A melting 'port' of culture and delectables

After all, Klang was sparked to vitality by its strategic position as a trading port as well as its tin-mining industry since the 1400s. Notably, Klang served as the centre of administration from 1874 to 1880 during the British colonisation. Having played a significant role in the formation of Selangor, today it remains the royal town of the state.

Steeped in such deep history, Klang is marked with age-old structures and cultural sights. In fact, tourists can get some inside stories and exclusive entries to otherwise restricted sites if they join the free weekend Klang Cultural Heritage Trail initiated by Tourism Selangor and the Klang Municipal Council. Eleven treasures in the town centre are featured in the 3km walk, including the former Chartered Bank building, Royal Klang Club, Alam Shah Palace, Klang Fire Station and Raja Abdullah Warehouse.

The intertwining of the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, along with the co-existence of the four main religions in the country are evident in the numerous landmarks in the town centre, demonstrating the muhibbah spirit that has been alive in the Klang community for centuries.

To paint a clearer picture, Live! highlights eight more experiences here:

1. Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery

Built in 1909, it houses a museum that tells of the origins of the Selangor sultanate which dates back to 1766. Besides admiring the classic colonial architecture, visitors get to view replicas of Selangor’s crown jewels. Established in honour of the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, who was the Eighth Sultan of Selangor from 1960 and Eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2001, glimpses of the monarch’s life are exhibited through photos and over 2,000 pieces of personal collections of artifacts and memorabilia.

2. Eng Ann morning market

Decades old, the roughly 500m stretch + 100m lane is popular for its wide array of not just fresh meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, but also kitchen appliances, apparel, accessories, shoes, bed sheets, traditional medicine and even car accessories. A favourite for local breakfast items like nyonya kuih, nasi lemak, tau foo fah and yao zha guay, it is crowded daily with shoppers from Klang as well as surrounding neighbourhoods like Shah Alam, Subang and Petaling Jaya.

3. Little India

The biggest Indian street in Malaysia, it presents a feast of sights, sounds and smells from a myriad of shops and stalls lining the main road and several alleys. A complete range of everything Indian is available here — clothing, textiles, footwear, jewellery, sweetmeats, snacks, garlands, spices, vegetables, decorations, cooking utensils, CDs of Bollywood tunes and many more. And don’t leave without trying the banana leaf rice here.

4. Sultan Sulaiman Royal Mosque

The building is a showcase of architectural artistry and finesse from the early 1930s. Crafted by British designers, it is a blend of Islamic, Western Art Deco and Neoclassical styles. Some of its outstanding features include the solid pebbledash facade walls and the magnificent stained glass on its vaulted ceiling. Its grounds also house the royal mausoleum of the late Sultan Salahuddin. The mausoleum is directly linked to the Alam Shah Palace via the Royal Stairs.

5. Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Roman Catholic worship centre can be identified by its Gothic-style architecture. Built in 1928, its sanctuary features exquisite stained glass panes depicting the story of Jesus Christ. Visitors are also welcomed into its chapel to view the two glass panels which made headlines in 2012 for the unexplained formation of images which resemble the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

6. Guan Yin Temple

The oldest temple in Malaysia, The Guan Yin Temple was built in 1892. It was almost destroyed by termites before the Sultan of Selangor declared it a state heritage site, initiating its restoration. Elaborate Chinese artisanship of stone and timber line its many walls, ceilings and statues. Adding to its attraction is a Chinese garden with vibrantly-coloured Koi fish swimming in its pond.

7. Sri Nagara Thendayuthapani Temple

The 150-year old temple is one of the oldest in Klang, serving the first Indian immigrants to our shores. The colour of its intricate sculptures on the multi-decked roof may have weathered, but their forms remain iconic. It is still an important congregation point for Hindu devotees today.

8. Chong Kok Kopitiam

The choice is yours, it’s all freshly homemade — the kaya, wholemeal bun, egg sponge cake, cheese cake and tart, nyonya kuih, nasi lemak bungkus, pisang goreng, cucur udang and more. Or it could be the kopi, from coffee beans roasted and ground within the shop itself, sold from only RM1.70 per cup. Or the perfectly soft-boiled eggs and the seven varieties of toast and steamed bread. Whatever the lure, this kopitiam has, since 1940, successfully embodied the muhibbah spirit, where the Malays, Chinese and Indians eat side by side unreservedly.

A popular spot for foodie hunt

Of course, the story of Klang would be incomplete without a mention of its other delectable indulgences, especially its bak kut teh. One popular place to enjoy this hot meal is Berkeley Garden. Located in the heart of Klang, Berkeley Garden is also frequented for its mee hoon kuih, fried porridge, traditional charcoal steamboat, coffee pork chop, the wide selection of seafood dishes and a whole variety of food joints.

