'Soul' city: KL must balance modernity with cultural spaces, diverse heritage
Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) president Lim Wei-Ling said while the city boasted impressive skyscrapers, it must balance modernity with vibrant cultural public spaces that foster people's connection to its diverse heritage and encourage cultural exchange.
Lim said the newly launched Warisan KL project presented an opportunity to address this by enhancing heritage sites and creating dynamic spaces for people to gather and celebrate the city's rich history.
"Badan Warisan Malaysia was pleased to attend the launch of the Warisan KL project and applauds it as a positive and much-needed initiative to restore and revitalise key heritage sites in the city.
"We are heartened that Dataran Merdeka and Carcosa Seri Negara will be given renewed attention as these landmarks hold immense historical and cultural significance," she said.
She added that once restored, these spaces had the potential to become central hubs for tourism, cultural activities, and community interaction.
Earlier yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the Warisan KL initiative, aimed at rejuvenating the city's historical core into a creative and cultural district.
The initiative, formally known as "Warisan KL: Warisan Ibu Kota Malaysia Madani", is a public-private collaboration led by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and ThinkCity, in response to the gradual hollowing out of Kuala Lumpur's historic centre.
Spanning a 20 sq km area, Anwar said the initiative would feature 10 flagship projects designed to reposition Kuala Lumpur as a global creative hub — uniquely Malaysian, inclusive, and well-connected.
On which facilities should be prioritised to attract more tourists, Lim recommends focusing on the heritage trail from Kuala Lumpur Railway Station to Masjid Jamek, encompassing iconic sites such as Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Dataran Merdeka, and Masjid Jamek, among others.
She said these landmarks formed part of the historic heart of Kuala Lumpur, and their restoration and activation would boost heritage tourism while preserving the city's unique character.
"BWM strongly supports this initiative and looks forward to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that the project not only conserves our heritage but also elevates Kuala Lumpur as a culturally vibrant and livable city.
"With the Warisan KL project in place, Kuala Lumpur is set to become a truly global city that encompasses and embraces both modernity as well as respect for culture and heritage — valuing and preserving the tradition and historical significance of its diverse communities."
Inbound Tourism Alliance Consortium president Uzaidi Udanis said the initiative would highlight the city's soul.
Aside from refurbishing and upgrading buildings, or "hardware", he said emphasis must also be placed on the "software" — features such as cleanliness.
"There is some imbalance in the city. Areas such as Petaling Street and Little India in Brickfields have improved significantly, but I was quite surprised by the condition of the areas around Masjid India, which are not up to standard," he said.
"One of the tourist spots there, Haniffa, was once considered a one-stop shopping centre, especially popular among tourists from Indonesia, Brunei, the Middle East, and India.
"However, the area around it is now crowded with beggars and the homeless. We need to clean up the area."
He added that there should also be more activities, food trail signages, and pedestrian-friendly walkways, especially those that connect with the Light Rail Transit system.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Malaysia Airlines' "On-time Performance" For Domestic Flights At 85.3 Pct As Of May 2025 -- MOT
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) achieved an on-time performance (OTP) of 85.3 per cent for domestic flights as of May 2025, followed by AirAsia (84.5 per cent) and Batik Air (73.5 per cent), according to the Ministry of Transport (MOT). Comparatively, at the end of 2024, MAS recorded an OTP of 84.7 per cent, while AirAsia and Batik Air recorded OTPs of 67.9 per cent and 73.9 per cent, respectively. The ministry said that in the event of flight disruptions, airlines are required to deploy a delay management team, issue a press statement within 24 hours for major disruptions, and submit a detailed report to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). 'The MOT, through CAAM, will assess all complaints against airlines and take appropriate action in accordance with the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016 (MACPC),' the ministry said in a written reply published on the Malaysian Parliament's website today. The MOT was responding to a question from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai), who had asked the ministry to explain the main causes of the increasingly frequent flight delays, particularly domestic routes, as well as the immediate and long-term measures being taken to protect passengers' rights and address their losses. According to the ministry, the MACPC was revised and gazetted on Sept 2, 2024, to enhance consumer protection. The updated MACPC outlines the obligations of airlines to uphold passengers' rights, particularly in the event of delays and cancellations. 'Key enhancements introduced in the 2024 revision include the requirement for airlines to offer refunds in the original form of payment for flight delays exceeding five hours, including for delays caused by extraordinary circumstances," said MOT. -- BERNAMA
Rakyat Post
an hour ago
- Rakyat Post
25-Year-Old Malaysian Grab Driver Makes RM9,000 In A Month With Honda Civic Working 14 Hours Daily
