Comments on: The bad urban design of Cyberjaya: Malaysia’s ‘failed Silicon Valley’

By: Nayr Mak

Nayr Mak — Thu, 22 May 2025 01:54:11 +0000

I completely agree with you. As a Malaysian who loves to walk, I truly appreciate the walkability and public transport, both of which are still considered a luxury here. Whenever I travel to cities like Taipei, Tokyo, London, or Barcelona, I walk whenever or wherever I can. Even in hot climates like Singapore, walking is still the best way to explore a city.

Unfortunately, in Malaysia, poor urban planning often stems from a lack of political will, a focus on short-term gains, incompetence, unrealistic visions, and in some cases, sheer laziness.

Cities like Cyberjaya and Putrajaya is dull and uninspiring. They lack the vibrancy needed to attract global talent. That’s largely because they were built with a “by our own people” mindset, unlike Malaysia’s most dynamic and successful cities, which owe their growth to more inclusive and diverse contributions. There are also other, more sensitive reasons I won’t get into here.

Will this change in the next 50 years? Sadly, I doubt it.

Great story and keep up your good work.

By: Chris Leighton

Chris Leighton — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:06:25 +0000

Fun fact: the term ‘cyber’ is much older than your article suggests.
The Cybermen were scary creatures who were first seen in 1966 in episodes of Dr Who.

By: Chris Leighton

Chris Leighton — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 07:59:12 +0000

In reply to tong liang. You could simply say ‘agree’ but you then attack. Why not explain how the writer is wrong?

By: Chris Leighton

Chris Leighton — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 07:55:39 +0000

In reply to Azlan. @Azlan the article is constructed logically. Maybe you could explain how the MRT services the whole area? Yes there are feeder buses, but they do not match the MRT timetable (a 30 minute wait).

By: Shireen Jahn Kassim,dr

Shireen Jahn Kassim,dr — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 12:12:26 +0000

In reply to Ahmed Yehya. Everything he said is true ..his point is that since it was a fully planned city , therefore why wasn't it planned better and with the pedestrian in mind.

By: Zuhairi Aie

Zuhairi Aie — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 03:16:50 +0000

You are correct sir. Tell everyone not to come to Cyberjaya!

Let Cyberjaya free from jammed.
Oversupply, bad design, and no pedestrian walkaway.

Yeah2. Don’t move to Cyberjaya guys.

We don’t want more hectic here. It’s so peaceful on weekend except when there is a running events..

By: Tai

Tai — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 00:33:05 +0000

In reply to Eric. There's nothing positive in the write up which gives a very wrong impression about CJ. U may criticise but at the same time give some suggestions of improvements. U have to stay more than a day to like a place. U r like going to CJ to find faults. Be fair n professional.

By: Gregory

Gregory — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 01:24:07 +0000

This reminds me of my own tourist visit to Kuala Lumpur in 2019.
After visiting Merdeka Square in the centre of the city I decided to walk north to the KTM Bank Negara station. It looked easy. The sidewalk gradually narrowed and disappeared until I ended up walking along the very edge of a busy highway. When I arrived at the station the only way to access the overhead walkway was to scramble up a slippery grassy slope.
I took photos, scratched my head and regretted my folly in trying to access an inner-city Metro station on foot.

By: Sara

Sara — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 02:08:27 +0000

In reply to Nic. Agree totally

By: Sara

Sara — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 01:59:46 +0000

You made it sound like it was Mahathir that made it all wrong. The decision to stationed MRT at the north is from Najib Razak who wanted to build a vibrant city centre at the north which failed due to the .. you know what.
Anyway, the origin of cyberjaya was at cyberview and century square and it was and still is open for more infrastructure investement to facilitate pedestrians if we look at the glass half full instead of otherwise.
No, Taiwan isnt conducive as cyberjaya. Cyberjaya caters for software developers from India, Middle East and China (though chinese are getting less). It still is a place where software developers start their careers before going to Europe. It is not meant for all professionals in Malaysia hence, the reason it is not known to tourists but more so for certain professionals in respective vertical sectors.
Sorry for your long walks but my beef with cyberjaya or rather msc or malaysia digital as they call it now is the inability for us to produce a local world class company. That should be the focus.