Loke welcomes RM5m Masjid Jamek LRT makeover, wants stations to drive local economy 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook today welcomed a RM5 million beautification project at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, saying the busy interchange should be more than a transit point and help drive economic activity and tourism in the capital.

Loke said the station, which serves thousands of commuters and sits close to historic attractions in the city, was an important gateway for both locals and tourists.

“Every ringgit spent must bring tangible benefits to the people. We want to ensure that the improvements go beyond making the station look beautiful, and genuinely improve comfort, safety and convenience for users.

“Public transport stations should not merely be places where passengers board and alight from trains, but should also become centres for community activities, commerce and tourism,” he said at the launch of the project today.

The project, launched by Prasarana Malaysia Berhad in collaboration with Think City, is the third phase of efforts to rejuvenate the station and its surrounding area, with works expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The RM5 million investment covers four main components: upgrading the area around Jalan Benteng with public and commercial spaces, improving lighting along Jalan Tun Perak, adding greenery to the station platforms and improving wayfinding around the station.

Loke said the improvements were timely, given that Masjid Jamek was a major interchange connecting the Kelana Jaya Line with the Ampang/Sri Petaling Line, serving an average of 1.39 million passengers a month.

He also joked that its proximity to Dataran Merdeka made it particularly busy during demonstrations, but stressed that its importance extended beyond its role in the city’s transport network.

The area holds historical significance as the meeting point of the Klang and Gombak rivers, which marked the beginning of Kuala Lumpur’s development.

Loke said the station was also an important gateway to nearby heritage attractions, including Dataran Merdeka, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque.

He said the beautification project supported the government’s Warisan Kuala Lumpur (Warisan KL) initiative to strengthen the capital’s heritage appeal while connecting public transport users to cultural attractions and commercial activities.

Loke also expressed support for plans to introduce more commercial spaces at stations, saying these could create business opportunities, generate income and encourage more people to use public transport.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke also expressed support for plans to introduce more commercial spaces at stations, saying these could create business opportunities, generate income and encourage more people to use public transport. — Picture by Yusof Isa

He said such spaces could also provide opportunities for local businesses and brands to showcase Malaysian products and flavours, rather than being dominated by international brands.

“We want to see how public transport stations can be transformed from transit points into catalysts for the economy,” he said.

Loke added that improving connectivity beyond stations was equally important in encouraging public transport use, particularly through more covered walkways linking stations to surrounding areas.

He welcomed efforts under Budget 2027 to increase covered walkways in Kuala Lumpur, saying Prasarana and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) should work together to identify gaps and ensure pedestrians could move between transport hubs and nearby destinations more seamlessly.

He said he had also instructed Prasarana to provide the Transport Ministry with weekly reports on station facilities, including the number of faulty escalators and lifts that were out of service.

Loke said station facilities must remain in good condition to ensure a comfortable and reliable journey, adding that the passenger experience should cover the entire trip, from the station entrance to the final destination.

Prasarana said the beautification project had been implemented in phases since 2025 and was expected to turn Masjid Jamek into a greener, more user-friendly space with improved commercial facilities, strengthening its role as a community, tourism and commercial hub in central Kuala Lumpur.