TAIPEI (Jan 22) — A Malaysian delegation of developers, government officials, and district planners recently visited Taiwan to study high-efficiency industrial logistics and innovative urban planning, gaining insights highly relevant for industrial land in Selangor, factory developments in Puchong, and office space in Bukit Jalil.
The four-day study tour, organised by the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) Institute, showcased Taiwan’s integration of advanced technology with sustainable urban design. In Taoyuan, autonomous AGV (automated guided vehicle) robots in a smart warehouse processed high-tech components from order to dispatch in under 12 minutes, demonstrating the speed and efficiency now expected in modern industrial hubs.
Nearby, in Zhonglu District, the delegation toured a Gold-certified social housing development featuring solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and vertical gardens. The pedestrian-friendly boulevards highlighted a seamless blend of technology, sustainability, and community-focused design — concepts applicable to developing commercial property in KL that meets both functional and environmental standards.
Industrial competitiveness through automation and efficiency
The delegation also visited the Farglory Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and Ally Logistic Property’s OMEGA 2 facility in Yangmei, which illustrate how high-tech logistics and streamlined regulatory processes shorten time-to-market for manufacturers. Taiwan’s FTZ condenses traditional 45-day business approvals into weeks, with 24-hour customs clearance enabling companies in high-compliance sectors to operate as extensions of global supply chains.
ALP’s OMEGA 2 employs autonomous robots to provide shared logistics infrastructure for multiple clients. This subscription-style model enables fast, efficient handling of industrial property operations, offering lessons for Malaysia’s growing industrial sector, particularly in Subang area industrial parks and factories in Puchong.
Knight Frank Malaysia senior executive director Allan Sim highlighted the potential for vertical warehousing and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) in Malaysia, noting that digital integration and system-to-system data exchange will be crucial for scaling industrial and logistics hubs in the Klang Valley.
Social housing and urban resilience
The tour included visits to award-winning social housing projects like Zhonglu 3 Residence, a Fiabci World Gold Winner, and Taipei’s Guangci Social Housing. Both projects demonstrate “15-minute living circle” concepts, integrating essential services and green spaces within residential complexes. Features such as app-based communal management, smart recycling, and co-located startups create self-sustaining, high-quality environments that balance affordability with dignity — ideas adaptable to mixed-use developments near office spaces in Bukit Jalil or commercial property in KL.
Seismic and disaster-resilient planning
Delegates also examined Taiwan’s approach to structural resilience. At the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) and Matsuzawa site in Yilan, Taiwan uses seismic sensors, base-isolated foundations, and predictive smart-city platforms to safeguard residents and high-value industrial assets. While Malaysia does not face the same earthquake risk, these practices underscore the value of long-term structural integrity, relevant to industrial property in Subang area and modern factory buildings in Puchong.
Key takeaways for Malaysia
Rehda Institute trustee Datuk Ng Seing Liong and other delegates emphasised that the future of Malaysian industrial and commercial real estate lies in automation, shared infrastructure, and digital integration. Applying Taiwan’s model could enhance efficiency, shorten operational cycles, and attract both local and foreign investment to high-growth areas like Selangor industrial zones and the Klang Valley’s office hubs.
Salt & Realty Sdn Bhd director Norman Soo observed that Taiwan’s approach — blending high-tech industrial logistics, smart urban planning, and resilient construction — provides a blueprint for Malaysia’s next-generation industrial land and commercial property developments, combining operational speed, investor confidence, and sustainable community design.
China