Closure of half of Jalan Raja has created a ripple effect across the city’s road network. — Filepic
For several months, renovation work on the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building along Jalan Raja has dragged on, leaving half of this vital artery closed to traffic.
What was meant to be a temporary inconvenience has turned into a daily ordeal for motorists and the public.
Jalan Raja is not just any road – it is one of Kuala Lumpur’s main lifelines. Closing half of it has created a ripple effect across the city’s road network. Traffic snarls, frustration mounts and the public suffers in silence.
What is most disheartening is the apparent lack of urgency. On many days, no activity is visible. Heavy machinery sits idle, workers are nowhere to be seen and progress appears stalled.
The public would expect round-the-clock work to minimise disruption, yet we are met with silence and stagnation.
Even the project signboard offers no completion date, leaving us to wonder if the authorities themselves are unsure when this will end.
Meanwhile, the closure has been used as an opportunity to dig up Jalan Raja for upgrading works. Yet again, activity is sporadic, with stretches of inactivity that only prolong the suffering of motorists and residents.
This is not just a local inconvenience. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building sits at the heart of a tourist hub, surrounded by landmarks such as Dataran Merdeka, the Royal Selangor Club, the Textile Museum, and St Mary’s Cathedral.
Busloads of visitors arrive daily, only to be greeted by dust, dirt and congestion.
With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 now upon us, the urgency to complete this project should be stronger than ever. Instead, we risk embarrassing ourselves before the world.
As a Royal Selangor Club member, I witness the spillover effects of this prolonged closure. The economic concept of negative externalities perfectly describes the situation: while the authorities and contractors agreed on a price for the project, the public – who never signed that contract – pays the real cost in wasted time, health impacts and endless frustration.
On behalf of the long-suffering motorists and the many who frequent this area, I make this plea to authorities:
• Adopt a true sense of urgency. Complete the renovation and upgrading works without further delay.
• Be transparent. Inform the public when the project began and when it will end.
• Expedite the reopening of Jalan Raja. This artery must be restored to full use as soon as possible.
• Engage the public. We are stakeholders whose lives are directly affected.
The authorities must realise that enough time has been lost. It is time to act decisively, complete the project and restore Jalan Raja to the people of Kuala Lumpur.
POLA SINGH
Taman Tun Dr Ismail Kuala Lumpur
