Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Petaling Jaya, often called PJ, is one of the most developed and dynamic cities in Selangor. Established as Malaysia’s first planned township in the 1950s, it has grown from a small suburban settlement into a major urban centre adjoining Kuala Lumpur. Today, Petaling Jaya is home to diverse neighbourhoods, shopping complexes, universities, and corporate offices, representing a blend of residential comfort and economic vitality. 1
Quick Facts
- Located immediately west of Kuala Lumpur.
- Administered by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
- Established in 1952 as Malaysia’s first planned town.
- Served by major expressways including the Federal Highway, Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP, E11), and Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS, E5).
- Known for its diverse suburbs such as Section 14, SS2, and Kota Damansara.
History and How the City Was Established
Petaling Jaya was founded in 1952 to address overpopulation in Kuala Lumpur during the post-war years. The British colonial administration selected an area near the 7th mile of the old Klang Road for a new satellite settlement, which became known as the Effingham Estate. The earliest sections, such as Old Town (Sections 1–4), were designed with a grid layout and basic amenities. 2
Following Malaysia’s independence, the town expanded rapidly with the development of New Town and surrounding residential sections. By the 1980s, it evolved into a full-fledged city and was officially granted city status in 2006. Today, Petaling Jaya is one of the key urban nodes of the Klang Valley. 3
As with most of the residential and industrial neighbourhoods surrounding Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya was developed out of rubber and palm oil plantations. In the case of Petaling Jaya, it was earmarked for development in the early 1950's. The area was before that a huge plantation called Effingham Estate.
The person who initiated the development of Petaling Jaya was the British High Commissioner at that time, Lieutenant-General Sir Gerald Templer. Best known for his role in putting down communist guerillas, Sir Templer had planned Petaling Jaya as a new town to distance the population from the jungle, whereby preventing them from helping the communist guerillas. In its earliest incarnation, Petaling Jaya was a "low-cost gated community" as the housing estate was fenced up.
The first housing development in Petaling Jaya was started in 1952. It comprised 800 units of residential houses in what is known today as Petaling Jaya Old Town. The first two main road in Petaling jaya were called Road 1 and Road 2. Although they have since been renamed Jalan Templer and Jalan Othman, it set the stage for numbering roads instead of naming them. As a result, much of the roads and subdistricts in Petaling Jaya carry numbers and letters instead of names.
Neighbourhoods in Petaling Jaya
The older neighbourhoods in Petaling Jaya usually carry the name "Seksyen" and are numbered from Seksyen 1 through to Seksyen 52. Seksyen 1-3 are also known as PJ Old Town while Seksyen 52 is called PJ New Town. Some neighbourhoods have a name in addition to the "Seksyen". For example, Seksyen 9 is also known as Taman Jaya, Seksyen 20 is Taman Paramount and Petaling Barat, Seksyen 21 is SEA Park and Seksyen 51A is Asia Jaya.
The newer sections are named "SS" which stands for "Sungei Way-Subang". The numbering goes from SS1 (also called Kampung Tunku) to SS26. Most of these "SS" neighbourhoods also carry names. Taman SEA is SS2; Taman Subang, Taman University & Seaport are SS3, Kelana Jaya is SS4, SS5, SS6 and SS7; Sungei Way is SS8, SS9 and SS9A; Damansara Utama is at SS20 and SS21, Damansara Jaya is at SS22 and SS22A, Taman SEA Baru at SS23, Taman Megah at SS24, Taman Mayang at SS25, and Taman Mayang Jaya at SS26.
Characteristic of the City
Petaling Jaya is characterised by its balance between residential, commercial, and industrial areas. The city hosts a mix of old and new neighbourhoods, ranging from traditional housing in Old Town and Section 17 to high-end condominiums in Kelana Jaya, Damansara Perdana, and Bandar Utama. 4
Commercially, Petaling Jaya thrives with major shopping destinations such as 1 Utama, Paradigm Mall, and Sunway Pyramid (on the city’s southern fringe). The city is also known for its thriving café scene, educational institutions, and medical facilities, making it one of the most liveable areas in Malaysia. 5
Real Estate and Property Market There
As one of Malaysia’s prime property markets, Petaling Jaya offers a wide range of housing from mid-range apartments to luxury residences. Demand remains strong due to its proximity to Kuala Lumpur and its comprehensive urban infrastructure. Key residential areas include SS2, Damansara Jaya, Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara, and Tropicana. 6
The city’s older sections continue to appreciate in value due to redevelopment and land scarcity. Mixed-use developments such as Sunway City and Empire Damansara contribute to its cosmopolitan appeal. 7
Accessibility and Transportation
Petaling Jaya is exceptionally well connected. The Federal Highway serves as its main artery, linking it directly to Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam. Other expressways include the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP, E11), Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS, E5), and New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE, E1). 8
Public transport includes the Kelana Jaya LRT Line and MRT Kajang Line, with numerous feeder bus services. The proximity to key expressways and public transport nodes makes Petaling Jaya one of the most accessible urban centres in Malaysia. 9
Landmarks and Places of Interest
- 1 Utama Shopping Centre – one of Malaysia’s largest malls, located in Bandar Utama.
