PUTRAJAYA: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has dismissed allegations that the government plans to sell or privatise the historic Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) headquarters, describing the claims as baseless, while announcing plans to revitalise the iconic building and Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.
He said both historic landmarks would be restored and upgraded through a collaboration involving Khazanah Nasional and the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), as part of efforts to preserve Malaysia’s railway heritage and transform the buildings into tourism attractions.
“With this announcement, I hope we can put an end to all the accusations and slander claiming that the Transport Ministry wants to sell the KTMB building,” he told a press conference at the Transport Ministry today.
Loke said certain parties had repeatedly accused him of attempting to sell KTMB assets, including its historic headquarters, to private companies.
“There are people who constantly spread slander, claiming Anthony Loke wants to sell KTMB, including its building, to other parties and Chinese companies.
“This is completely untrue. There has never been any plan to privatise or sell the KTMB building,” he said.
Loke stressed that the headquarters remained a government-owned heritage building of significant historical and nostalgic value, adding that the restoration initiative was intended to safeguard its legacy while giving it a new lease of life.
He said the project would follow a similar approach to Khazanah’s restoration of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, focusing not only on conservation but also on revitalising the structures for public and tourism use.
“We want to beautify and revitalise these buildings. They are not only being preserved but will also be upgraded into iconic landmarks that can attract tourists,” he said.
The initiative, announced under Budget 2027, forms part of the government’s broader efforts to preserve the country’s historic transport infrastructure while enhancing its cultural and tourism appeal.
Loke also said the government had approved upgrades to railway tracks and Seremban Railway Station, with improvement works already under way.