KUALA LUMPUR:Kuala Lumpur City Hall has been presented with a golden opportunity to use the restoration of the cluster of colonial buildings at the junction of Jalan Raja and Jalan Tun Perak as a catalyst to reclaim the city as a historical city.
Steven Thang, who heads the Malaysian Institute of Architects’ (PAM) Heritage and Conservation Committee, said the restoration of the buildings could unleash the city’s potential if the authorities set up an advisory committee for the planned RM120 million revival project.
He said it should be set up with a cross-section of stakeholders, including architects from the institute, as well as tourism players, to ensure that the project was thorough and sustainable.
“We need to know what the RM120 million will be used for, how will it be allocated and what comes first in terms of buildings or repairs.
“We also need to look at the updated dilapidation report and detailed conservation management plan. PAM is willing to offer our services for free as a non-governmental organisation. We don’t want another white elephant,” he said, adding that City Hall should chair the committee alongside conservationists from the National Heritage Department, business associations and Bukit Bintang member of parliament Fong Kui Lun.
Thang said many had taken an interest in the project, especially conservationists and architects from the institute, as well as tourism players as they had campaigned for the revival of the buildings for more than a decade.
“Some called me up to ask whether the venue could be used for the arts community as a creative space.
“They are willing to organise such activities in exchange for promoting the space. Others probably can do it with their own funds under a public-private partnership, which negates the need for public spending.
“But it’s important that we don’t get rent seekers or lease it to commercial operators and then have the public pay the price later.”
He said the damage done in the past might appear cast in stone, but it was crucial that all parties sit together to correct them.
He was referring to priorities that had been set on the River of Life beautification work instead of the buildings, which he said made up the character of the city.
Thang had said the fountains and mist machine in the courtyard of the historical quarter around the river, Masjid Jamek and the Sultan Abdul Samad building had accelerated the dilapidation of the historical buildings.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan announced the plans last week.
The New Straits Times reported in October that it would cost taxpayers another RM1 million to fix and replace vandalised fountains and weathered fittings.
The upgrades, part of the project’s RM130 million flagship, had been handed over to City Hall for barely six months before the additional maintenance allocation was required.