RAC inks MoU with Think City to revitalise old railway facilities

GEORGE TOWN – Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with urban regeneration agency Think City Sdn Bhd to revitalise social amenities, train stations and buildings aged up to 130 years along the western stretch of Peninsular Malaysia.

RAC is a government-linked company under the Transport Ministry entrusted to safeguard rail line assets, including stations and facilities. Think City was founded by sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that RAC has identified Think City as a strategic partner to revitalise old buildings, classified as heritage sites, by refurbishing and turning them into tourist attractions in their own right.

To realise this aim, the MoU was sealed at Think City’s office in China Street Ghaut. It will also ensure that the heritage element of such assets is preserved and harmonised with present architectural needs.

Representing RAC was its chief executive officer Azhar Ahmad while Think City was represented by its managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed.

The MoU is to realise the heritage railway rejuvenation programme, which will begin now.

“We will no longer find an easy way out to lease RAC buildings to third parties as they may damage it in the process. Instead, RAC will own and operate such premises by ensuring its heritage flavour is rehabilitated and promoted,” said Loke.

Among the buildings which would come under the collaboration with Think City are the railway stations in Kuala Lumpur, Kluang, Ipoh, and Johor Baru, as well as the majestic Malayan Railway Building in Penang, which was recently the state headquarters of the Customs and Excise Department.

In a separate development today, the Transport Ministry plans to assist up to 9,000 B40 families ((low medium income households), by providing professional ridership training and free MyLesen B2 motorcycle-class licences to their children.

This will help alleviate their burden and allow their children aged 16 and above a chance to fulfil the legal requirements to ride motorcycles, said Loke.

Having the B2 licence can ease their mobility, but they must ride responsibly and not end up indulging in illegal street racing (often referred to as the “mat rempit” phenomenon), Loke said.

He said this when handing over MyLesen B2 class licences to 293 participants of the programme, which was drawn up by the ministry to ease the living costs of the B40, especially after having to endure hardships arising due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Next year, the ministry plans to expand the outreach so that all B40 families, whose children want to own and ride motorcycles, can receive the free licences. – The Vibes, July 8, 2023