The river that created Malaysia's richest region
Opinion
22 Jun 2026 • 11:00 AM MYT

Most people think Klang Valley became Malaysia’s economic centre because of government planning, highways or skyscrapers.
The story actually started with a river.
A small geographical advantage attracted miners, traders and businesses. Over time, that advantage compounded into the region that generates roughly a third of Malaysia’s economy today.
Sometimes the biggest success stories begin with a very small head start.
