SHAH ALAM, DEC 15 — The Warisan 2030 development project is expected to revitalise Kuala Lumpur’s historic city centre by extending tourists’ length of stay, alongside the transformation of Carcosa into a premium eco-sanctuary hotel.
Berita Harian reported Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir as saying that the heritage-led redevelopment has the potential to change current travel patterns, where visitors typically stay only one to two days.
“When the Warisan project is fully completed by 2030, we believe tourists will stay longer. Areas from Medan Pasar to Pasar Seni are already showing signs of renewed activity,” he said during a pre-launch briefing of the Seri Negara building recently.
Under Budget 2026, which was tabled in October, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a RM600 million allocation to Khazanah for heritage conservation in Kuala Lumpur. It was later clarified that the investment covers not only the restoration of Carcosa Seri Negara but also six blocks within the Sultan Abdul Samad Building complex.
Overall, Khazanah is restoring eight national heritage buildings: Seri Negara, Carcosa, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the Old General Post Office, the Old High Court, Panggung Bandaraya, the former FMS Survey Office, and the National Textile Museum.
In the first phase, Seri Negara has been restored and will function as a gallery, Carcosa will be redeveloped into an eco-sanctuary hotel, and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is set to become an arts and culture hub. Seri Negara has already been officially launched by Anwar.
Amirul added that the restoration programme will reshape the visitor experience through expanded cultural, artistic and exhibition spaces, supported by more organised and attractive heritage walking routes.
"Carcosa is being positioned as a new benchmark in premium hospitality, with ambitions to rank among the best in the capital and the wider Asian region. Its surrounding landscape, including heritage-status trees, will be preserved as part of the development.
"The Warisan 2030 portfolio applies a ‘patient capital’ approach, with investment returns typically expected beyond 10 years, particularly for high-value heritage assets. All buildings involved are classified as Category One heritage properties, the highest conservation rating, requiring strict preservation standards," he said.
Some of the assets are held under 99-year leases to enable structured, long-term planning. The project also opens opportunities for specialised heritage architects and contractors, although Amirul noted that only a limited number meet the stringent technical requirements for conservation works.
