RM43bil to give Kampung Baru a facelift

Things to come: Muhyiddin looking at an image of the Kampung Baru Detailed Development Master Plan 2020. Looking on are PKB chairman Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz (left) and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor. — AZLINA ABDULLAH / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Kampung Baru is set to undergo a massive transformation over the next 20 years in an ambitious undertaking costing some RM43bil, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In years to come, residents of the 113-year-old village at the fringe of KLCC will get new public housing, recreational facilities, a heritage and arts centre, an MRT station and a scenic waterfront courtesy of drainage engineering that will also mitigate occasional overflows from Sungai Bunus.

Speaking at the launch of the Kampung Baru Detailed Develop­ment Master Plan 2020 here yesterday, Muhyiddin said Kampung Baru would morph into an iconic Malay settlement that will change the landscape of the city centre.

“The 122ha land is three times the size of the KLCC development, and once it undergoes these upgrades, it will increase property prices and improve the economic standing of residents there,” he said.

Muhyiddin said discussion and focus groups as well as outreach programmes had been conducted by the Kampung Baru Development Corporation (PKB) to inform residents on the massive project.

“So far, we have been receiving good feedback, but we also have a group which is resisting development,” he said, adding that programmes would be held to inform this group on how they could benefit from the proposed development.

He expressed optimism that when the benefits of the project were presented, it would not be difficult to convince this group to get on board.

However, Muhyiddin also warned that should this group insist on blocking the project with a gross development value of RM61bil, then the law would be used, adding that the project was expected to generate 46,237 jobs by 2035.

Muhyiddin said the number of residents was expected to grow in tandem with the development, with authorities projecting it to increase to about 77,000 from the current headcount of 18,372 residents. - The Star

City Hall to unveil a detailed and holistic KL masterplan

Towards a stronger position: A view of the city from KL Tower. The Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015 will be launched tomorrow. - filepic

OVER 40 initiatives spanning more than eight tourism sectors will be outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Tourism Unit chief Noraza Yusof said the masterplan will be launched on Jan 15 by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

“There will be short, medium and long-term plans outlined in the masterplan that will benefit Kuala Lumpur, the country’s economy and also provide job opportunities.

“This masterplan provides a clear path to further strengthen Kuala Lumpur as a tourism destination,” said Noraza in an interview recently.

She said the plan will ensure Kuala Lumpur’s position as a leading tourist destination. 

Noraza described the plan as “very detailed”, holistic, structured and is the result of the government and relevant stakeholders coming together to plan for the next 10 years, until 2025.

“More than 200 brains from government agencies and the private sector, including hotels and tourism agencies, were consulted. 

“We conducted many workshops, interviews and surveys in 2013 to gather views and suggestions on how to advance the tourism industry in Kuala Lumpur,” she said.

Tourists were not left out; they were asked what they would like to see and experience in the city. 

“We also asked stakeholders on what type of support they require from the government,” Noraza said, adding that the need for a masterplan was brought up at the KL Tourism Development Council which has 27 members. 

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib is the council’s chairman while the co-chairman is a veteran in the tourism industry, Tunku Datuk Seri Iskandar Tunku Abdullah. 

She added Tengku Adnan and Ahmad Phesal played a vital role in coming up with the masterplan. 

She said one of the issues addressed in the masterplan was the need to boost infrastructure to support tourism activities.

Noraza said a website will also be launched tomorrow that will have a full copy of the masterplan.

“We want to share the plan not only locally but also worldwide.

“This will enable foreign investors to know more about future opportunities in Kuala Lumpur and give them more information to make a decision on investing here,” she said.

The masterplan will be launched at Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia. - The Star