Mont Kiara, often stylized as MK, is an affluent suburb at the northwest of downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the constituency of Segambut. It consists mainly of high-rise residential condominiums and office complexes which were mostly developed by UEM Sunrise Berhad, a well-known property development arm of UEM Group.[1] It is located in the heart of Klang Valley, halfway between Kepong and downtown Kuala Lumpur. It is adjacent to Sri Hartamas in the south and KL Metropolis in the east, and is heavily populated by expats.
While the name "North Kiara" refers to the area near Bukit Segambut as it is located north of Mont Kiara, the name has been used by developers up till now to link their property developments to the suburb.[2]
History
Mont Kiara was originally a rubber estate. The development of Mont Kiara started in the 90s by the Sunrise Berhad property developer and founder, Datuk Alan Tong Kok Mau; whom he bought 12 parcels of land in the area.
The 40.47 hectares of land was developed by Sunrise Berhad and renamed to Mont Kiara. Following Sunrise’s successful Mont Kiara Pines and Mont Kiara Palma projects in 1993 and 1994, other developers witnessed the rise of Mont Kiara, leading to further expansion of the area.
Plaza Mont Kiara is a resort office-retail complex in Mont Kiara that attracts a high number of expatriates, representing more than 30 nationalities; particularly the Japanese, Koreans and Singaporeans, who comprise almost half the total residential population in Mont Kiara[citation needed]. Plaza Mont Kiara is made up of restaurants, cafes, gyms as well as several banks serving the neighborhood.
Plaza Mont Kiara organises the Mont Kiara Funday "Arts, Bric-a-Brac & Crafts" (ABC) Market launched in March 2000, showcasing 100 exhibitor stalls spread over a 38,000 sq ft (3,500 m2) fountain courtyard in its plaza. The ABC Market epitomises the "Made-in-Asia" dream featuring an amalgam of culture, arts and crafts where there are antiques, books, vintage apparel, clothing, household decorative items, educational toys, children wears, crafts, jewellery, bags and shoes, potted plants, fruits, and Asian food. The daytime market is held on Sundays. The ABC Market attracts at least 3,000 people throughout the day. Operated by Sunrise Berhad,[3] it serves mainly to promote Malaysian arts and crafts to the public. Over the years the market has become part of the lifestyle of residents in Plaza Mont Kiara. A night market called Fiesta Nite at Plaza Mont Kiara is held at the fountain courtyard every Thursday.
Shopping and retail
Mont Kiara's commercial projects include Publika Shopping Gallery, 1 Mont Kiara, Plaza Mont Kiara, 163 Retail Park, Solaris Mont Kiara, Solaris Dutamas and Arcoris Mont Kiara.
The nearest rail station to Mont Kiara is the KA05 Segambut Komuter station, about 10–15 minutes' drive away. RapidKL bus route 190 (formerly U7) links Mont Kiara to Segambut KTM Komuter station.
Alternately, RapidKL bus route T818 connects Desa Sri Hartamas (across the Sprint Expressway from Mont Kiara proper) to the KG14 Semantan MRT station.
Since 1 December 2017 Mont Kiara is directly served by RapidKL bus route T852, also to Semantan MRT station.
The area is planned to be served by the CC03 Mont Kiara MRT station in the future which will be an underground station as part of the proposed MRT Circle Line.
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