Areas around Sultan Abdul Samad building proposed to be heritage area

(Bernama) – The Ministry of Information Communication and Culture has proposed that the areas within the compounds of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) building, National Mosque, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Dataran Merdeka be turned into heritage and cultural areas reflecting the identity of Kuala Lumpur.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the ministry would collaborate with the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to prepare a working paper on the proposal.

“We are looking at ways of projecting Kuala Lumpur as part of our physical heritage, we have Brickfields as Little India, Petaling Street as China Town but we have yet to have a symbol for a Malay town or Malay street, the one at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman can be said to be no longer having the (Malay) look.

“So we will give a new interpretation and request to the cabinet to give consent soon on the new plan that will give a new identity that we can all be proud of,” he told reporters after declaring 154 items as national heritage, here today.

Rais said if the proposal were to be approved by the cabinet, it would be implemented diligently so that any development on heritage would be at the highest level.

In addition, he suggested that the National Heritage Department set up heritage literacy classes in the states or government departments as well as in schools and institutions of higher learning.

“It must be implemented to provide exposures and knowledge on the culture and things that are related to our national identity, regardless whether they are pertaining to Chinese, Indian, Malay or other races,” he said.