Berkeley Garden is among the pioneers in the residential development of Klang, having been established 35 years ago. Its developer, Paramount Property is a trusted brand among the Klangites for having birthed and nurtured Berkeley Garden to be what it is today — a mature residential community with a complete array of amenities to meet every daily need.

Injecting new life into Klang

Like a grande dame, the vicinity of Berkeley Garden offers comfort and familiarity to its denizens, which explains why most prefer to stay rooted in this well-aged town. At the same time, Paramount Property recognises its need for an injection of new life to rev up its staying power as a sought-after residential and socio-economic hub.

To this end, Paramount Property is now pioneering a 33-acre mixed-use development named Berkeley Uptown, anchored by the Sri KDU International School (primary and secondary) on five acres, to offer world-class education by 2021. With serviced apartments, commercial zones for retail and offices as well as a big public park, Berkeley Uptown is set to fulfill the upgraders’ wish for a modern lifestyle within this mature enclave.

Enriching generational living with modern amenities

Located a stone’s throw away from Berkeley Garden, the freehold project will offer many second and third generations who have grown up there options for new homes to stay near their parents.

The diversified built-ups are aimed at facilitating multi-generational living, either in separate units or under one roof. For those who are just venturing into independent living, there will be 550 sq ft units priced below RM300,000. For less than RM500,000, units measuring 868 sq ft and 1,093 sq ft are also available, and they are just nice for couples and small families.

Notably, a limited number of garden villa units measuring 1,596 and 1,612 sq ft will interest those who want premium units with landed home conveniences like doorstep car parks and spacious layouts. With access to all the lifestyle facilities available to serviced residences, these villa units will get the best of both worlds.

To meet a foremost demand, Berkeley Uptown will be safeguarded within three-tier security that includes a 24-hour gated-and-guarded entrance and access card system.

Angled to front the eye-soothing open park and river, the 30-storey serviced apartments will enjoy far-reaching views. Besides the generous greens and recreational facilities from the urban park, dwellers will get to relax in their own exclusive landscaped sanctuaries inspired by the mangrove trees.

“Thriving along the edges of the river, the mangrove flourishes the land by purifying the water and providing shelter to its inhabitants… it attracts other forms of life that co-exist,” says Paramount Property CEO of property division, Beh Chun Chong. “This will be reflected in our landscape design to provide abundance, comfort and goodness to our residents.”

Catering to both young and old, there will be a Leisure Lepak Park where residents can take a walk, cycle, bring their pets for a stroll, jog, climb mounds and exercise. Meanwhile, the level-8 facility deck will feature an Olympic-length pool, wading pool, gym, reading room, games room, herb garden, siesta lounge and multi-purpose hall. All these green pockets are formed to embrace its residents within the bosom of Mother Earth.

“Berkeley Uptown aims to be a progressive representation of modern tropical architecture with the beauty of old charm in the city of Klang,” Beh says, adding that the first phase of serviced apartments will be launched in the first quarter of 2019.

The freehold development will be located beside Jalan Goh Hock Huat, bordering the Klang central business district on the west. Since May 2017, Jalan Goh Hock Huat has also been connected to Jalan Tanjung Sawal by a third bridge.

Linked to Jalan Kapar, residents will be able to easily access Jalan Meru and the Federal Highway, as well as NKVE. With Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya new town centres located 10km and 27km away respectively, this development will also be a good choice for those working in these places.

When completed, Berkeley Uptown will merely be 1.5km from the existing Klang KTM station. Additionally, a proposed LRT Line 3 will place it 1.7km away from the Klang Station, allowing convenient access to the Kuala Lumpur city centre through its direct link to the Bandar Utama station, which is integrated with the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line.

Sited at Klang’s main axis, Berkeley Uptown is surrounded by all the amenities that make life so at ease here. Besides shops catering to every daily necessity, there are several malls within a 3km to 5km radius, including Klang Parade, Setia City Mall, Bukit Raja Shopping Centre, Centro Mall and Aeon Bukit Tinggi. It is also in close proximity to a host of established schools, like the well-reputed Pin Hwa High School sited just next to the development, and others such as Regent International School, Beaconhouse Sri Lethia, Sri Acmar International School and Tenby International School. As many as six medical centres surround Berkeley Uptown within a 6km radius. The closest includes the KPJ Klang Hospital, Klang Manipal Hospital and Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre.

This story first appeared in Live! 2019 magazine. Download your copy of the magazine here.