KUALA LUMPUR: Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) wholly owned subsidiary, PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (PNBMV) is expanding its Warisan Kuala Lumpur (Warisan KL) initiative through a community mural project and a photography exhibition around the Merdeka 118 precinct.
In a statement, PNBMV said a new community mural titled "Kaki Lima Stories: Life in the Five Foot Ways of Downtown Kuala Lumpur" will be created along Jalan Hang Jebat as part of efforts to revitalise Kuala Lumpur through heritage, culture and community participation.
The mural, to be delivered by Dipapansembilan Studio under the Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme Cycle 3 and managed by Think City Sdn Bhd, forms part of the Jalan Hang Jebat Improvement Project under the Merdeka 118 Public Realm Improvement Programme.
The artwork will depict scenes of old Kuala Lumpur life, including kopi shops, barber chairs, traditional signboards, craftsmen, beca rides and neighbourhood encounters. The project is targeted for completion by mid-July 2026.
PNBMV said a total of 35 volunteers from PNB and PNBMV helped paint the mural's initial background, while student volunteers and members of the public are also invited to participate.
Inside Menara Merdeka 118, PNBMV is also showcasing "Under the Shadows of Merdeka", a photography exhibition by Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme Cycle 2 recipient Azul Adnan and collaborator Grace Ho.
The exhibition, which runs from April 1 to June 30, 2026, features more than 20 black-and-white photographs documenting neighbourhoods surrounding the Merdeka 118 precinct, including Petaling Street, Bukit Bintang, Pudu and Kampung Attap.
PNBMV chief executive officer Datuk Ir. Ts. Izwan Ibrahim said Merdeka 118 stands within one of Kuala Lumpur's most storied neighbourhoods and the precinct should grow in a way that honours the people, places and everyday stories that give the area its identity.
"Through the Jalan Hang Jebat community mural and Under the Shadows of Merdeka photography exhibition, in line with Warisan Kuala Lumpur's broader purpose and collaborative efforts, we are deepening public appreciation and stewardship of the city's heritage by connecting communities with Kuala Lumpur's history in meaningful and accessible ways," he said.
He added that PNBMV looked forward to expanding more community-driven initiatives around the Merdeka 118 precinct to encourage greater public engagement with the city's cultural heritage.
