Putera Lapis Mahang: Malaysia Tanah Air Ku: 047 PUTRAJAYA KOTA IMPIAN MODERN

BEAUTIFUL PUTRAJAYA

LEGACICAL CITY OF TUN DR MAHATHIR

I have so much things to write about Putrajaya. Putrajaya created its own paragraph in Malaysian modern history. It relates to my own life history. My short stay (Sep 02- Jan 04) in Federal Treasury (MoF), Precint 2 was really a memorable patch in my life. After PM Department, MoF was among the pioneering governmental offices directed to move to Putrajaya. I can keep my PROUD (throughout my life) to be the first RMAF Officer working in Putrajaya.

PM Mahathir who was then the Minister of Finance wanted MoF office to move from Kompleks Kerajaan Jalan Duta to its permanent complex at Boulevard Putrajaya, Precinct 2 eventhough the building was not really ready to be occupied. The directive to move earlier was to generate the life of Putrajaya itself. The move of the offices will automatically carried together thousands of civil servants to occupy the quarters built. Then it will help to beef up the economic activities over there. At the same time, it will reduce the traffic congestion in KL.

Putrajaya Boulevard

History and Design

The vision to have a new Federal Government Administrative Centre to replace Kuala Lumpur surfaced in the late 1980s. A 4,930 hectare lush forest area in southern Prang Besar estate in Selangor was identified and later renamed Putrajaya in honour of Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj for his invaluable contribution to the nation.

Prang Besar Estate before the development of Putrajaya

The Federal Government negotiated with the state of Selangor on the prospect of another Federal Territory and in the mid-1990s, the Federal government paid a substantial amount of money to Selangor for approximately 11 320 acres (46 km²) of land in Prang Besar, Selangor. As a result of this land purchase, the state of Selangor now completely surrounds two Federal Territories within its borders, namely KL and Putrajaya.

You can read more about Prang Besar Estate in this website:

http://www.arabis.org/index.php/articles/articles/plantation-history/the-story-of-prang-besar

Pembangunan Putrajaya

Pada 2 Jun 1993, Kabinet telah meluluskan Prang Besar di Sepang, sebagai tapak pembangunan yang strategic dan pada 22 Februari 1994, Kabinet meluluskan pelan induk pusat pentadbiran baru Kerajaan Pusat. Pada 12 Oktober 1994, nama Prang Besar ditukar kepada Putrajaya sebagai memperingati bekas Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. Pada 20 Julai 1995, perjanjian penubuhan Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan di antara Kerajaan Persekutuan dengan Kerajaan Negeri Selangor telah dimeterai.

Pada 30 Ogos dalam tahun 1995, YAB Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad telah menyempurnakan Majlis Pelancaran Putrajaya di Sepang, Selangor. Sejarah pembentukan Putrajaya bermula dengan cetusan idea Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir untuk mewujudkan Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan di luar Kuala Lumpur pada pertengahan 1980an.

Pada 10 September 1996, Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir telah melakukan upacara pecah tanah bagi Presint Kerajaan dan diikuti pelancaran Putrajaya sebagai sebuah bandar raya pada Oktober 1997. Pada 1 Februari 2001, Putrajaya telah diisytiharkan dengan rasmi sebagai Wilayah Persekutuan yang ketiga. Sesungguhnya, pembangunan Putrajaya adalah lambang kejayaan dan kecemerlangan Malaysia dan sumber inspirasi untuk memajukan bangsa dan negara serta mewujudkan identiti masyarakat Malaysia yang berbudaya, berwibawa dan berpengetahuan selaras dengan Wawasan 2020.

Planned as the garden and intelligent city, 38% of the area is reserved for green areas by emphasizing the enhancement of natural landscape. A network of open spaces and wide boulevards were incorporated to the plan. Construction began in August 1995 and it was Malaysia's biggest project and one of Southeast Asia's largest with estimated final cost of US$ 8.1 billion. The entire project was designed and constructed by Malaysian companies with only 10% of the materials imported.

The Asian financial crisis of 1997/1998 had somewhat slowed the development of Putrajaya. In 1999, 300 staffs of the Prime Minister's office were shifted to Putrajaya and the remaining government servants moved in 2005. On February 1, 2001 Tun Dr. Mahathir declared Putrajaya as a Federal Territory with the ceremony of handing over Putrajaya township from the Selangor state authorities.

