Country
Population
Seri Kembangan, originally known as Serdang New Village, holds a rich history tracing back to its establishment in 1950 as part of the British Briggs Plan during the Malayan Emergency. This initiative aimed to resettle Malaysian Chinese villagers into centralized locations to curb communist influence. What began as a small settlement of 50 houses, largely built from scratch on empty plots, has since blossomed into a considerable urban center. Early inhabitants predominantly comprised rubber tappers and mining workers, living with modest incomes amidst challenging conditions.
Over the decades, Seri Kembangan has undergone rapid development, transforming from a simple village into a thriving township. Its strategic location, nestled between the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and the administrative capital Putrajaya, has significantly contributed to its growth. The town’s landscape has evolved with numerous commercial and residential developments, retaining only a few of the original wooden houses. Today, it stands as a testament to the nation's progress, attracting entrepreneurs, businessmen, professionals, and government servants, leading to a diverse and dynamic community.
Seri Kembangan falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Subang Jaya City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Subang Jaya) which governs the southern parts of the Petaling District, including Subang Jaya, UEP Subang Jaya (USJ), Putra Heights, Batu Tiga, parts of Puchong, and Seri Kembangan. The city council is responsible for local governance, public facilities, and urban planning within its designated areas. This local administration plays a crucial role in managing the town's ongoing development and addressing the needs of its growing population.
At a broader political level, Seri Kembangan is a state constituency represented in the Selangor State Legislative Assembly. Since 1995, it has been represented by elected assemblypersons, with the current incumbent being Wong Siew Ki from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) party. Nationally, Seri Kembangan is part of the Puchong parliamentary constituency, which is represented in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) by Yeo Bee Yin, also from the DAP party within Pakatan Harapan. This layered governance structure ensures both local representation and integration into the national political framework [2].
Seri Kembangan's economy has evolved significantly from its early days as a settlement for rubber tappers and tin miners. In the early 1970s, a master plan was initiated to develop the area's socio-economic conditions, focusing on industrialization, particularly small and medium industries (SMIs). This strategic focus led to a boom in cottage industries, with shoe factories being a prominent example; in the early 1980s, 60% of Malaysian shoe products were made in Serdang (the former name of Seri Kembangan). The rapid growth of SMIs also led to the establishment of numerous banking institutions in the area, indicating strong economic activity.
Beyond manufacturing, the food industry has also flourished in Seri Kembangan, with hundreds of restaurants catering to both locals and visitors. The presence of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) nearby contributes significantly to the local economy by attracting a large student and staff population who patronize local businesses. Additionally, professionals from surrounding areas like Cyberjaya and Putrajaya are drawn to Seri Kembangan's diverse culinary scene. The town's strategic location with easy access to major highways has also made it an emerging property hotspot, drawing developers due to relatively cheaper land costs and attracting residents seeking more affordable living alternatives compared to Kuala Lumpur [6].
Seri Kembangan benefits from a well-developed infrastructure that supports its substantial growth and connectivity. The town is strategically located at the intersection of several key tolled highways, including the North–South Expressway Southern Route, the Sungai Besi Expressway, and the East–West Link Expressway. Other vital expressways like the Damansara–Puchong Expressway, Maju Expressway, and South Klang Valley Expressway also run near its western fringe. This extensive road network positions Seri Kembangan as a southern gateway to Kuala Lumpur for travelers from other southern states of Malaysia.