, he added, is only one part of the experience.
While bak kut teh remains Klang’s best-known culinary export, visitors should also seek out Klang-style fried porridge, lontong Klang, seafood at Tanjung Harapan and generations-old kopitiam coffee.
“The beauty of Klang is that you do not have to choose. We offer a rich sensory tapestry of history, culture and food,” he said.
Changing perceptions, however, may prove harder than improving connectivity.
Klang has spent years battling a reputation that its leaders say no longer reflects the city today.
“To anyone still holding onto that outdated stereotype, I say: come and see the reality for yourself,” Abd Hamid said.
“Old perceptions die hard, but Klang has evolved tremendously. We are no longer just an old industrial port town. We are officially a Royal City.”
He said the council has focused on urban renewal, preserving heritage buildings and improving public infrastructure, efforts now complemented by the opening of the LRT3.
“Every city has its grit and its history. That is what gives a place its soul.
“But today’s Klang balances that authentic character with rapid modernisation, cleaner public spaces and highly accessible public transport like the LRT3.”
The campaign to reshape Klang’s image has been gathering momentum in recent years.
In February 2024, then inspector-general of police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain dismissed comparisons between Klang and Colombia over crime, saying the Selangor royal town did not even record the highest crime rate in the Klang Valley.
That same month, the Sultan of Selangor proclaimed the former Klang Municipal Council as the Klang Royal City Council, with the designation taking effect from November 23, 2023.
Abd Hamid hopes the city’s newest railway will encourage more people to judge Klang for themselves rather than through old stereotypes.
“I would like to reiterate, don’t rely on old internet memes or outdated rumours.
“Take the new LRT line, walk our streets, talk to our people, and let the real Klang surprise you. You will find a city that is proud of its past, energised by its future, and incredibly welcoming,” he said.
