KUALA LUMPUR: PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (PNBMV) has selected nine recipients under Cycle 3 of the Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme, reinforcing its continued commitment to inclusive placemaking, cultural vitality and social wellbeing within and around the Merdeka 118 precinct.
Introduced in 2021 in collaboration with Think City, the programme supports grassroots organisations, creatives and social enterprises whose projects deliver tangible outcomes for neighbouring communities.
In a statement, PNBMV said Cycle 3 was launched as part of the broader Warisan KL grants rollout following an open call for proposals in July 2025.
PNBMV chief executive officer Datuk Izwan Ibrahim said the nine selected projects reflect the diversity of ideas and perspectives within the precinct, spanning community engagement, creative production, skills development and cultural activation.
“These community-led efforts demonstrate how placemaking, heritage and creative expression can come together to shape a more vibrant, inclusive and culturally rich urban environment, reinforcing Merdeka 118’s role as a core location within the Warisan KL initiative.”
Among the recipients, Pucks & Friends Events will host participatory activities through Pucks Coffee, while Persatuan Penduduk Sri Selangor, Perumahan Awam DBKL will organise a neighbourhood festival combining sports and traditional arts such as zapin.
Lain-Lain Design is organising an art book fair, Apostrophe Marketing Communications Sdn Bhd is delivering a cultural festival activating Petaling Street with a heritage and food-focused cultural festival, and Dipapansembilan Studio will lead the “Merdeka Wall” community mural project.
Other initiatives focus on capacity building and inclusivity. SilverLab Project Enterprise will conduct digital literacy sessions for seniors, The Bridge of Asia will produce a short video series on Kuala Lumpur’s heritage districts, DIA Academy Sdn Bhd will run a festival promoting awareness and empowerment of differently abled youths, and Wehn Legacy will continue its income-generating craft programme from the previous cycle.
Think City managing director Datuk Hamdan Abdul Majeed said sustained, place-based collaboration is key to renewing downtown Kuala Lumpur, in line with the Warisan KL vision.
“Through a multi-year collaboration with PNBMV, shared aspirations for the precinct take shape through locally led actions connecting people, heritage and everyday spaces.
“As the programme enters its third cycle, this continued momentum points towards a longer-term aspiration of renewing downtown Kuala Lumpur through sustained, place-based collaboration, in line with the broader Warisan KL vision,” he said.
PNBMV and Think City will work closely with the Cycle 3 grantees throughout implementation, providing support and opportunities for collaboration and engagement within the Merdeka 118 precinct.
