PUTRAJAYA, Aug 2 — The Cabinet today approved in principle a Transport Ministry proposal regarding the redevelopment of Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL Sentral), which is the main public transport hub in the capital, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He added that the redevelopment of KL Sentral will involve a privatisation exercise, with an estimated cost of over RM1 billion.
He also said KL Sentral will be redeveloped in collaboration with the Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB), which is the developer of the KL Sentral project, without financial implications on the government.
“In return, MRCB will get the right to build commercial buildings, or condominiums and the government will get a modern, sophisticated station for passengers,” he said at a press conference here today.
Loke said the original KL Sentral architecture was designed for only 100,000 passengers a day, but the station now ferries 200,000 passengers a day.
He added that, although the government has agreed with the proposal in principle, it is still subject to further discussions between the Prime Minister’s Department Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) and MRCB, both parties have been given a maximum period of two years for the purpose of discussion..
“If they can finalise the cooperation agreement sooner, then the redevelopment can be accelerated. For the Transport Ministry it is an important, strategic project, which needs to be given priority.”
Among the conditions set by the government through the redevelopment proposal is that the KL Sentral station must be redeveloped first before MRCB can start to develop any other development.
, Loke said KL Sentral station will continue to operate as usual during the redevelopment adding that the work will not involve any relocation of the station.
“Once the station is completed, then MRCB will be given the right to develop their projects.”
— Bernama
