‘City Hall will not hesitate to use ‘force’ to acquire land in Kampung Baru for development’. This was reported in the Streets column of New Straits Times dated July 26, 2008.
Isn’t those words threatening? It sounds like one to me, and who is City Hall threatening? I am extremely curious as to why City Hall is so persistent and adamant in ‘getting rid’ of the Malay community in Kampung Baru that had lived there for generations. And where will the evicted Malay community be sent to? Not to some remote jungle areas where monkeys roam? I would advise City Hall bosses to read the history of Kampung Baru thoroughly first, before they decide to use force to evict the Malay settlers there. I know, non of them have any affiliation with Kampung Baru.
I had friends from overseas visiting me, and they were highly impress with what the see in Kampung Baru. They say that Kampung Baru blends well with urban Kuala Lumpur, and the simplicity in the life style portrayed by the Kampung Baru folks, is a total reflection of what Malaysians truly are.
Kuala Lumpur does not need anymore skyscrapers, luxury condominiums, posh hotels and exclusive shopping arcades. What City Hall should concentrate immediately is to solve the traffic problem in Kuala Lumpur which is ‘hellish’ and suffocating. Approving new buildings within the city limits, will only worsen the traffic flow.
I am not privy to the nature of development that City Hall had planned for Kampung Baru, but I am quite sure it is to construct more buildings. Rather then destroy the beauty of Kampung Baru, why not get the kampung folks to ‘modernise’ their homes, construct better roads and to landscape its surroundings with lots of trees and flower plants? Isn’t this a good idea to bring the beautiful flock birds back to the city?
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4 comments:
It is a good idea to modernize the houses and beautify the landscape to blend with the Golden Triangle but very, very,very difficult to implement.
Firstly, most of the properties are now owned by the offspring of second and third generation families who are no longer staying there.Who would want to come with the money to beautify the houses they no longer occupy?City Hall can do so much, but house owners must also do their part.
Secondly, the offspring are no longer interested to develop their property they inherit; they just want to sell it and divide the proceeds which they can immediately benefit.I should know because we have relatives who are in the process of doing it.
So on its own, it would be difficult for Kampong Baru to keep its tidiness and physical appearance to the standard of the surrounding areas.
Kampong Baru folks should realize they are running out of time.They should seriously consider City Hall's proposal to develop the area so that they can benefit economically.We just hope City Hall could develop the area so that it is at par with Golden Trainge including the KLCC complex.
My only request to City Hall is to include a modern Malay Heritage Area in their Master Plan where city folks and visitors can enjoy Malay hospitality, culture, handicrafts and food all the year round.But please only modern design stalls with international class type service from the operators.
TDM was disappointed when Kampong Baru folks rejected his plan to develop the place at the height of the property boom many years back.Now they have a second chance but perhaps with less economic returns.Who should they blame?
Furthermore, I would like suggest LTAT take a stake in the re-development of Kampong Baru.
Not late for Adm (Rtd) Tan Sri Anwar (Chairman LTAT) to discuss it with the Mayor.In return, premium business premises be given to ex-servicemen to do business there.Suggest LTAT create an umbrella organization to look after our ex-servicemen until they become strong like....hmm none to quote so so far lah.
Not sure whether LTAT (100% soldiers' funds) is helping our ex-servicemen to do business at the Damansara Curve, which is partially owned by LTAT? Tan Sri Anwar, hope you could advise!
By the way do we know whether LTAT offered to sell houses at discounted prices to members of the Armed Forces and ex-servicemen when Damansara Mutiara was launched a few years ago?Tan Sri Anwar, please throw some light.
Dato,
Last month I went to Bangkok for a short visit with my family and we went to a place called CHATUCHAK Market.It is a huge market which sell everything which u can think of.I am sure most of us knows about this market including those planners in Bandaraya. Since Kg Baru is surrounded by commercial district of CHow Kit Road and Jalan Tun Ismail then this Kampong should be converted into a Malay commercial District. Chatuchak market in Bangkok could be a good model.The land should be transformed from Malay Reserved Land to Commercial Land with a restriction of conversion to Malays only.
The existing resident should be rehouse somewhere else as Kampong Baru is no more comfortable to live.Rehouse them in luxury apartment in Kenny Hill FOC with their properties in Kampong Baru turned commercial.At least we could see Malay ownership of commercial buildings in the city of Kuala Lumpur side by side with our other fellow Malaysians the chinese and Indian.
My justification is this ,if u drives around in KL u could hardly see rows of Malay shops, all in fact is being dominated by chinese. The Malays cannot afford to buy shops in Bukit Bintang or Chow Kit or Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman as they are poor. Therefore a transformation of Kampong Baru to be a commercial district of the Malays is justified.A necessary laws should be formulated to control ownership of the new Kampong Baru, it is very simple to implement by ammending the necessary laws in Parliament.Sometime we have to be cruel to be kind.As it is now Jalan Alang in Kg Baru is fully dominated by Aceh businessman. Therefore, Is Bandaraya going to wait until the whole of Kampong Baru becomes a new Indonesian colony before taking action?
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