Dear Friends,
This morning, 24 June (Mon) 2024, I was present at a Sessi Pendengaran Awam di Oditorium Bandaraya (Dewan Bandaraya) at a public hearing and discussion on the pros and cons with an independent committee, regarding the proposed KL City Council re-zoning of the Vivekananda Ashram (Brickfields) as a Major Commercial Zone.
It was a case of Public facility Zone vs Major Commercial Zone.
Lawyer Kunjari Sambanthan, Mr Raja Singam (of BAC) and Mr Tamil Wanan (active member of Save Vivekananda Ashram Action Committee since its inception), spoke as representatives of the community. The latter wants Vivekananda Ashram to remain as a Public Facility Zone rather than a (Major) Commercial Zone. (The board of trustees of the Vivekananda Ashram was conspicuously absent.)
The issue seems a recurring one for the Vivekananda Ashram. The same problem seems to crop up every 10 years. We remember being in the same rounds in 2004, 2014 and now in 2024.
As Mr Raja Singam aptly put, it would be good if the Vivekananda Ashram could be permanently made into a ‘white’ (spiritual) zone rather than again and again facing the uncertain fate if it is placed in the ‘blue’ (commercial) zone.
Definitely, there must be ‘Udang Sebalik Batu’ to push City Council to once again bring this matter up. After all, the inner city land is a highly valuable asset and there are interested parties who would wish to change the Ashram land into a Commercial Zoning status.
It is common knowledge that the greed of developers is insatiable and politicians with their crony developers salivate to build high rises to live ten lifetimes of wealth.
At this time and age, one has to be wary of the many ways citizens can be eventually duped and shortchanged. But to what extent do citizens have to always be the vigilante to stop this travesty happening again and again? Shouldn’t this responsibility be shared with NGOs, such as the Badan Warisan Negara?
As it is, the Brickfields area have lost much of its character. Brickfields is already overdeveloped and driving through Brickfields is like driving through a generic town centre itself.
It’s a pity that for some quarters, there is little or no regard of cultural or historical value of our heritage landmarks. For them, only quantity matters and money talks.
In the meantime we are quickly loosing our precious heritage that inform us of our past.
The Vivekananda Ashram is listed as a Category One major heritage building. So, what is the problem?
We are puzzled how the ashram can be re-zoned as commercial zone at all.
The Ashram’s stated objectives clearly do not align with commercial use, which is inconsistent with the local plan that controls the manner in which this area is being re-zoned.
Credit goes to Mr Tamil Wanan for his vigilance in scouring the draft of the Kuala Lumpur local plan 2040, and the manner of his presentation was prepared was most convincing. Mr Raja Singam brought up some important points and augmented those put forward by Mr Tamil Wanan.
And last but not least Ms Kunjari Sambanthan, daughter of Toh Puan Sambanthan and Tun Sambanthan, whose name graces the major road through Brickfields evoked the name of her father and those of our pioneer leaders who had often visited Brickfields and contributed to the vibrant and colourful character of this beloved part of Kuala Lumpur.
Ramli