Breathing new life into KL's heritage districts
This culture-led revitalisation effort is poised to reimagine the city's historic heart as a thriving hub of heritage, creativity and inclusive growth.
Spearheaded by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and supported by partners including Khazanah Nasional and its subsidiary, Think City, Warisan KL brings together 10 pilot flagship projects aimed at breathing new life into the city's heritage districts.
According to Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif ( pic ), the initiative spans a 20km² focus area across key civic, heritage and commercial precincts, aligns with the Kuala Lumpur Plan 2040 and builds upon earlier development frameworks, including the 2014 and 2020 local plans.
Key components include the revitalisation and restoration of iconic areas like the Masjid Jamek Enclave, Dataran Merdeka Heritage Area, Carcosa Seri Negara, and Merdeka 118, and transforming the historic marketplace – Trade Quadrant – into cultural and commercial hubs for modern entrepreneurs, legacy trades and creatives.
The Warisan KL initiative also revisits and integrates earlier efforts like the River of Life project, enhancing its public appeal through improved infrastructure, signage and storytelling, while inviting youth and community stakeholders to co-create the space.
'The programme's long-term vision is to create a city that is not only livable, but lovable – a place where the future is shaped by the past, and where development is rooted in identity, memory and pride.
'It is more than urban renewal, it is a national agenda for cultural and creative resurgence, poised to position Kuala Lumpur as a leading creative and cultural capital in the region and on the global stage,' said Maimunah, who chairs the Warisan KL working committee, in an interview with Bernama yesterday.
She said the initial investment for the Warisan KL programme includes RM600mil announced in the federal budget, but additional allocations are expected to come from private sector investments.
'The initiative will be rolled out in phases, with several short-term and quick-win projects already underway in 2025. Full implementation is expected to span the next five to 10 years, with sustainability, community participation and creative innovation at its core,' she added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Kelantan govt admits state water provider owes TNB RM61m, promises staged repayment
KOTA BHARU, Aug 13 — The Kelantan government has acknowledged that Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) owes Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) RM61 million in outstanding electricity bills and will settle the amount in stages. State Infrastructure, Water and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Dr Izani Husin said the arrears were partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order, which hindered bill collection, coupled with some residents withholding payment during frequent water supply disruptions. 'TNB has met with us to discuss possible solutions, but no agreement has been finalised. We will discuss further to determine a repayment schedule. With AKSB's improved management, we are confident the debt will be cleared according to the agreed timeline,' he told reporters after the weekly state executive council meeting at Kompleks Kota Darulnaim today. He added that AKSB had previously settled older electricity arrears according to schedule, but several districts were found to still have outstanding amounts. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof revealed that AKSB's arrears with TNB had reached about RM61 million as of June 30. — Bernama
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
ASEAN Must Deepen Collaboration In Skills Training
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- ASEAN must deepen collaboration in skills training to meet the demands of the 21st-century economy, said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. He said the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), such as the newly launched ChatGPT 5.0, has confirmed fears that AI could replace conventionally trained personnel, diminishing the signalling value of academic degrees. 'In an age when AI can do the thinking, the world still needs those who can build, repair, operate, communicate, supervise, organise - these are human and social elements requiring skills, competence and trust.' He said this in his opening remark at the ASEAN TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), which was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the National TVET Council (MTVET) chairman. Sim proposed three measures to strengthen ASEAN cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), namely sharing experiences in skills training, creating a common certification framework for mutual recognition and investing more in skills education. He said Malaysia, which spends about RM10 billion annually on TVET, has already opened its National Training Week to ASEAN participants, offering over 72,000 free training courses valued at RM400 million to 3.5 million people. 'Malaysia aspires for ASEAN to be one of the most skilled regions in the world… when the geo-economics is unstable and unpredictable, we must be committed to building the future now,' he said. Meanwhile, in a pre-recorded introductory speech, ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn called for TVET systems to become catalysts for innovation, inclusivity and productivity in the face of rapid digital and green transitions. 'The convergence of digital innovation and the green transition is reshaping our economies, industries and labour markets. TVET must evolve beyond its traditional role to become a catalyst for innovation, inclusivity and enhanced productivity,' he said.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia records 95.1pct TVET graduate job placement rate
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia now records a 95.1 per cent job placement rate for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, who are also now included under the expanded minimum wage framework, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today. He said this reflects that skills training is finally aligning with job opportunities. "53.56 per cent of the country's secondary school leavers in 2024 chose TVET as their first option, marking a significant shift in national education trends. "There are now more than 430,000 students enrolled nationwide, and applications to national TVET institutions have surpassed 200,000," he said at the opening of the Asean TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL). Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Council, said the government's transformation agenda aims to ensure training remains relevant to market needs, inclusive across all communities, and coordinated under a single national vision. "When I was entrusted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2023 to chair the National TVET Council, I knew this was more than just a policy role," he said. He said Malaysia's TVET ecosystem is being positioned as a regional hub for training and certification, with efforts to attract students from other Asean countries while maintaining opportunities for Malaysians. "Our goal is not just to produce skilled workers, but to make Malaysia a credible reference centre for TVET in Asean," he said. Zahid highlighted Malaysia's international collaborations, from 5,125 industrial placements in China, to partnerships with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI in Abu Dhabi, and skills exchanges with Japan, Germany, and Australia. "In this era, the success of one nation in TVET is no longer enough. "Our workforce is increasingly regional, and our challenges are shared. This is why Malaysia proposed the establishment of an Asean TVET Certification & Excellence Hub. "We have gone to the world to strengthen our agenda, ensuring our talent is globally competitive," he said. These TVET reforms form part of a national mission to propel Malaysia into the world's top 20 of the Global Innovation Index and to create 1.2 million high-value jobs in manufacturing and the digital economy within the next five years. In June, Zahid said Malaysia was forging strategic partnerships with international educational institutions and industry players, including those from the United Kingdom, to develop a regionally recognised certification and a centre of excellence for TVET. The two-day conference is jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and the Skills Development Fund Corporation, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Asean. Held under the Asean Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, the conference brings together over 1,000 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders and educators, to address skills gaps, share best practices, and explore strategies for future-ready workforce development. Also present at the opening ceremony were Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, HRD Corp chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid, and HRD Corp chief executive officer Dr Syed Alwi Mohamed Sultan. Key discussion areas include strengthening regional collaboration within Asean, bridging skills gaps, aligning TVET with industrial transformation, and breaking barriers to make TVET more inclusive for women, youth, and marginalised communities.
