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©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin

The oft-cited factors are a combination of a unique cultural heritage, amazing architecture, economic prosperity and vibrant people.

I dare say that our capital city of Kuala Lumpur already has all the ingredients that can rival any world class city.

As our country celebrates its 50th anniversary, citizens can take pride that KL has come a long way since the late 19th century as a tin mining town on the muddy confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.

Today, KL is instantly recognised globally as home to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. But much more than that, KL is a cosmopolitan city and a cultural melting pot in the truest sense of the term.

With three major races bonded by a shared history living side by side, KL is constantly pulsating with a unique vibe that is reflected in its buildings, food and faces. All these have made KL an alluring and favourite holiday destination internationally.

But what does KL mean to urban folks who live and work here everyday? Rather than laying claim that KL is the world’s greatest city, I think the priority is to make KL the most livable city. This means ensuring a high quality of life for future generations to come. And this calls for measures to grow the city at a sustainable pace and in an affordable manner to cope with the demands of a rising population while balancing the need for environmental preservation.

My hopes for KL in the next 50 years are manifold. I wish to see our capital city retain its charm while modernising with the times. Our government needs to conduct thorough research on the perennial problems which plague KL.

From the findings, the government can devise a comprehensive redevelopment blueprint that will help KL grow in a way that is green, livable and affordable 50 years from now.

In fact, KL can take a leaf from other award-wining cities in the world such as Seattle and Vancouver.

Firstly, I wish to see the implementation of a forward-thinking transportation plan which will help ensure that the city can run like a well-oiled machine. Reducing the number of cars on the road cuts down fuel consumption and lowers carbon dioxide gas emission, helping to keep the environment cleaner.

Like other lovely cities, I hope to see a greener KL despite the proliferation of concrete buildings. While there are a number of green lungs in the city, it is by no means adequate to meet the needs of city dwellers. Urban forestry should be actively pursued with the development of a diverse range of green spaces such as destination parks, neighbourhood parks, botanical gardens and street trees. These are places where our children can roam free and enjoy nature. Urban greenery not only beautifies the cityscape but also enhances the ability to absorb air pollutants.

To encourage inner-city living, the government should allow for the development of more mixed integrated urban communities in the city centre at affordable prices.

Affordability is a priority to maintain a varied cross-section of individuals in each neighbourhood that will promote social integration.

Ultimately, inner city living leads to a better quality of life as people can cut down on commuting time from suburban areas to their workplace in the city centre.

I also wish to see the inculcation of the maintenance mindset and environmental sensitivity among our people. If not, all our efforts to beautify KL’s cityscape will be in vain due to a lackadaisical attitude. Hence, more can be done to instil the importance of maintaining public facilities and keeping the environment clean.

The spirit of preservation should also be stressed so that our rich cultural tapestry, as manifested by the many historical buildings we have, will not be haphazardly
bulldozed.

I am confident that if my ideas were taken into consideration in developing the city, KL would one day take its rightful place as one of the most habitable cities in the world where people can live, learn, work and play in an environment designed to maintain and balance the objectives of livability and sustainability. Happy Merdeka Malaysia!

Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin is S P Setia group managing director and chief executive officer.

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