WARISAN KL SETS TO TRANSFORM THE METROPOLITAN INTO CREATIVE, CULTURAL POWERHOUSE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur is embarking on one of its most ambitious urban renewal projects to date with the launch of the Warisan Kuala Lumpur (Warisan KL) programme today.

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 strategic partners including Think City and Khazanah Nasional, Warisan KL brings together 10 pilot flagship projects aimed at breathing new life into the city’s heritage districts.

According to City Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, 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 appeals through improved infrastructure, signage and storytelling, all 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 is also the Chair of Warisan KL Working Committee.

She said the initial investment for the Warisan KL programme includes RM600 million announced in the federal budget, but additional allocations are expected to come from private sector investment.

“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 ten years, with sustainability, community participation, and creative innovation at its core,” she added.

According to Maimunah, as part of a broader effort to rejuvenate its historic core through the ambitious Warisan KL project, DBKL is also taking bold steps to secure international recognition for Kuala Lumpur as a UNESCO Creative City of Design.

For this, she said DBKL has officially submitted its application to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) on March 3, and received confirmation on April 14 that the submission had advanced to the next stage.

She stated that, unlike Georgetown and Melaka, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the UCCN honours cities that prioritise innovation, governance and community engagement through creativity.

“For Kuala Lumpur, the designation would affirm its strategic investment in culture-based development, particularly in design and heritage preservation,” she said.

Meanwhile, Think City Managing Director Datuk Hamdan Abdul Majeed said if successful, the recognition would place Kuala Lumpur on the global map not just as a heritage city but as a city that is moving forward with creativity at its heart.

“It gives us momentum, global positioning, and sets the stage for future aspirations, including recognition as a world economic site,” he said.

-- BERNAMA