By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Aug 8 — The multi-billion ringgit SA Sentral project, a signature initiative by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), is set to breathe new life into Shah Alam's city centre while incorporating green energy and digital solutions.
PKNS group chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abbas said this is in alignment with the state’s goal of achieving net zero emissions, as outlined in the First Selangor Plan.
"SA Sentral is our signature PKNS project because it involves the redevelopment of the old city centre. Here, we will implement initiatives championed by the state government, including our target of net zero emissions.
"We will also generate approximately 500 megawatts of green energy for use within the development. Electric vehicle charging stations and other sustainable facilities will be integrated into the project." he said during a press conference after attending PKNS's 60th anniversary celebration at the Shah Alam Convention Centre (SACC) today.
Additionally, shops located in SA Sentral will employ a digital system to monitor visitor activities, like purchase patterns, allowing for continuous improvement.
"This city centre will serve as a test bed for innovation, particularly for startup companies," Mahmud said, adding that the development will feature a library and an exhibition centre next to the SACC.
The redevelopment project, which will take eight to 10 years to complete, will begin with upgrading works at the SACC, followed by the demolition of the adjacent SACC Mall, which has been a financial drain for PKNS.
He said the decline in retail sales, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the shift towards online shopping, has made it the right time to revamp the area.
However, Mahmud assured that current SACC Mall tenants will be offered options to relocate to other PKNS-managed commercial centres before the mall's demolition.
"Some have asked if we have started on SA Sentral. Yes, we have, even though the project has not been officially launched yet. We plan to begin by upgrading the convention centre and the surrounding area, including the parking lot.
“This will be our first SA Sentral project, which we will launch next month, along with the second project, a condominium development,” he said.
The condominium will be strategically located near the Dato Menteri LRT station, providing seamless connectivity to KL Sentral and KLCC.
"This development will cater to young professionals and middle-aged individuals working in Shah Alam or commuting to Kuala Lumpur,” Mahmud said.
Alongside residential and commercial spaces, the SA Sentral project will include an arts and crafts exhibition centre, enhancing the area’s cultural vibrancy.
"The convenience of having an LRT station right in front of the development will allow seamless connectivitystate de between the station, our project, Plaza Perangsang, Alam Sentral, the PKNS headquarters, and the nearby lake garden,” he said.
Previously, PKNS said the RM2 billion SA Sentral project will see the SACC Mall upgraded to a world-class exhibition centre starting from the first quarter of 2026 onwards. SA Sentral will also house a cultural and tourism centre under The Spine project in Section 14.
Meanwhile, Mahmud said PKNS is planning to rejuvenate old townships that it built in the 1970s and 1980s, including those located within Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, and Klang, the four cities that will make up the Selangor Greater Klang Valley.
PKNS is also part of the Selangor Greater Klang Valley (SGKV) working committee to provide input on ways to rejuvenate old townships.
[caption id="attachment_367446" align="aligncenter" width="1158"]
Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) group chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abbas (centre) during PKNS' 60th anniversary celebration at the Shah Alam Convention Centre in Section 14, Shah Alam, on August 8, 2024. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
