Impacts of river of life project towards the conservation of urban heritage quarter in Kuala Lumpur: A preliminary study

Abstract

The River of Life (RoL) is one project of Malaysia's Economic Transformation Programmes. RoL is a multi-year attempt that integrates high-impact programmes to help Malaysia achieve a status of a developed nation. This study discussed the components of the waterfront development packages in the River of Life (RoL) project implementation. As explained by urban planning theory, the growth of a city is affected by multiple factors. The word "urban regeneration"originated to define the social, economic, and environmental components that influence a city's growth. This study intended to examine the socioeconomic impact of the RoL project in the Kuala Lumpur heritage quarter in terms of development. A qualitative method approach combining interviews and document reviews were used in this study. The study revealed the impacts of RoL project within the heritage quarter from the perspectives of the local authorities, private sector as well as stakeholders involved in the project. The study findings will help numerous stakeholders to provide better urban living for the Kuala Lumpur heritage quarter.