66-acre rainforest park to breathe new life into Kuala Lumpur green lung & surrounding areas

Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak today launched the Taman Tugu Project, a not-for-profit corporate responsibility (“CR”) initiative to conserve, activate and connect a 66-acre rainforest park in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The project is a Public-Private-Civil Society Partnership initiative spearheaded by Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”), in collaboration with Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (“DBKL”) and various partners from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society organisations.

The Taman Tugu Project will focus on regenerating the secondary forest area surrounding Tugu Negara into a rich and sustainable urban rainforest park, on land that has been officially valued by the Government at approximately RM2.1 billion. Under a comprehensive forest regeneration plan, approximately 1,000 trees will be conserved while more than 5,000 ethnic Malaysian rainforest trees suitable to the terrain will be planted, blending in with existing trees in the area to mature naturally into a forest reserve. The conservation and replanting strategy is undertaken in consultation with Forest Research Institute Malaysia (“FRIM”) and Malaysian Nature Society (“MNS”).

Taman Tugu will also offer a recreation and learning environment for visitors. This includes a community and family-focused area comprising Malaysian food and beverage outlets and stalls, play areas for children, and indoor and outdoor event spaces. There will also be learning and education facilities comprising a Rainforest Education Centre, education trails, and a learning and innovation centre open to public use. In addition there will be outdoor activity areas such as camp sites and running and hiking trails.

The Taman Tugu Project also entails enhancing connectivity between Taman Tugu and surrounding places, via a walkway from Bank Negara Komuter Station to Taman Tugu, an underpass from Taman Tugu to Taman Botani Perdana, an overhead bridge from KL Sentral to Muzium Negara, and a pedestrian deck from KL Sentral to Taman Botani Perdana via Muzium Negara. The pedestrian deck to KL Sentral will be developed with the support of Muzium Negara, CIMB, MRCB and other stakeholders in the KL Sentral vicinity. The connectors, targeted for completion by 2019, are part of a collective effort to stitch the urban fabric of the city for the convenience of residents and visitors alike. Overall, the cost of the project, including regenerating the urban rainforest park, facilities including the Rainforest Education Centre and learning and innovation centre, various connecters and public infrastructure improvements, amounts up to an estimated RM650 million, of which up to RM500 million or approximately 75% would be borne by Khazanah as part of its ongoing Corporate Responsibility (“CR”) efforts.

At the Taman Tugu Project launch ceremony, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib also announced that Taman Tugu would be placed under a Public Trust in perpetuity to ensure that it remained an urban rainforest park for Malaysians to enjoy for generations to come.

Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Federal Territories Minister said: “The Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley National Key Economic Area (“NKEA”) aims for a greener Greater Kuala Lumpur to ensure residents enjoy sufficient greener spaces, as well as the creation of iconic places and attractions to enhance its overall appeal. We are also leveraging on existing attractions and landmarks to cement Kuala Lumpur’s unique identity and heritage. I see the Taman Tugu Project greatly complementing current efforts under the Greater Kuala Lumpur NKEA, such as the River of Life and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur’s Heritage Trails.”

Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hj Mokhtar, Khazanah Managing Director said: “The Taman Tugu Project is not just a Public-Private Partnership but is more than that, a Public-Private-Civil Society Partnership. Today, with the official launch of the project, we will also be embarking on a public outreach program through multiple channels to seek feedback and suggestions from the public at large, as well as broadening the number of development partners and donors.”

The public will be engaged for feedback on the development of Taman Tugu, specifically on activities and food and beverage to be offered on site, as well as on the name for the urban rainforest park. They can provide input via online surveys at the official website www.tamantugu.com.my and at booths that will be located in high pedestrian traffic areas around the city.

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For further information on Khazanah, please visit www.khazanah.com.my or contact Mohd Raslan Md Sharif at +603 2034 0000, or e-mail at [email protected].