Book On Klcc Park And Its Significance In Malaysia-brazil Ties Launched

By Rohani Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) --  As the Petronas Twin Towers turns 25 this Aug 31, little is known about the iconic park adjacent to it and the significant role it plays in the ties between Malaysia and Brazil.

The Ambassador of Brazil to Malaysia, Ary Norton de Murat Quintella, said the KLCC Park was designed by Brazil’s most renowned landscape architect, the late Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), which turned out to be his sole project in Asia, and probably his last work.

The KLCC Park was completed and opened in 1998 after his passing. 

Speaking at the launch of the book – A Brazilian in Kuala Lumpur: The KLCC Park and Roberto Burle Marx – at the Malaysian Petroleum Club here Wednesday, Quintella said the park symbolises similarities that bring Brazil and Malaysia together despite the geographical distance and it stands as an emblem of the potential contained in the combination of the talents and efforts of the people from the two countries.

“The KLCC Park is a visible link between Brazil and Malaysia,” he said at the event, which was also attended by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai. 

According to Quintella, honouring the legacy of Burle Marx, which this year marks the 30th anniversary of his passing, the embassy of Brazil in Malaysia published 500 copies of the book with funds from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry. 

The book features four texts, including one by Quintella, two by former collaborators of Burle Marx in Malaysia and about 100 never-published-before images, which among them were sketches of the KLCC Park and notes containing the main ideas that guided the project, all provided by the Burle Marx Institute.

The book, which is not for sale, has been distributed to local authorities in Malaysia and Brazil.

Elaborating on the Malaysia-Brazil ties, Quintella mentioned that the bilateral relation is now diversified and a strong dialogue has been established in the fields of semiconductors, environment and climate change, health and energy.

He also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to visit Brazil this November. 

Meanwhile, chief executive officer of KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd, Datuk Md Shah Mahmood, in his speech, said the KLCC Park, which is more than just a botanical treasure, houses over 1,700 trees, including those more than 100 years old and was recognised as one of the world’s top five urban parks in 2020.

He said such enlightening literature on the park exemplifies a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy and the publication serves as a testament to Quintella’s dedication to promoting an understanding and appreciation for the arts and the value of sustainability and beauty in urban spaces. 

-- BERNAMA

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