Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association, Kuala Lumpur

Date: 16/8/2011

Time: 6.32pm

Venue: Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association, No. 51, Jalan Sultan, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This building is actually at the corner of Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Sultan. The entrance is from both sides.

There are few shops in the building such as tailor shop and chinese bookstore. On the second floor, there's a budget hostel for backpackers.

If Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) continues with its plan to demolish houses along Jalan Sultan for its MRT Project, this building will have to make way for it.

I wana thank Ai Loon for telling me that this is the oldest building along Jalan Sultan. If not, i won't pay notice to it.  

True enough, Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association was founded in 1920. It's 101-year old already.

According to Badan Warisan Malaysia, it is one of the oldest Chinese opera clubs in Kuala Lumpur. It raises money for charity by performances of Chinese opera and choral singing. The money is mainly donated to the old folks' homes, hospitals and schools. As membership decreased, part of the premises is now sublet for extra revenue. The tall parapet wall, facing Jalan Hang Jebat, with the name of the Association on it, replaces the original balustrades typical of the period. Beautiful classical arches line the five-foot way.

There are so much stories to tell from the building alone. What more along Jalan Sultan and the houses here. Put aside heritage, put aside history, what about the residents here, what about the businesses here?

We are losing heritage over development.