LOCAL businesses are the bedrock of any community and essential for societies to thrive.
Nestled in the historic enclave of Kuala Lumpur, the Merdeka 118 precinct is home to many local businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Committed to creating a vibrant and resilient precinct, the development of Merdeka 118, undertaken by PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn. Berhad (PMVSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Merdeka 118 aims to unlock economic opportunities for businesses and create a vibrant, resilient precinct.
Upon its completion at the end of 2023, the Merdeka 118 tower is expected to welcome tenants as well as visitors locally and abroad.
One particular establishment that hopes to benefit from the heightened interest in the area is Kafei Dian, a family-owned restaurant situated along the bustling Petaling Street.
Known for its famous nasi lemak ayam goreng, Kafei Dian co-owner Oscar Woon, said: “My family has been running Kafei Dian for a little over four years now, and this is our first branch.
“While we are grateful that our business is already doing better after the Covid-19 pandemic, we look forward to Merdeka 118’s opening.”
The business is in the midst of obtaining its halal certification and establishing a new restaurant right next to Merdeka 118. Oscar hopes this move will welcome customers from all backgrounds.
“This is targeted by the second quarter of 2023, in line with the opening of Merdeka 118. With more people working and residing in the area, we hope to see more visitors and improve our central kitchen to expand our businesses,” he said.
Another business that is optimistic about the increase in footfall is INKAA, a social enterprise that features handmade batik and mengkuang-based products.
Located at The Zhongshan Building on Jalan Kampung Attap, co-founder of INKAA, Muizz Aziz, said: “INKAA started as a passion project dedicated to craftsmanship and responsible production.”
INKAA’s products are carefully handcrafted by individual artisans around Malaysia as well as community tailors from low-income groups.
“We are working hard to ensure that these items are widely recognised to support batik-makers and mengkuang weavers with employment opportunities.
“With the future opening of the Merdeka 118 tower which will drive more visitors into the precinct, we are hopeful that this will trickle down to the neighbourhood and subsequently to our studio,” said Muizz.
PMVSB’s chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Ab Aziz Tengku Mahmud, said: “The Merdeka 118 precinct is a unique area with a lot of hidden potential.
“We want to harness this opportunity with local businesses and SMEs by igniting positive economic value creation within the area.
“We are optimistic about the outlook for the local communities once Merdeka 118 is open.
“To ensure a seamless experience, we have been focusing on improving connectivity within the precinct by upgrading the road infrastructure to ensure smooth traffic flow.
“Public facilities such as the monorail, LRT and MRT will help attract more visitors, making the Merdeka 118 precinct a highly sought-after destination,” he added.
With PMVSB bringing a breath of fresh air to the area, prospects are bright for local businesses within the Merdeka 118 precinct.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
