Local Councilor Kusaaliny on Transforming Petaling Jaya and Navigating Racial & Religious Tensions

Beyond the Ballot Box · Mar 17, 2026 · 48m

Petaling Jaya was originally developed in the 1950s as one of Malaysia’s first planned suburbs, built to house residents moving out of the crowded city centre of Kuala Lumpur.

Decades later, many of its neighbourhoods are ageing even as demand to live in PJ remains strong because of its central location and economic activity. Now, a new local plan aims to transform the city from a low-rise suburb into a denser, more vibrant urban centre that can attract younger residents while remaining liveable for existing communities.

In this episode, we unpack that vision and what it could mean for the…