Nga said this would be done through the “I Lite U” project in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which aims to make Bukit Bintang “even more vibrant, colourful and alive than ever before”.

He added that this initiative is aimed at preparing the shopping hub for the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

“My mission is to make Kuala Lumpur’s golden triangle off Bukit Bintang no less than Ginza street in Tokyo or Orchard Road in Singapore,” he said at the soft launch of the project at Pavilion KL.

The I Lite U project has four key components, including replacing streetlights with artistic lighting that represent Malaysian culture and the construction of a Visit Malaysia 2026 sculpture.

Nga said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will officially launch the project on Jan 3, with multiple areas in the Bukit Bintang area to be closed to make way for the launch and a parade.

“We will ask the police to close the Bukit Bintang road because we will be having a parade, one as good as Disneyland’s.”

He encouraged the public to make use of public transport to join in the festivities on that day and to avoid traffic congestion in the area.

Separately, KL mayor Maimunah Sharif said the project also aimed to increase tourist safety at night and to invigorate the city’s night-time economy so as to make it comparable with other major cities like Tokyo and Dubai.

“Tourists will enjoy a more lively and safe atmosphere, entrepreneurs will benefit from a planned night-time economy, and residents will witness the beauty of a city that reflects the dignity and identity of Malaysia,” she said.

Tourism Malaysia is aiming for 45 million visitor arrivals during the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.