KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Long before KL’s founding, the 120km Klang River and its tributaries served as a lifeline for communities along its banks, remaining a steadfast presence amid the city’s ever-changing landscape.
From September 26 to October 5, a 1.8-kilometre stretch of the river will become more than just a waterway — transforming into a gathering place where Malaysians celebrate culture, sustainability and the enduring bond between people and the river, past and present.
At the 2025 Klang River Festival (KRF), returning for its first edition since 2022, creative director Joseph Foo said the annual celebration aims to draw modern urban life back to the river’s edge by activating riverside spaces and restoring a sense of community belonging.
“Building on last year’s momentum, we want to show the public, especially nearby residents and stakeholders, what a river festival can be — not just for celebration, but also for them to see and experience for themselves what has been done since KRF 2022,” he told Malay Mail in a recent interview.
With KL founded at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, Foo said the festival’s main objective is to raise awareness of the river’s importance by showcasing alternative lifestyles and creative uses of public space.
“We know that along Old Klang Road, where the river runs parallel, much has been developed over the years. Instead of more shopping malls, a riverside can open up more imagination of what we could do,” he said.
Taking cues from renowned riverside destinations such as Singapore’s Clarke Quay and Kyoto’s Kamo River, Foo said the 1.8-kilometre corridor where KRF will take place is the “perfect spot” to transform the Klang River into a hive of vibrant activity.
While the river is far from clean, Foo noted that conditions have improved through education and engagement with surrounding communities, particularly residents of the nearby Seri Anggerik People’s Housing Project (PPR).
He likened the effort to the “broken windows theory”, where signs of neglect encourage further neglect.
“Think of a washroom — if it is clean, well-designed and well-maintained, people will treat it with care. But if a river is full of rubbish, it encourages others to see it as a dumping ground,” he said.
Rough start
KRF’s early days were challenging, Foo admitted, as organisers faced bureaucratic hurdles from both private and public authorities with stakes along the riverside.
“It was a lot of back and forth because of all the different government departments involved,” he said.
KongsiKL partnership co-lead Calvin Sia said securing the necessary permissions from landowners and governing bodies was equally tough.
“It was important to get tiada halangan (no restrictions) rather than just persetujuan (agreement). But through Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) Local Agenda 21 KL, we were able to invite DBKL to sit in as a committee to ease the planning and approval process,” Sia said.
KongsiKL — also known as Persatuan Seni Klang Lama — is a not-for-profit organisation cultivating creative and cultural vitality in the local arts scene and co-organises the festival with property developer EXSIM.
Foo said KRF gained crucial support when Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif was appointed KL mayor last year, noting that her endorsement was key to the festival’s success.
Maimunah, formerly the executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Nairobi, was the first Asian woman to hold that role.
“True to her words, Maimunah’s desire is for KL to be both liveable and loveable,” Foo said.
Act!vating!
This year’s theme, “Act!vating!”, embodies action, movement and togetherness, with the hope that people will rediscover the Klang River as a cherished part of the city’s history.
“I think it’s a tall calling, but if our ancestors could make it work, why can’t we do it now with all the support of modern technology and social media?” Foo said.
“For the longest time, we’ve been encouraged to embrace indoor leisure, but it’s time to reminisce, revisit and rekindle our sense of belonging to the river.”
Sia added that a poll among PPR Seri Anggerik residents showed recreation, business opportunities and safe spaces for children as top priorities.
“Along the way, we hope people start to realise there’s a river in the city close to them that they can engage with and become a part of,” Foo said.
The opening ceremony will be held on September 27 at Living Room Under, Old Klang Road Riverside.
