Chinatown grateful for political attention

KUALA LUMPUR: Citizens of Chinatown are hoping that the extraordinary attention they are getting from politicians will result in their heritage remaining intact.

They do not seem bothered about the motives of those rushing in to offer sympathy or help in the face of the government’s apparent determination to acquire their properties so that the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project could proceed. All they want is for the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to change its mind about taking over their land and their shops and changing the face of Chinatown.

That fear of losing their heritage took on a definite shape this month when SPAD sent letters asking them for land-ownership documents for “valuation purposes”.

Since then, or even earlier, politicians from both sides of the fence have been descending on Chinatown, talking to the denizens and then making statements to the press.

“We don’t care whether it’s MCA or DAP; we just want someone to help us preserve our heritage,” said Daniel Wong, who owns the Nu Lycie complex of shops.

“This is our business, our life. And it’s not just a Chinese problem; Chinatowns are part of the Malaysian heritage.”

Judy Lam, a co-owner of Hotel Lok Ann, had similar sentiments.

“Whether a politician has ulterior motives or not, it is not for us to judge,” she said. “What is important is that he delivers by helping us. A politician is just someone who may have the resources to help our community.”

SPAD is eyeing 34 lots in the Jalan Sultan and Jalan Petaling area, where it plans to dig tunnels and build a MRT station. It has not confirmed whether it will demolish or preserve the old buildings there.

Many of the lot owners are dismayed that SPAD had waited until what seemed to be the very last minute to notify them about the land acquisition.

The Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit says political interest in the issue gives some benefit to Chinatown, even if the interest is selfish.

“If the politicians had not come on board, the land acquisition would have just proceeded, and we might not have occasion to suspect any hanky-panky,” said Rajiv Rishyakaran, a spokesman for the association.

He criticised what he said was SPAD’s lack of transparency, questioning why it had not gone public with feasibility studies, if any, or given plausible reasons for wanting to take over Chinatown.