Over the last decade, Taman Maluri, Cheras or commonly referred to as Maluri, has gone through a total makeover. Located at the border of the city centre and adjacent to the bustling industrial Pudu and Chan Sow Lin, Maluri has been one of the most affordable residential locations in KL. It was the closest residential town to KL’s Golden Triangle with plenty of space for growth.
Developed in the 1960s as a residential zone with government quarters, it housed a handful of small shopping outlets and restaurants along with basic necessities for its residents. From then, Maluri latched on the growth of the industrial Chan Sow Lin as more residents settled in.
This 730-acres of blue collar town is now looking nothing like its past. Maluri is a growing commercial hub with abundant lifestyle essentials for everyone and still boasts the best proximity to the city centre.
City-Adjacent Township Transformation with Room for More
Earlier, the general demographics of old Maluri was reflected by its government quarters on Jalan Cochrane as well as low income public housing, PPR Laksamana on Jalan Peel. The change in demographics came about with the redevelopment of the quarters to accommodate more of the lower-middle-income households. By 1970s, government quarters slowly emptied as workers chose homeownerships and these spaces started to be redeveloped into middle income residential area with high rise apartments.
The population of Maluri grew exponentially and the rapid change saw the need for more development. The growth also increased the income levels of the residents, spurring the higher level of property market and business avenue demands. Old quarters along Jalan Cochrane and Jalan Peel were slated for immense urban regeneration undertakings to bring in vitality to the area.
Another facilitator for the big change was the entry of larger developers - the Sunway Group launched the 23-acre mixed development Sunway Velocity, while Ekovest Bhd opened its’ 12-acre Ekocheras. Boustead Holdings’ and Ikano Pte Ltd’ redevelopment of Jalan Cochrane (IKEA and MyTown Shopping Centre) further changed the landscape and solidified the new Maluri into an emerging residential and lifestyle powerhouse. Sunway Velocity opened its doors in 2016 while IKEA and MyTOWN opened in November 2015 and March 2017 respectively.
To keep up with the rapid progress, even older institutions such as the 30 years old Jaya Jusco store, now rebranded as AEON, has recently been refurbished in order to compete with the newer malls entering Maluri.
Connectivity as Catalyst for Change
One of the major catalysts for Maluri’s growth is definitely the MRT line which improves its connectivity and eases the traffic congestion which had always been the problem in the area. The completion of the Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line has given Maluri the big boost not just for travellers and shoppers to the new malls but also to the desirability of the properties here.
The two stations around Jalan Peel and Jalan Cochrane have improved connectivity and raised the appeal of this new parcel to match the cornerstone landmarks IKEA and MyTown. Other MRT stations within the area include Taman Pertama and Taman Midah. Of the total 31 confirmed MRT stations, five are located in the Cheras vicinity. While Maluri had already benefited from the LRT Ampang Line since the 1990s to mitigate the congestion, the recent MRT line makes travelling from Maluri to other parts of KL very convenient, affordable and hassle-free.
Aside from the new MRT line, several roads near Maluri have also been upgraded. This includes refurbished connections to Pudu, Jalan Pasar and Kampung Pandan as well as the new Besraya Eastern Extension Expressway linking it to Serdang and Seri Kembangan. The developments of KL’s new international financial district, Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), and Sunway Velocity also saw road upgrades around Maluri to mitigate the existing traffic flow as well as creating direct connectivity to the new business hubs. In addition, the new Putrajaya MRT Line and the Setiawangsa-Pantai Expressway will also aid to the access and attract more business and residents to the area.
Foresight for Progress
As with any zone rejuvenation and redevelopment, the capital appreciation and improved infrastructure also increase the desirability of Maluri, creating a ripple effect to its surrounding areas including Taman Pertama and Taman Midah. With the demand for space, infrastructures and connectivity, the bigger Cheras vicinity is experiencing the positive impacts spurred by Maluri.
The strategic location, proximity to TRX, access to amenities and connectivity have aided the urban regeneration of Maluri, along with Imbi and Pudu, steadily contributing to the modernisation of KL. The localities can expect more high-end residences, business spaces and transit-oriented developments emerge in near future.
The vibrancy of the new developments and convenient access by both public transport and new highways have not only benefited Maluri residents alone but also gain more interest of big developers into the area, which in turn will create better townships, facilities and amenities for the residents, the property market and the economy as a whole.
----
Photo credit: https://www.edgeprop.my/content/1641272/maluri-reborn
