Edwin Yapp

Malaysia Explorer

By Edwin Yapp

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The problem with Cyberjaya

Posted in Malaysia Explorer by Oon Yeoh on Saturday, May 26 2007 12:11 AM

Here's a very bullish and fawning story on Cyberjaya, Malaysia's first-ever "intelligent city" that forms the heart of the country's Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) initiative.

I work in Cyberjaya, so I can tell you it's not the bustling hub that story paints it to be.

Cyberjaya is a nice place to work precisely because it's not bustling. There is no traffic jam and it's really very peaceful. A bustling hub, it is not.

The reason has to do with distance from the city. From my home in northern Kuala Lumpur, it's about 50 km away and it takes me about an hour to get there in the morning. It takes about an hour and a half to get back home in the evenings--somehow the jam leading into the city gets worse in the evenings.

If only the city planners had included a bullet train that rides straight into Cyberjaya, people would have no qualms about working there. Then, it would be the bustling hub the government wishes it to be.

To give you an idea of what a sleepy hollow it is, Cyberjaya doesn't have its own shopping mall. The closest equivalent is the Street Mall, an open-air shopping area.

There's no McDonald's, no Starbucks, no cinema and a limited choice of eating places.

But, it's a lovely, peaceful place.





Disclaimer:
Views and opinions expressed in this blog are the author's, and do not necessarily represent those of ZDNet Asia.

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Talkback 14 comments

Dear Mr. Yeoh,

I too work in Cyberjaya. I think this place is still in a phase of development, therefore not having the 'commercialities' that you have mentioned (at least not yet).

However, if you are concerned with transportation, there is the nearby Cyberjaya/Putrajaya ERL (Express Rail Link) station for which you can take somewhat of a 'bullet train' to Putrajaya from KL Central and back. Then, take the public transport to your office with a Rapid KL bus (which is quite frequent now maybe after much criticism and modelling their operations after First Buses in the UK which promises a bus every 10 to 15 minutes).

As for a McDonald's, Starbucks, SF Coffee, BK, or a cinema or whatever it is that the young bourgeoisie look for nowadays, there is always the ones in Seri Kembangan, a mall in the form of The Mines, or even The Alamanda in the more conservative Putrajaya. All nearby to Cyberjaya.

As for 'The Intelligent City', not at all a 'Sleepy Hollow' (a definition I cannot find except for maybe a place in the States or a terribly bad movie), Cyberjaya is a nice place to work.
Posted by Allan Kale on Saturday, May 26 2007 01:41 AM

The problem with Cyberjaya
Satyam Global Delivery Campus is under construction now by the landowner, Cyberview. 4 data centres will also be completed soon. One developed by Cyberview, 1 by Csf Advisers, 1 by Bank Negara and 1 by JPJ (yes! Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan). Emerio will have theirs ready in the next couple of months. The training centre for K-Workers will be ready by next year (as announced by Cyberview) and the IMPACT (International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Terrorism) building will also be ready by next year. One private developer is busy constructing another block of office building (fronting Csf Advisers first building). Cyberjaya is really becoming a city now
Posted by anonymous on Monday, October 06 2008 09:34 AM

The problem with Cyberjaya
Rapid KL is one of the worst buses i've seen. it's services are really bad and inaccurate. they change the route without any prior notification, bad behavior from drivers to foreigners will be added to that it now there is a bus every hour not 10 min !!!!

They can improve it not like UK, at least like Putrajaya!
Posted by anonymous on Wednesday, March 11 2009 03:53 PM

Yes, food can be a problem there. But I think on the overall, you should be thankful not having to go through a whole load of traffic jam the moment you step out of your office till you reach home! At least not in the vicinity of Cyberjaya. As compared to those working elsewhere in the Klang Valley and city center, we hate the traffic jam and sometimes when it rains, the thought of having to spend hours on the road to brave through the traffic and get home really could bring headache.
Posted by anonymous on Monday, May 28 2007 03:53 PM

My husband has got a job offer in Cyberjaya. Now we are residing in Singapore. We have a 5 years old daughter. Can you please give us some input about that place. I mean which is the nearest place to stay that provide good school and also shopping place included wet market. And since we don't have a car, we need place to stay that not to far from Cyberjaya.
Thanks
Posted by anonymous on Thursday, July 05 2007 08:55 AM

