20,000 to benefit from RM10 million library in Lembah Pantai

The 1Wilayah Persekutuan Library in Lembah Pantai will also have rooms to conduct meetings and tutorial classes. – Pic supplied, April 18, 2015.

The 20,000 residents living in the vicinity of the Lembah Pantai suburb of Kuala Lumpur, now have access to a wide selection of reading material following the official opening of the RM10 million 1Wilayah Persekutuan Library.

Officially opened today by Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan at the Kampung Kerinchi People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats in Jalan Pantai Dalam, the library is fully funded and developed by the Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd’s (MRCB) as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, a statement from the company said.

The project is the first of three libraries which MRCB is donating to three communities in the Klang Valley at a total cost of RM30 million.

“Focusing on the redevelopment of urban areas, or urban regeneration, is not something new to MRCB. In fact, the process to continue to strengthen growth in urban areas is our philosophy at MRCB," said MRCB’s executive vice-president Datuk Ishak Mohamed in his speech at the launching ceremony.

He said MRCB was constantly looking at opportunities to develop areas around the Klang Valley, and Kuala Lumpur in particular, which require rejuvenation and a new lease of life as centres of growth for the benefit of all levels of society.

The 1,600 square metre, two-storey library is located on a 2,800 square metre piece of land near the PPR.

Among others, the library offers a substantial collection of about 15,000 reading materials for all ages and a wide range of interests, a computer lab, an atrium and a cafeteria that are all aimed at making the 1Wilayah Persekutuan Library a conducive meeting place for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

The library also provides rooms to conduct meetings, training and tutorial classes to cater for the immediate community in the vicinity.

Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan and former Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing minister, Datuk Seri Utama Raja Nong Chik Datuk Raja Zainal Abidin, looking at children enjoying the books at the library. – Pic supplied, April 18, 2015.The project was mooted by former Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing minister Datuk Seri Utama Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin as an initiative to upgrade public facilities in the city as well as to assist the lower-income group by showcasing the importance of education.

Another two 1Wilayah Persekutuan libraries funded and developed by MRCB are on track for delivery in Taman Medan Idaman and in Kampung Pandan.

The 1Wilayah Persekutuan Library in Lembah Pantai opened its doors to the public on April 13 after MRCB completed the testing, commissioning and handing over of the facility to Kuala Lumpur City Hall which will manage it.

The library is open from 2pm to 6.45pm (Mondays only); from 10am to 6.45pm from Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Meanwhile, MRCB is also developing a centre for the homeless in Jalan Pahang as part of its CSR-driven projects.

The centre is being built at a cost of RM10 million and will be completed by the end of the year.

- TMI