Najib unveils KL-SG HSR station concept designs

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today unveiled the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (KL-SG HSR) station concept designs featuring a strong reflection of Malaysia's identity and heritage while remaining modern and futuristic.

The KL-SG HSR connects the cities of Kuala Lumpur, Bangi and Putrajaya, Seremban, Melaka, Muar, Batu Pahat, Iskandar Puteri and Singapore.

Najib said, extensive research and substantial efforts have been put into each of the seven HSR stations in Malaysia and the designs not only highlight each city's unique elements, but also provide prominence to creativity and innovation, as the country moves into the future.

"The design team took approach of a journey (MYJourney) and touched on seven central themes namely MYGateway, MYPeople, MYVision, MYHeritage, MYFuture, MYCulture and MYEncounter applying them to the seven stations along the route.

"I have personally been involved in ensuring that every station design retains strong reflections of Malaysia's identity and heritage whilst remaining modern and futuristic," he said in his speech when unveiling of KL-SG HSR station concept design, here today.

Sharing the concept of the designs, the prime minister said for the first station, Bandar Malaysia station in Kuala Lumpur, the design is a re-interpretation of the confluence of Klang and Gombak rivers - a symbolic wisdom of unity, of people from all walks of life.

For the Bangi-Putrajaya station which is located at the border of Selangor and Putrajaya, Najib said the design embraces the influence of majestic yet intricate details of Islamic architecture, while Seremban station design is inspired by the grandeur of the royal palace of Sri Menanti and the lush tropical greenery of the Malaysia Vision Valley.

"As we get into Melaka, inspiration is drawn from Melaka's history as a strategic trading port in its heyday, thus the Melaka station design was drawn from the image of merchant ship, symbolising the entrepreneurship spirit of the local communities.

"Moving down south to the state of Johor, the richest elements of Malay culture are reflected here with the Muar station inspired by rehal, traditionally used for placing the Quran as students learn to recite it.

"The design thus symbolises the importance of learning entrenched in our culture long ago, and continuing to be a pillar of our identity now and into the future," he said.

While for the Batu Pahat station, Najib said it is inspired by the 'Kuda Kepang', striking a balance between heritage and modernisation and the Iskandar Puteri station is inspired by representation of handshake, signifying the city's role as a regional city for commerce, future business undertakings and international encounters combined with the Malaysian charm and warmth.

The prime minister added, these stations were demonstration of government commitment to an advanced, innovative and integrated development of the surrounding areas or more commonly known as Transit-Oriented Development or TOD.

"From the beginning, the KL-SG HSR was never just a transportation project. It was by and large a project focused on providing significant and endless possibilities for the nation as a whole," he said.

Also present were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

-- BERNAMA