The problem with Cyberjaya
First of all there is no such thing as good school in Malaysia. And if you don't have a car and want to stay in Cyberjaya, you may consider to ride a bicycle that might take 15 or 20 mins (under the sun) to the closest eating place. That's probably the only place you could go. If I were you, stick in Singapore.
Posted by anonymous on Monday, December 22 2008 05:03 PM

Dear Mr Yeoh,Cyberjaya has changed a lot since the last 2 years. There are more food outlets (well, you need to be more adventurous to explore the many places), free shuttle bus, a dedicated bus service from Klang Valley, free parking bays and a clubhouse where you can spend your evenings with your friends.There are more bus shelters built,connected with pedestrian walkways and crossings and the city looks cleaner than before. I heard the land owner played a very agreesive role to have all these facilities ready.About the travelling time, the dedicated highway is already opened.I'm travelling on it everyday now.I heard that the land owner will also build affordable housings very soon.I'm looking forward now not just to have the working address but also living address in Cyberjaya.Cheer up, mate.
Posted by romeo on Friday, December 21 2007 08:49 PM

Dear Schristia,there are some residential areas in Cyberjaya where you can find houses to rent.Not sure about the rent.There is a free shuttle bus service that stops at most of the offices, commercial areas, universities and schools in Cyberjaya.You don't need to stay outside Cyberjaya.I think your husband will love the working and living experience in Cyberjaya.
Posted by romeo on Friday, December 21 2007 08:57 PM

The problem with Cyberjaya
Hi, I was wondering about vehicle parking in Cyberjaya, parking in the commercial buildings that is. I may be setting up a small biz in Cyberjaya in one of the buildings there (probably bunk with one on my suppliers). Is there ample parking & is it free or does a season rate apply to most of the commercial buildings there?
Posted by anonymous on Wednesday, February 20 2008 04:25 PM

The problem with Cyberjaya
Hi Anonymous (Feb 20th). There are many free parking bays at the Sports Arena. You can take the free Park & Ride services from that area to any buildings in Cyberjaya. Where will your office be located?
Posted by romeo on Monday, February 25 2008 03:32 PM

The problem with Cyberjaya
can anyone give some input if the car park at at ERL Putrajaya station is sate for 4-5 days consecutive overnight parking ? howmuch is it per day ? I am looking for a safe yet nearby the station while going to KLIA / Penang . ...your suggestion is greatly appreciated.

Sorry, question is a bit off ...
Posted by tan on Wednesday, May 07 2008 01:35 AM

The problem with Cyberjaya
Cyberjaya should entice Google to enter. Instead of Google goes to newplace in Malaysia, like Negeri Sembilan.

Cyberjaya has some of the good infrastrcuture (fibre-optic backbone & stuffs...) in place. (ALREADY). Why waste more?


Maybe someone could forward this idea to the TOP GUNs.
Posted by AZMI Salim on Wednesday, February 27 2008 05:25 PM

The problem with Cyberjaya
You can try using Other Alternate Browsers, if problem is really with your Internet Browser or the system.
Posted by Parag Desai on Wednesday, June 04 2008 09:11 PM

The problem with Cyberjaya
Perhaps one day the government will allow the free flow of ideas and information, without restriction, and then Cyberjaya can try to be like the real Silicon Valley. It's not just about shiny buildings connected together with optical fibre!
Posted by anonymous on Saturday, November 29 2008 02:28 PM

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About the blogger

Edwin Yapp

Edwin Yapp



An engineer by training, Edwin first cut his teeth as a cellular radio frequency optimization engineer in one of Malaysia's largest telcos. After more than five years, he hung up his radio engineering boots to try his hand at technology reporting at The Star, Malaysia's leading English daily, where he won several awards for Best Online Technology reporting. He left to start his own editorial consultancy and is now a freelance journalist for several publications, including ZDNet Asia. A self-confessed gadget geek, Edwin hopes his blog contributions will stir up deeper discussions within the Malaysian technology scene.

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