Latest news with #WarisanKualaLumpur
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Desecration risks in rezoning Vivekananda Ashram
The status of Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields has changed from mixed development to main commercial in successive Kuala Lumpur local plans. — Filepic A NATIONAL heritage group has raised concerns over the rezoning of the century-old Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields under the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP 2040). Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) president Lim Wei-Ling said the ashram building was 'at real risk of being desecrated'. 'Gazetted in 2016, it is an important heritage building of historical and cultural significance, together with the site on which it sits in Brickfields. 'The rezoning and classification also pose an alarming risk of not having a sufficient buffer zone around the building. 'While we agree on the need for development, this should happen within reason and land around heritage sites should not be prone to overdevelopment,' she said in a media statement. Lim was responding to a StarMetro report on May 26, 'Vivekananda Ashram at a crossroads' where stakeholders highlighted an inconsistency in the revised draft of the KLLP 2040. While the ashram is classified as a Category 1 Heritage Building under the National Heritage Act 2005, the 0.4ha site is now zoned as 'main commercial', raising concerns that it could be overshadowed by future development. In the earlier draft of KLLP 2020, the land surrounding the ashram was designated for facilities, utilities and infrastructure within a heritage zone. By the time the KLLP 2020 plan was gazetted, the zoning had changed to 'mixed development'. Lim also expressed support for stronger provisions in the KLLP 2040 to protect heritage sites from development. 'Sites like Vivekananda Ashram, which are surrounded by skyscrapers, are in jeopardy of being lost and demolished within Kuala Lumpur. 'These small and meaningful heritage sites are part of the diverse historical references that define Kuala Lumpur. 'They should be celebrated and protected as part of Warisan Kuala Lumpur, an initiative launched recently by our Prime Minister,' said Lim. She stressed that authorities should offer greater protection to heritage buildings and sites in support of that vision. When contacted, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said in the case of the ashram, 'if a proposal is submitted and follows the local plan, we can look into the sensitive design around the site.' 'There are mechanisms in place to protect the heritage building,' she said. On concerns that stakeholder input was not considered in the amended KLLP 2040, Maimunah said that when she assumed office in August, the local plan study was already nearing completion after public participation. 'The committee presented me with the outcomes and proposed amendments in October. 'Proposals that align with the plan will be approved while those that do not, will be rejected,' she said.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PM Anwar defends KL flat redevelopment, says it's about dignity, not ‘a Chinese agenda'
KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reportedly said that redeveloping old housing areas in Kuala Lumpur is not an attempt to displace Malays, but a move to provide more dignified living conditions. According to a report in Sinar Harian today, Anwar said that land status remains unchanged, including Malay Reserve Land and Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) land. 'I don't understand this kind of politics. Is the land Malay Reserve Land? It remains so. Is the land Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) land? Yes, it remains so,' he was quoted as saying during the launch of the Warisan Kuala Lumpur (KL) initiative at DBKL tower. 'But old flats like Sri Perlis, which are dilapidated, overcrowded, and lack facilities — we want to fix them, so why is this being politicised? 'We're not trying to take Malay land — we want to replace one-bedroom homes with three-bedroom ones. And even that becomes an issue, supposedly land seizure, a Chinese agenda. This is not about race, this is about the people's dignity,' he reportedly added. Anwar reportedly said that it was disheartening that some families, including those with children, are still living in cramped one-room flats built over 40 years ago. He reportedly called for immediate redevelopment with better housing near the same location, while ensuring that the people's needs come before developer interests. He also reportedly cited examples of housing projects in Penang approved in under 50 days, proving that rapid and efficient development is possible.
Malaysiakini
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Will DBKL address issues PM raised?
'Our plans are always at the top of the elite group; we think of big buildings. We are proud to hear it, but what convenience is this for the people?' COMMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asked this pertinent question to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at the launch of the Warisan Kuala Lumpur initiative, which aims to rejuvenate the city's historic core. He said: 'That is why I have instructed DBKL that I will not accept grand, monumental projects just for the sake of prestige. 'What I want are clean, well-managed small buildings - stalls and facilities that are dignified and serve the 75 to 80 percent who represent the real heartbeat of this city.' The big question is: Will the city's administrators retreat into a cocoon to avoid answering the question and heeding his directives?
The Star
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Outcome of PKR division polls objections expected next week
KUALA LUMPUR: The status of objections related to the results of several PKR division polls could be known as early as next week, says the party's election committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa. She said the party is still in the process of finalising outcomes for a number of divisions following submitted objections. 'There are more (objections). We'll probably know within a week,' the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) told reporters at the launch of the Warisan Kuala Lumpur initiative at Kuala Lumpur City Hall yesterday. 'It will take some time because we need to examine every objection thoroughly, one by one.' On April 24, Dr Zaliha announced that three PKR divisions – Selayang, Jempol and Silam – will need to hold fresh elections, with internal notices to be issued to the divisions concerned.A day earlier, PKR strategy director Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said he would file a formal protest with the party's election committee over the Johor Baru division results, which saw him lose his post as division chief. Several other senior candidates have also lodged formal appeals with the committee, raising concerns over the transparency of the electoral process and its outcomes. Several prominent figures, including ministers and MPs, failed to secure victories in their respective divisions. Among those who lost their bids were Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa division chief), Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim (Hang Tuah Jaya division deputy chief) and Deputy Unity Minister K. Saraswathy (Bukit Bintang division chief). Other defeated candidates included Batu MP P. Prabakaran, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail and Sungai Siput MP S. Kesavan.
The Star
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Breathing new life into KL's heritage districts
KUALA LUMPUR: The city is embarking on one of its most ambitious urban renewal projects to date with the launch of the Warisan Kuala Lumpur (Warisan KL) programme. 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.