- Sunway Pyramid – iconic shopping mall in Bandar Sunway, famous for its pyramid and sphinx architecture.
- University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) – a major medical and teaching hospital on PJ’s eastern border.
- Taman Jaya Park – an early recreational park adjacent to the Amcorp Mall area.
- Jaya One – a mixed-use development with restaurants, offices, and performance spaces.
Recreation in Petaling Jaya
Being a highly urbanised area, much of the recreational activities center around shopping, dining and going to the movies. Sunway Lagoon is a theme park that provides one of the few outdoor recreation activities within the Petaling Jaya district.
Fun Fact
Petaling Jaya was originally designated as “Petaling Estate 11th Mile” before being renamed in 1952. The “Jaya” suffix, meaning “success” in Malay, symbolises the town’s transformation from rubber estate to thriving city. 10
Map of Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Sights in Petaling Jaya
- 1 Utama Shopping Centre (GPS: 3.14791, 101.61595)
- Amcorp Mall (GPS: 3.10516, 101.64688)
- Bukit Gasing Forest Park (GPS: 3.0952, 101.65652)
- Cameron Towers (GPS: 3.08861, 101.66101)
- e@Curve Cineleisure (GPS: 3.15674, 101.60976)
- Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur (GPS: 3.12641, 101.64473)
- Fraser Towers (GPS: 3.08969, 101.6592)
- Giant Hypermarket Kelana Jaya (GPS: 3.10342, 101.59805)
- IKEA Damansara (GPS: 3.15684, 101.61285)
- IPC Shopping Centre (GPS: 3.156, 101.61152)
- Kelana Jaya Lake Park (GPS: 3.09369, 101.59628)
- Kelana Jaya Medical Centre (GPS: 3.10865, 101.59523)
- Kota Darul Ehsan Arch (GPS: 3.11226, 101.65658)
- Maxwell Towers (GPS: 3.0878, 101.66241)
- MBPJ Monument (GPS: 3.08526, 101.59205)
- Paradigm Mall (GPS: 3.10496, 101.59536)
- Petaling Jaya Museum (GPS: 3.10468, 101.65087)
- Sunway Pyramid (GPS: 3.07285, 101.60688)
- Taman Jaya (GPS: 3.10449, 101.65085)
- The Curve (GPS: 3.15788, 101.61195)
- Wat Chetawan (GPS: 3.10263, 101.6514)
Neighbourhoods of Petaling Jaya
- Damansara Perdana (GPS: 3.16942, 101.60867)
- Damansara Utama (GPS: 3.13602, 101.62425)
- Kelana Jaya (GPS: 3.10395, 101.59708)
- Mutiara Damansara (GPS: 3.16061, 101.61218)
Businesses in Petaling Jaya
- June Art Studio (Art and Painting Studio), 21, Jalan 21/22, 46300Petaling Jaya, Selangor; Mon - Sat 10.00am-6.00pm, Close on Sub and Public holiday, Phone: +6012 3753805.
Categories of sights in Petaling Jaya
Miscelleneous businesses in Petaling Jaya
- Green Daun Craft Shop (GPS: 3.16855, 101.60561)
Getting there
The Federal Highway was traditionally the main route leading from Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya, and onwards to Klang in the 1970s. Since then, several new expressways have been constructed in and around Petaling Jaya. The Rapid KL light rail transit Kelana Jaya Line provides the link between Petaling Jaya and Kuala Kumpur.
Going to Petaling Jaya
By Road
There are a number of highways connecting Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya. The main one would be the Federal Highway, which passes through Petaling Jaya and continues onwards to Shah Alam Klang and Port Klang. The Sprint Expressway provides the main access to the northern part of Petaling Jaya while the New Pantai Expressway provides access to the southern part.
By Train
The Kelana Jaya Line of the Kuala Lumpur light rail transit goes to Petaling Jaya. The stations in in Petaling Jaya include Taman Jaya LRT Station, Asia Jaya LRT Station, Taman Paramount LRT Station and Kelana Jaya LRT Station. The KTM Komuter Sentul-Port Klang Line also stops at a number of stations in Petaling Jaya including the Jalan Temple Komuter Station, Kampung Dato Harun Komuter Station, Seri Setia Komuter Station and Setia Jaya Komuter Station.
Petaling Jaya is 
on the Map of Towns in Selangor
References
- Wikipedia – Petaling Jaya
- Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) – Official Website
- The Star – Petaling Jaya: Then and Now
- EdgeProp – Petaling Jaya Property Overview
- Tourism Selangor – Petaling Jaya
