KUALA LUMPUR: The Jalan Medan Pasar area, which houses colonial buildings, will see its facade "glowing" soon with the installation of light emitting diode (LED) lights.

Plans are afoot to have the lights installed as part of the council's Lighting Master Plan.

The plan, which was finalised recently, will highlight the architectural designs of some must-visit places in the city and to promote night tours for tourists.

Speaking at the Philips Light Up KL launch recently, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said the council is trying to light up iconic buildings and places such as Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad and Masjid Jamek -- thronged by tourists for their architectural designs -- more attractive with good lighting.

"We are following the example of Paris which has successfully made its night tourism an attraction. We want to explore this possibility of night tourism and at the same time ensure the safety of visitors by installing ample lighting," he said.

Phesal said the master plan also includes installing lights at underpasses and pedestrian walkways.

"We are working with several organisations to make the underpasses brighter and safer. This is in line with government's programme to encourage more people to walk," he said.

Meanwhile at the Philips Light Up KL launch, the KL City Gallery, the facade of the 115-year-old building next to Dataran Merdeka was brightly lit with lights sponsored by Philips Malaysia as part of the company's corporate social responsibility.

According to Philips Malaysia general manager (lighting division) Adrine Ong, the company is helping City Hall to make Kuala Lumpur a more liveable and sustainable city by using energy-saving LED lights.

"The LED lights at the KL City Gallery will save up to 50 per cent of energy consumption," she said.

Ong said the company also will be installing LED lights at the Kuala Lumpur Library in the second phase of the project.

"Philips is also planning to install LED lights along the Federal Highway. This will cut energy consumption by 25 per cent," she said.

Sources:

1. NST:
   LED Light upgrades.