Subscribe to our FREE A 25-year-old Malaysian has ignited a fierce online debate after claiming he earns between RM6,000 and RM9,000 monthly driving his Honda Civic for ride-hailing platforms – but only by working a gruelling 14 hours every single day. The young driver stated that he earned RM7,964.11 in July after deducting platform commissions. I've been doing this since I was 25, driving a Honda Civic on different platforms. My monthly net income can reach RM6,000 to RM9,000 after deducting platform fees. He said the job basically requires more time investment, but it's relatively free – you don't have to listen to bosses like office workers do. As an added bonus, he enjoys chatting with passengers during his long shifts. His experience was shared in the Facebook group . Mixed Reactions: Questions About Working Hours However, his post prompted discussions about the sustainability of such working hours. 'You need to work 14 hours to earn RM6,000 to RM9,000, and you have to do it every day. Others work 8 hours a day for 5 days and earn between RM6,000 and RM9,000. Young people can handle it, but older folks? Their backs would give out,' one commenter fired back. Another commenter questioned: '14 hours daily – have you considered the long-term impact? How sustainable is this schedule?' Others highlighted that after 10 years of driving, the primary financial asset would be selling the car, compared to traditional jobs that build Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contributions. 'Regular companies contribute 12% to your EPF – that's about RM720 monthly for a RM6,000 salary going toward your retirement fund. But as a driver, you get nothing except whatever you can get from selling your car,' one commenter explained. Age also became a topic of discussion, with several commenters sharing concerns about starting ride-hailing careers too young. The Premium Vehicle Debate: Does Car Model Matter? He also dismissed concerns about vehicle maintenance costs, claiming his car has hit 300,000 kilometres with only routine servicing needed. Don't listen to those old uncles talking about repair costs. If you drive properly, there's nothing much to fix. The Honda Civic angle became a point of contention, with critics arguing his earnings were only possible because he drives a premium vehicle that qualifies for higher-paying rides. 'You drive a Civic and do Premium rides, plus work 14 hours, and still only get RM6,000-9,000. Imagine those driving Bezza working normal 10-hour shifts – they'd be much worse off,' one user pointed out. Some drivers rallied to his defence, with one claiming that even Axia drivers can earn RM7,000-8,000 monthly, and another showing similar earnings of RM7,000-8,000 for 'normal' 7-8 hour shifts. 🚗 Honda Civic Guys!! Paling Laris & Paling Power! Handling mantap ✅ Minyak jimat ✅ Enjin 1.5 Turbo, 181hp pulak tu – memang sedap bawa! 🔥 Gaji RM3,500 pun dah boleh pakai Civic ni! Semua urusan 100% online sahaja — tak sampai seminggu, terus berjaya dapat kereta! Mudah, cepat & selamat. Nak tahu layak ke tak? Tekan butang Service atau terus contact Zack sekarang 📲 017 639 2575 (Zack) The New Generation: Why Young Malaysians Choose Wheels Over Desks The heated exchange highlighted a growing trend among young Malaysians choosing gig work over traditional employment. However, the young driver stood his ground, emphasising personal freedom over financial security. Life is short, freedom is most important. I can enjoy scenery while driving – for me, freedom is everything. Remember my words: the most important thing in this job is knowing how to save money. As one supporter noted: 'More and more people don't want full-time jobs. Sitting in an office for 9 hours makes everyone tired, so people prefer driving – at least the time is flexible.' The discussion continues online, reflecting broader questions about work-life balance, financial security, and the true cost of the gig economy's promise of freedom. For now, the determined 25-year-old stays focused on his goals, his Honda Civic faithfully drawing closer to the 400,000-kilometre mark. Kak ayu so slayyyy dulu 9-5, now bawak Siap ambik kelas korean lagi?? daebak sangat 😭🇰🇷 Moral of the story: jangan pause hidup sebab ada commitment. You still can chase ur dreams. — 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐄𝐀 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 ᥫ᭡ (@goodlucksofea) READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Over 160,000 BNPL users have RM121.8mil in outstanding debt
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 168,967 'Buy Now Pay Later' (BNPL) account holders, or 2.6 per cent of the total 6.5 million users, had outstanding balances as at June 30, 2025, said Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying. She said the outstanding BNPL loan balance for the same period stood at RM3.8 billion, representing 0.2 per cent of Malaysia's total household debt. However, the amount of BNPL debt that was unpaid or overdue remained manageable, amounting to RM121.8 million or 3.2 per cent of the total BNPL loan balance, she said during a question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. She was responding to a question from Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) regarding the current status of BNPL debt in the country and the government's efforts to mitigate the risk of excessive indebtedness. Citing a 2024 study by the Consumer Credit Oversight Board Task Force involving 21,000 active BNPL account holders, Lim said BNPL users generally exhibited good financial discipline. "They also repaid BNPL loans with a low default rate. According to the study, approximately 88 per cent made all payments on time, 12 per cent made late but full payments, and fewer than 0.5 per cent were unable to repay in full," she said. In response to a supplementary question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), Lim said the Consumer Credit Commission (CCC), which will be established under the Consumer Credit Act 2025, will adopt a risk-based and proportionate supervisory approach for credit consumers. She said supervision would be carried out through periodic inspections and ongoing monitoring, the same methods used by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia. "The CCC's supervisory approach will prioritise the protection of credit consumers, focusing on fair treatment, transparency, and the development of a responsible credit market. "This will be supported by a regulatory framework that includes licensing and conduct standards under the Consumer Credit Act, empowering the CCC to supervise credit providers and credit service providers, and to take appropriate enforcement action," she added.