In 2002, a high speed rail link called KLIA Transit (ERL) was opened, linking Putrajaya to both Kuala Lumpur and KLIA in Sepang. However, construction of the Putrajaya Monorailwhich was intended to be the city's metro system, was suspended due to costs. One of the monorail suspension bridges in Putrajaya remains unused. In 2007, the population of Putrajaya was estimated to be over 30,000, which comprised mainly government servants.

Putrajaya is a thoroughly modern and vibrant city located about 25km to the south of KL. This is a model township that has been constructed with detailed planning, innovative urban design and great respect for the environment and it serves as the new federal administrative centre of Malaysia.

The relocation of several Government offices to this vibrant city is to ease the overcrowding and congestion of KL city.

It is also to ensure that Kuala Lumpur will have adequate supply of land to continue developing as Malaysia's principal business and financial centre. However, Kuala Lumpur still serves as Malaysia's national and legislative capital.

The vision to have a new Federal Government Administrative Centre to replace Kuala Lumpur surfaced in the late 1980s. A 4,930 hectare lush forest area in southern Prang Besar estate in Selangor was identified and later renamed Putrajaya in honour of Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj for his invaluable contribution to the nation.

Di sini kita dapat menilai bagaimana Tun Mahathir amat menghargai jasa Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman. Walaupun dalam pimpinan almarhum Tunku, politik Mahathir sentiasa tidak tenang dan sering berbeza pendapat dan akhirnya Mahathir dipecat dari UMNO, Mahathir tidak pernah berdendam kepada Tunku apa lagi menghilangkan legasi Tunku.

Putrajaya is a city with a vision and heritage for the country's present and future generations. Its beautifully landscaped roads and parks as well as modern buildings are clearly reflected in the duality of the project theme "Garden City, Intelligent City". Of the city's total land area, about 37.5% is being developed into parks, lakes and wetlands while the remaining for Government offices, commercial and residential areas, public utilities and amenities. The centerpiece of the city is a 400 hectare manmade lake.

This city is also home to some of the most beautiful architectural works in Malaysia. Facing the scenic Lake, we have the Masjid Putra, which is arguable the city's most distinctive landmark and one of the most modern mosques in the world.

Then we have the Perdana Putra, (Prime Minister's Office) which overlooks the Lake, the Mosque and Dataran Putra.

Putra Perdana di waktu siang

Putra Perdana di waktu malam

There are 9 bridges in this city. They are the Jambatan Seri Perdana, Jambatan Seri Putra, Jambatan Seri Wawasan, Jambatan Seri Bakti, Jambatan Seri Saujana, Jambatan Seri Bestari, Jambatan Seri Setia, Jambatan Seri Gemilang and the Monorail Suspension Bridge.

Seri Gemilang Bridge

In my opinion, the one that stands out here is the Seri Wawasan Bridge, which is an amazing architectural structure.You should see it at night when the bridge is all lit up. Absolutely beautiful!

Jambatan Seri Wawasan

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Jambatan Seri Perdana

Jambatan Seri Putra

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Jambatan Seri Saujana

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Jambatan Seri Bakti

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Jambatan Seri Setia

Jambatan Seri Bestari

Jambatan Gantung Monorail

(dalam pembinaan)

And of course, not forgetting one of the most prominent landmarks here, the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, also known as PICC. This convention centre is HUGE! and I mean HUGE as in MASSIVE!

PICC has become one of the most favoured conference venue for high security risk events, hosted by the private or government sector. PICC has had many important guest including foreign head of states, heads of government and important corporate personalities such as the world's richest man, Bill Gates. Due to its strategic location on the top of the hill, facing the beautiful lakes, it has also become one of the most popular places and sites for film shootings

Botanical Garden Putrajaya

Putrajaya Botanical Gardens is a must-see attraction if you are visiting the beautiful city of Putrajaya. There are eight major parks in the city which is sometimes referred to as a 'City in the Garden'. The Botanical Gardens is my favourite park. So many varied plants and trees on display which bloom or flower at different times of the year there is always something new to catch the eye.

Like the rest of the city of Putrajaya, the Botanical Gardens are still quite new having been planted on 230 acres of former agricultural land during the past decade. Unlike the established botanic gardens in places like Singapore and Penang which are well over 100 years old, Putrajaya's trees are not yet fully grown but the skilful planting of trees and shrubs, together with some well planned hard-landscaping have combined to create a pleasing appearance for the visitor.

