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.

Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Date: 16/8/2011

Time: 5.50pm

Venue: Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 I'm glad i made it to Jalan Sultan today. It's my off day and for the first time i went out just to take pictures. It's so hard to take panorama shots in Kuala Lumpur. The cars and the people just won't stop moving. aduih.. I stood there to get this shot for about 15 minutes. I stood still at one point with my tripod ok. I couldn't move my camera, if not the angle sure lari. Everyone were like staring at me..

Anyway, we might not have the chance to see this view again in the future. Jalan Sultan is just next to Petaling Street. The entire stretch of the century old shophouses in this Chinese community enclave will be demolished to make way for underground LRT project at the end of the year.

It's such a sad thing when history and living heritage is being wipe out from our eyes.

The residents are against the project but i find it hard for them to fight the case. They will be compensated. Let's see whether the buildings and the landscape here can be preserved for the generations to come.

I'm sad heritage buildings will be demolished.

I don't wish to see a concrete jungle in Malaysia.

Don't sacrifice so many people's livinghood, heritage, living culture, history, identity and sense of belonging in the name of rapid development. All these elements can work together..