KUALA LUMPUR: The Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) line is expected to be up by next year, although it is not known which of the stations will be completed by then.
The LRT3 construction project, which spans from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia in Klang, Selangor is expected to be up as early as March 2025.
It is estimated to benefit around two million residents and cost about RM16 billion.
Speaking in regards to more upcoming lines, Transport Minister Anthony Loke mentioned about the LRT 3's availability by 2024 during the launch of WORQ's latest coworking space outlet in Sunway Putra Mall here today.
Loke spoke about the importance of transit-oriented development (TOD) approach which liberalises real estate and allows people to easily commute between multiple offices and locations, all while reducing their reliance on cars which aligns well with the needs for flexible working arrangements.
He said coworking spaces on average has the potential to save more than 7,000 hours of commute time and that this shift towards flexibility decreases carbon emissions by about 118 tonnes annually.
The move also promotes recycling and reusing practices, facilitating the efficient repurposing of office spaces without extensive rebuilds.
"WORQ's collaboration with Sunway Group and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd exemplifies Malaysia's shift towards a transit-oriented community by connecting workspaces with transit lines. This strategic initiative not only makes commuting more efficient but also contributes significantly to the country's sustainability goals by reducing car dependency and improving employee well-being," Loke said.
"By linking up these train lines with Google-like offices, WORQ has established a unique cloud office infrastructure, enabling professionals to seamlessly move from one outlet to another, fostering a dynamic and flexible work environment. This cloud office infrastructure enables local and foreign employers to easily recruit talent across the entire Klang Valley," he added.
Spanning 20,000 sq ft, the new upcycled coworking space is WORQ's eighth outlet and seventh outlet in the Klang Valley's intercity transit rail system.
WORQ chief executive officer and co-founder Stephanie Ping said the company will be launching outlets outside of the train lines as well.
She said that the concept of WORQ's TOD setup has a unique opportunity to leverage on Malaysian human capital by attracting more remote-work opportunities to our shores and incentivizing global firms to hire as the global workforce transitions towards remote work.
"The office is where work is done and jobs are created; by providing strategically located flex-offices at TODs, we are not only supporting a sustainable commuting culture but also empowering our transit system with productive working communities and by commuting between the transit lines daily, this increases the usage of our public transport system.
"Many of our coworking members have switched from driving to taking the trains to work and are more productive now, not just while they work in our spaces, but on the way to work, in between meetings all over town, and on their way back home," commented Ping.
Prasarana president and group CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah said WORQ's efforts aligns perfectly with its commitment to making public transport the preferred mode of travel in the Klang Valley.
"By liberalising real estate and facilitating seamless transitions between outlets, WORQ not only promotes the use of public transportation but also amplifies accessibility and flexibility to meet the needs of the modern workforce," said Azharuddin.
Sunway Malls and Theme Parks CEO HC Chan commended the partnership, stating it is a testament to their shared belief that environmental stewardship and business success are not mutually exclusive but are, in fact, complementary.
"The initiative for its value-adding through the introduction of new forms of use-case formats for malls, as well as setting a new standard for the longevity of office spaces by reusing and repurposing existing fit-out," he added.