What Is Think City and Why It Matters to Malaysia’s Urban Future
As Malaysia’s cities mature, conversations around development are shifting. The focus is no longer just about building more, but about building better. In this context, one organisation plays a unique and often misunderstood role in shaping how Malaysian cities evolve: Think City.
Think City is not a property developer, nor is it a conventional consultancy. Instead, it operates at the intersection of urban regeneration, heritage conservation, placemaking and policy implementation, helping Malaysian cities grow in a more inclusive, sustainable and culturally grounded way.
For anyone tracking long-term urban value, including trends in kl property, understanding Think City provides important insight into how cities create lasting relevance beyond bricks and mortar.
Think City’s Origins: A Malaysian Initiative
Think City is a Malaysian organisation, established and owned by Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Khazanah’s mandate is to build long-term national value, not just financial returns. Think City was created to reflect that philosophy in the urban space, addressing challenges such as:
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ageing city centres
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declining heritage districts
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disconnected urban communities
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development that prioritises scale over quality of life
Rather than replacing old cities with new developments, Think City promotes regeneration instead of demolition, ensuring that economic growth, culture and community can coexist.
What Does Think City Actually Do?
Think City works across several core areas that directly influence how cities function and how value is created over time.
Urban Regeneration
Think City helps revitalise existing city areas by:
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upgrading public spaces and streetscapes
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improving walkability and connectivity
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reactivating underused districts
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supporting local economies
These interventions often make mature areas more liveable and attractive without erasing their identity.
Heritage Conservation
One of Think City’s most visible roles is protecting and activating heritage assets. This includes:
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adaptive reuse of old buildings
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conservation guidance for historic districts
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balancing development with cultural continuity
This approach has been especially important in heritage cities where unmanaged development could permanently damage character and tourism appeal.
Placemaking and Community Engagement
Think City places strong emphasis on people, not just infrastructure. Its work often includes:
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community-led programmes
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cultural events and place activation
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designing spaces for everyday use, not just visual impact
Placemaking strengthens social fabric, which in turn supports long-term urban resilience.
Advisory and Policy Support
Think City also works closely with:
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local authorities
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government agencies
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city planners
to help translate national policies into practical, on-the-ground outcomes.
How Think City Fits Into Malaysia’s National Plans
Think City is not a ministry, and it does not appear as a standalone agency in Malaysia’s annual budgets. However, its work is closely aligned with national priorities.
Across multiple Malaysia Plans, recurring themes include:
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sustainable urban development
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heritage preservation
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tourism diversification
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creative economy growth
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liveable cities
Think City functions as an implementation partner, helping turn these high-level objectives into real urban projects.
Its involvement in heritage districts, cultural quarters and tourism-linked regeneration aligns strongly with initiatives leading up to Visit Malaysia 2026, where the quality of place matters as much as visitor numbers.
Where Think City Has Made an Impact
Think City is best known for its work in George Town, Penang, following its UNESCO World Heritage listing. The organisation helped demonstrate that:
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heritage can be economically productive
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conservation and development are not opposites
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local communities can benefit from regeneration
Beyond Penang, Think City has expanded its involvement to:
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Kuala Lumpur
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selected districts in Johor
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emerging heritage and cultural areas
In Kuala Lumpur, initiatives such as Warisan KL reflect efforts to reintroduce historical depth and cultural storytelling into a city often defined only by modern skylines.
Why Think City Matters to Property and Urban Value
Although Think City does not build or sell property, its work has real implications for property markets.
Areas that benefit from thoughtful regeneration often experience:
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improved liveability
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stronger identity
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increased footfall and activity
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more stable long-term demand
For kl property observers, Think City’s involvement often signals long-term place-based value, rather than short-term speculation. Regenerated districts tend to age better, attract higher-quality uses and remain relevant across market cycles.
Think City Versus Conventional Development
Traditional development often focuses on:
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maximising plot ratio
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short-term returns
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rapid transformation
Think City focuses on:
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long-term city resilience
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cultural and social value
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incremental improvement
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people-centred design
As Malaysian cities become denser and land scarcer, this approach becomes increasingly important.
Why Think City Will Become More Relevant
Malaysia is entering a phase where:
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cities are maturing
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heritage is gaining economic value
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tourism is shifting toward experience-based travel
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residents demand better quality of life
In this environment, organisations like Think City help ensure that growth does not come at the expense of identity.
Cities that invest in regeneration tend to attract:
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creative industries
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long-stay residents
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higher-quality tourism
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sustainable property demand
Conclusion: Think City as a Long-Term City Builder
Think City represents a different way of thinking about urban development in Malaysia. It is about building cities with memory, meaning and momentum, rather than starting from scratch each time.
For those interested in how Malaysian cities evolve and how long-term urban value is created, Think City offers a useful lens. As the kl property landscape continues to mature, placemaking and regeneration-led thinking will play an increasingly central role in shaping cities that are not only profitable, but liveable and enduring.
