US FIRM PICKED FOR RIVER OF LIFE PROJECT

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- A United States-based engineering and
architectural firm, AECOM, has been picked to carry out the River of Life (RoL)
project costing about RM1 billion which includes the beautification of a 10.7km
stretch of the Klang and Gombak River Corridor.

Once ready, the area will offer visitors nice views and feature amenities
such as pedestrian and bicycle walkways, retail outlets, eateries and other
attractions.

The firm was chosen by jurors as the winner of the RoL International
Masterplanning competition organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) between
April 12 and June 15 this year.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the company had fulfilled most of
the criteria set by the jurors, comprising nine local and international industry
leaders.

"The winning master plan was selected based on its excellence in planning,
architecture, function and economic terms," he said after announcing the winner
of the competition here Monday.


A total of 22 local and international firms submitted their designs, aimed
at ensuring a holistic beautification approach for the RoL initiative.

Ahmad Fuad, who is chairman of the RoL Joint Development Committee, said
AECOM would cooperate with the committee to draw up the final master plan for
the stretch, as well as a detailed proposal for either Precinct 1 (Titiwangsa)
or Precinct 7 (Masjid Jamek).

The stretch has 11 precints.

He explained that the committee would work on the final draft of the master
plan through the combination of master plans from four other finalist firms.

"We'll seek comments and feedback from the public before incorporating them
into the final master plan," he said.

The RoL is an Entry Point Project identified in the Greater Kuala
Lumpur/Klang Valley National Key Economic Area under the Economic Transformation
Plan, which aims to transform the Klang River into a vibrant and liveable
waterfront with high economic value.

The transformation is divided into three components, namely river cleaning,
river masterplanning as well as beautification and river development.