Loke dismisses claims govt plans to sell historic railway buildings

PUTRAJAYA: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has dismissed claims that the government intends to sell historic railway buildings, assuring the public that both Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd headquarters will be preserved through a partnership between Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC).

Loke stated this during a press conference, hoping to dispel rumors that the Transport Ministry had plans to sell the KTMB building, including its headquarters, to foreign entities like Chinese companies. He emphasized that the KTMB headquarters is a government-owned structure of significant historical and nostalgic value. The government, through Khazanah and RAC, has agreed to conserve and upgrade the buildings to elevate their status as iconic landmarks and stimulate tourism.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced this during Budget 2027, revealing that Khazanah would expand its conservation efforts to include three historic buildings: Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Dayabumi Complex, and the KTMB headquarters.