THE nine main roads in the city, which have been renamed, will get their new signboards today.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said the roads, which include well-known thoroughfares such as Lebuhraya Mahameru, Jalan Duta and Jalan Ipoh, will see the new roadsigns today with their former names in brackets to help motorists.
“The total costs of replacing all the roadsigns are about RM5,000,” he told Streets after opening City Hall Innovation Day here yesterday.
This however does not include the costs of replacing directional signboards, which are estimated to incur between RM3,000 and RM5,000 per board, depending on its size.
These costs are however for the boards alone, and does not include labour and equipment charges.
The directional signboards will be changed at a later date.
On the announcement which was made on Monday, Phesal said the directive came from the Federal Government and was communicated to the authority in a letter by the Federal Territories Ministry in June.
The new names of the roads would commemorate the former kings as well as the current ruler.
When asked whether the decision to change the road names was gazetted as there had not been any prior announcements on the matter, Phesal said the gazettement was done before the roads were renamed.
“We did a paper to process its documentation but we did not get the views of stakeholders.
“We, as an authority or as a government department, have our views and expertise.
“However, once a decision is made, we need to ensure that the decision is carried out with minimal impact,” he told Streets when asked if it had advised the government to invite public feedback to gauge residents’ and business owners’ opinion on the change.
He had earlier said that a proposed renaming of a certain road to commemorate a leader was recently scrapped after seeking the views of the Sultan of Selangor.
Phesal acknowledged that the new names could invite confusion but emphasised that property owners had a window of six months to update their addresses.
He said this was why it was streamlining the change with Pos Malaysia and the National Registration Department.
Google maps are also expected to be updated accordingly.
Phesal also said another road in the city would also be renamed soon and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would unveil the road.
Lawyer Derek Fernandez said the Federal Government had the power to change the road names with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The former Petaling Jaya city councillor, however, said it was against the Local Agenda 21 spirit as the council had to hear public opinion before making the change.