Tram to service tourists at KL Lake Gardens

Plans to connect attractions surrounding the KL Lake Gardens via tram service is in the works, said Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail. “The plan is to utilise it to ferry tourists from one attraction to another within the area. “We are talking to the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to see if the trams can be used for such a purpose,” he said after closing the “10,000 Expressions of Green KL” campaign at the Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

He said there were many things to see in the area such as the National Museum, National Planetarium, National Mosque and National Monument. “There are many good ‘products’ in the area that are quite unknown to the public, such as the police museum,” he said

Green touch: Fuad adding his mark to the canvas at the campaign’s closing ceremony accompanied by Federal Hotels International regional sales and business development marketing director Ooi Lee Ping.

He said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had communicated with the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) who have agreed with the concept. Fuad hinted at a new multi-storey carpark could be built in the area. He also said phase two would start in June. It has been reported phase two will see the construction of a cafe, souvenir shop and a playground featuring the Kampung Boy series by Malaysian cartoonist Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Lat.

The first phase has been completed, involving the planting of more than 1,500 trees and plants, lake clean-up, building of waterfalls, the creation of additional car parks, introduction of buggy service and installation of a new lighting system. “A total of RM17mil has been spent in the first phase with about RM11mil provided by the private sector,” said Fuad. The mayor said in his speech at the campaign closing ceremony that tree-planting and keeping the environment clean should not only be done during such periods but at all times.

“DBKL will support all corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by the private sector in terms of logistics, charge exemptions and waiver of certain conditions like deposit payment within the context of CSR commmitment,” he added. The two-month campaign was organised by Federal Hotel and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur partnering the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, Local Agenda 21 DBKL, Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam (Yawa), Yayasan Muamalat Belia, Balai Seni Lukis Negara, ICI Paints Sdn Bhd, Aeon AU2 Setiawangsa, Jusco Metro Prima Shopping Centre, Plaza Low Yat and Plaza Sungei Wang. Raising RM12,101.95 for Yawa, the campaign also exceeded its objective of collecting 10,000 brush strokes on 10 canvases, showing public support for Mother Nature.

-thestar online.