PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (PNBMV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), continues to bring Kuala Lumpur’s heritage to life through community-led initiatives around the Merdeka 118 precinct.
As part of the broader Warisan KL initiative to revitalise the soul of Kuala Lumpur through heritage, culture and community participation, a curved wall along Jalan Hang Jebat will be transformed into a community mural titled “Kaki Lima Stories: Life in the Five-Foot Ways of Downtown Kuala Lumpur”.
The project will be delivered by Dipapansembilan Studio, a recipient of the Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme Cycle 3, and managed by community partner Think City Sdn Bhd.
It forms part of the Jalan Hang Jebat Improvement Project under Merdeka 118 Public Realm Improvement Programme, which aims to make the area more walkable, welcoming and connected through public art, landscaping, lighting, wayfinding and pedestrian enhancements.
Located adjacent to the B1 parking exit into the Merdeka 118 precinct, the mural is inspired by old world KL charm including reminiscent of the city’s traditional kaki lima walkways.
A total of 35 volunteers from PNB and PNBMV participated in painting the mural’s foundation, setting the canvas for wider community participation, and expected to reach completion by mid-July.
The mural initiative will also involve student volunteers from few schools within the surrounding Merdeka 118 precinct.
It features a series of painted arches that open into familiar scenes of everyday city life, from kopi shops and barber chairs to old signboards, craftsmen, beca, playgrounds and neighbourhood encounters. The wall forms as one of the main gateways from Petaling Street to the Merdeka 118 precinct.
As part of the KL Festival, PNBMV also showcased the “Under the Shadows of Merdeka” photography exhibition, featuring more than 20 black-and-white street photography by Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme Cycle 2 recipient Azul Adnan and his partner Grace Ho.
Located at the South Lobby of Menara Merdeka 118 from April 1 to June 30, 2026, the exhibition documents the everyday life, culture and urban transformation of neighbourhoods surrounding the Merdeka 118 precinct, including Petaling Street, Bukit Bintang, Pudu and Kampung Attap.
PNBMV chief executive officer Dato’ Ir Ts Izwan Ibrahim said the cultural revitalization efforts foster an emotional connection between the public and Kuala Lumpur’s evolving heritage through shared storytelling and creative expression.
“Merdeka 118 stands within one of Kuala Lumpur’s most storied neighbourhoods, and we believe the precinct should grow in a way that honours the people, places and everyday stories that give this part of the city its soul,” he said.
“We look forward to expanding more community-driven initiatives around the Merdeka 118 precinct, creating opportunities for people to engage with and take ownership of the city’s cultural legacy, celebrating its stories, identity and living heritage,” he added.
The projects also included both the “Echoes of Chinatown” festival at Kwai Chai Hong and the Merdeka Textile Museum pop-up event at Else Kuala Lumpur were created to increase public engagement with the city’s cultural identity.
Echoes of Chinatown, held on May 23-24, 2026, featured curated markets, live performances and storytelling walks that showcased the vibrant spirit and rich cultural diversity of early KL settlers.
The Merdeka Textile Museum pop-up, hosted at Else Kuala Lumpur on May 30, 2026, presented a sharing session titled “The Making of Merdeka Textile Museum”, that provided deep insights into the curatorial design and research that went into bringing the museum to life.
