KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian brands should be prioritised at public transport stations’ commercial lots to transform hubs into centres for business, tourism and community activities, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said the proposed café at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, which is undergoing nearly RM5mil in upgrades, should reflect Malaysian identity rather than feature another foreign brand.
"It must be a local brand. We do not want another foreign brand just as a cafe here, but it must be a local brand, local flavour, representing Malaysian flavours and Malaysian identity," he said.
Loke was speaking at the launch of the Masjid Jamek LRT Station Beautification Project here on Thursday (Oct 22).
He said the project would introduce new public and commercial spaces along Jalan Benteng, including a proposed al fresco café overlooking the historic confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.
The station, which serves an average of 46,000 passengers daily or about 1.5 million monthly, is among the capital's busiest transit hubs, he said.
Loke said the government wanted public transport stations to evolve beyond their traditional role as places where passengers board and alight from trains.
"Public transport stations should not merely serve as places for passengers to board and alight from trains, but should also develop into centres for community, commercial and tourism activities," he said in his speech.
He said the RM5mil beautification project includes upgrading public and commercial spaces along Jalan Benteng, improving lighting along Jalan Tun Perak, expanding greenery and enhancing wayfinding signage around the station.
Loke said the improvements should benefit commuters while creating business opportunities and stimulating economic activities in the surrounding area.
He also stressed the importance of preserving the historical character of areas surrounding public transport stations.
The Masjid Jamek station, located near Dataran Merdeka, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, serves as an important gateway to Kuala Lumpur's heritage attractions, he said.
The project, according to Loke, is also aligned with the Warisan KL initiative launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in April last year.
Loke said the successful restoration of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building had demonstrated the potential of heritage preservation to attract visitors and strengthen national identity.
He also highlighted plans to restore the historic Kuala Lumpur railway station and the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) headquarters building.
He said the restoration efforts would involve cooperation between the Railway Assets Corporation and Khazanah Nasional.
"We want to preserve the heritage value of these areas while making them more attractive to visitors and tourists," he said.
