Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook recently announced that negotiations over the redevelopment of Kuala Lumpur Sentral, the nation’s primary transit hub, are projected to wrap up by year-end, enabling a 2025 project launch. The project developer, Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB), is in the final stages of discussions with the public-private partnership (PPP) unit under the Prime Minister’s Department to establish terms for the redevelopment.
“We anticipate that negotiations can conclude within the next two to three months,” Loke commented, expressing optimism for a potential project kickoff either by the end of this year or in early 2025.
A Modern Upgrade to Malaysia’s Largest Transit Hub
Originally launched in 2001, KL Sentral spans 72 acres (29.14 hectares) and serves as Malaysia’s largest transit hub, connecting Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Putrajaya, and key Klang Valley locations. Initially built with a 100,000 daily passenger capacity, the hub now handles approximately 200,000 passengers daily.
Privately Financed Redevelopment
The redevelopment project, with an estimated cost exceeding RM1 billion, will be entirely funded by MRCB through a public-private partnership model, with no direct government funding involved. In exchange, MRCB will receive development rights to the airspace above the station, enabling a mixed-use development atop or beside KL Sentral. However, construction of this mixed development can only proceed upon completion of the transit station’s upgrades.
This initiative received Cabinet approval in August 2022, aiming to enhance KL Sentral’s capacity and integrate additional amenities, setting a foundation for future transit-oriented developments.