Not to be missed are the Canna Walk, Fern Garden, Floral Steps, African Collection, Tropical America Collection, Hibiscus Walk, Bougainvillea Tunnel, Pandanus Walk, Orchid Path, Palm Hill, Vine Garden, and Heliconia Trail.

Moroccan Pavilion,Putrajaya Botanical Gardens

The hard landscaping includes a canopy bridge, a huge sundial, covered walkways, a lake boardwalk, gazebos and picnic shelters. A superb addition is the exquisite Moroccan Pavilion which you can see inside for a fee of RM3 (admission to the park is free).

Other attractions include cycle hire, boating, an interactive exhibition and a tram ride for which separate fees apply.

You will no doubt be in need of refreshment after wandering around in all this fresh air. The Putrajaya Seafood Restaurant occupies a prime position on the lake front from where you can get a great view of the Prime Minister's office complex building.

The Botanical Gardens are in the heart of the city close to the Istana Melawati (royal palace) and within walking distance of the Putrajaya Shangri-La Hotel. Plenty of parking is available.

Divided into five different themes (Explorer's Trail, Palm Hill, Floral Gardens, Sun Garden and Lakeside), take a walk along the Canopy Bridge and feast your eyes on the abundant tropical blooms of the garden. The Floral Gardens are a sight to behold with a vast collection of plants from Africa, America and the Asia Pacific region.

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Wetland Park

Covering a total area of 335ha, the wetland environment comprises Taman Wetland (138ha) and the wetland areas (197ha). One of the most popular tourist attractions in Putrajaya, the wetlands consist of 24 wetland cells built along the arms of the Chua and Bisa rivers. Marshes and swamps were developed in there cells by transplanting more than 70 species of wetland plants form the Putrajaya Wetland Nursery. Twenty-four species of indigenous fish were later introduced into the wetland cells to enhance their biological diversity.

Parks and Gardens Parks and gardens feature prominently in this Garden City. One of them, the 85ha Botanical Garden at the northern entrance to the Government Precinct, wills thousands of local plants species and an ornamental garden. In addition, the 62.4 ha. Taman Putra Perdana acts as the urban green lung while the Perdana Walk, a 4.7 ha. linear park will link Persiaran Perdana with Dataran Putra. Taman Rimba Alam and Taman Jati which are designed to be sustainable recreational forest parks will have nature trails, cycling paths and camping sites. The following are some of the most attractive parks and gardens in Putrajaya.

A good starting point to explore Putrajaya Wetlands is to visit Taman Wetland. As the gateway to the wetlands area, Taman Wetland house a Nature Interpretation Centre and a 25 meter high look-out tower which offers a bird's eye view of Putrajaya. Within the park, there are two marked trails with interpretative boards, a flamingo pond, picnic areas and other public amenities. Taman Wetland is also a wildlife sanctuary, attracting a wide variety of animals to the combined terrestrial-aquatic wetland environment. Several species of local marshland birds and water birds including the Little Egret, the Little Green Heron and Cinnamon Bittern, and migratory birds form Northern Hemisphere have been spotted there. A pair of binoculars will come in handy for bird watching. Visitors to the park can also enjoy a leisurely walk, jog or cycle along its bicycle track. Putra Wetland In the Nature Interpretation Centre, there is a souvenir shop, a wetland diorama, wetland handicraft displays, an AV room and Wetland Café. The Centre, being the focal point for public education on ecotourism, provides information about the wetland plant bed filtration system, conservation of wetland habitats and also focuses on the uses of wetland products. Putrajaya Wetlands, believed to be the largest constructed freshwater wetlands in the tropics, is the first one of its kind in Malaysia. Where geology, hydrology and biology have created natural wetlands, the Putrajaya Wetland carved out from rubber and oil palm plantations is the result of human ingenuity and technology.

Read more at: http://www.kuala-lumpur.ws/putrajaya/wetland.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001

Putrajaya city is truly a magnificent, vibrant and beautiful city. So, if you visit Malaysia, be sure to drop by at Putrajaya, the "Garden City, Intelligent City".

Putrajaya was the brainchild of a former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad who was in power between July 1981 till Oct 2003. On 1st Feb 2001,

Putrajaya was made a Federal Territory, the third FT after Kuala Lumpur (1974) and Labuan (1984).

The city is situated within the Multimedia Super Corridor, beside the also newly developed Cyberjaya. The development started in 1995 and today major landmarks are completed and the population is expected to grow in the relatively new city.