Central Region

The middle sector of the country, or "politically-correctly" known as the central region, comprises mainly of the "happening" states. Here is where the hub of the nation is located, the fun zones and the main governmental offices. The central region has only two states, namely the states of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. The state capital of Selangor is called Shah Alam. The areas of Selangor surround the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital of Malaysia. Most of the exciting agendas, state meetings, lifestyle & entertainment spots as well as delicious cuisine can be found in Klang Valley, Selangor's main development center. Selangor is also the country's most developed state. Klang Valley encompasses and stretches all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang, the country's main and busiest port on the west coast of the country. The port overlooks the Straits of Melaka.

Selangor is also where we get the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) - the country's IT arm, the ultramodern Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) that is located in Sepang, lots of smart buildings, and industrial zones.

There could be no other more sophisticated state in the country than Selangor at this very moment! The capital of the country has progressed remarkably well over the past century, turning it from a tiny muddy-looking town with attap thatched roofs on most buildings to being the home to one of the world's tallest building!

Now, Kuala Lumpur is a bustling cosmopolitan city, bursting with modernity and high-tech buildings. It is truly a shopping paradise too. Despite the rapid change, Kuala Lumpur has not lost its charm and heritage. It is because of the fusion of old and new that many tourists have found Kuala Lumpur to be a fascinating land.
To see the new Kuala Lumpur, head for the Golden Triangle and the areas around Bintang Walk, where classy sidewalk cafes and restaurants line the street next to a number of huge shopping complexes. For a taste of the old intrinsic charm, make your way to the old Chinatown or Petaling Street for a bout of night shopping and bargaining.

The food found within this area is superb and each is a niche of its own! Everything is down-to-earth cheap, but you will need to put on a little bargaining cap and also be aware of a few conmen on the streets. Crime level on the older side of Kuala Lumpur is still relatively low although it is advisable for a visitor to be extra careful of pickpockets. On the other hand, the modern areas of Kuala Lumpur are less of a threat. You can walk around the place with peace of mind although it is in the wee hours of the morning. Malaysia is still, on a whole, a relatively safe country.

Moving out of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, the other state located in the central region is Negeri Sembilan. The name, when translated, literally means "nine states". This is a small state with a rural landscape dotted with some areas of modern living. Negeri Sembilan is most famous for their Minangkabau traditions. You can see this tradition alive on majority of the state's architecture layout. Check out the old kampung houses or official buildings. Negeri Sembilan was formerly an agriculture state but over the years, the economy has picked up and the hands of modernization have touched the state. Now, agricultural and industrial economies are quite balanced. Unlike Selangor and Kuala Lumpur that is always rushing to be on top of the progressive charts, Negeri Sembilan takes a leisurely stroll down the lane. Most of the state's development can be seen in its capital city, Seremban, where industrial parks are slowly sprouting around the fringe of the city. Asides from that, the state remains a green lung to its surrounding areas with careful considerations before any of its nature is surrendered for development.