The three-storey neo-classical shophouses with ornate plaster garland, roof-top gables, and balustrades in Medan Pasar were built in the 1800s. —LOW LAY PHON /The Star
MEDAN Pasar, simply translated as market square, in Kuala Lumpur was once bustling with commercial activity.
Now, it is nothing more than a pedestrian transit point.
During Kuala Lumpur’s formative years, it was the place to be for the Chinese community.
Here they congregated, as there was a large market and gambling sheds in this area better known as the Chinese quarter, built by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy.
Badan Warisan Malaysia executive director Elizabeth Cardosa said a multiracial community grew and settled in various sections around the market square then.
“The Malay quarter known as Kampung Rawa was located north, across Jalan Tun Perak, which was formerly known as Java Street. The Indian Chettiars and Indian Muslim traders also set up businesses nearby.
“Across the river, on the west side, was the focal point of the British administration with government offices around the field now known as Dataran Merdeka.
“Mosques, temples, and churches were built to attest to the town’s growth and its populace,” she said.
As for Medan Pasar, Cardosa said Yap’s house was at the end of the square where Pacific Express Hotel is now located.
“After his death in 1885, the market was relocated. In 1907, following new Sanitary Board design guidelines, shophouses in the square were erected and the ornate three-storey neo-classical designs with decorative plaster garland, roof-top gables, and balustrades come from that period.
“Later, two art deco structures, the Mayban Finance Berhad building and clock tower erected in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI, were built.
“The sunburst motif, a common art deco design, is featured at the base of the clock tower. The brass plaques which declared the coronation have since disappeared.
“A couple of years ago, it was turned into a pedestrian-only plaza,” she said.
The area lost its appeal and prominence when it transformed from a market square to a bus hub, before becoming a pedestrian plaza.
With the changing times, many shophouses, despite their charming colonial facade, were closed for good.
In an effort to regenerate vibrancy in the area, Think City Sdn Bhd, a community-based organisation is offering grants to owners of buildings, that are more than 30 years old, with significant cultural and historical value, to protect the living heritage, culture and architecture.
The physical projects must fall within the 1km radius of Masjid Jamek (downtown Kuala Lumpur).
Projects outside the core zone will be considered on a case-to-case basis.
Besides Medan Pasar, other prominent areas falling under the range are Jalan Tun H.S.Lee, Jalan Tun Perak, Leboh Ampang and Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin.
Think City Kuala Lumpur programme director and corporate communications head Lee Jia Ping said the Think City Grants Programme (TCGP) was created with the aim of empowering citizens to actively partake in the improvement and rejuvenation of their city.
“The kind of initiatives we encourage and support vary but in Kuala Lumpur specifically, we are currently focused on seeking projects involving built heritage,” said Lee.
“If there are citizens who own buildings with historical value, we are keen to see how we can support these individuals through the programme.
“Our aim is to encourage the preservation and restoration of buildings of historical nature so we do not lose our heritage.”
Think City also has projects in Georgetown, Butterworth and Johor Baru.
Lee said there were four types of grants ranging from RM10,000 to RM200,000, each.
“Grants are given for projects already in existence that need a booster to reach its full potential and those that deal with issues of mobility, greening, waste-management, drainage and public markets.
“We also offer grants to restore properties and are repayable without interest if the property is sold within 10 years. There are special grants for various types of technical expertise as well.
“To ensure the programme is inclusive in nature, not many conditions have been attached to it.
“Anyone can apply for TCGP including individuals, organisations, collectives et cetera. Perhaps the only limitation is location.
Lee said each project presented its own set of unique benefits to the city, its people, and to Think City as grant custodian.
“We hope to be able to leverage on our network to build strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships with building owners.
“This will provide sufficient incentive for them to continue with preservation efforts.
“To illustrate, there are many people from the creative industry or social enterprises who have great ideas to benefit the city. “However, there’s a problem finding space. One of the problems cited is high rental.
“So we are hoping that we can give a grant to the property owner to restore the façade of the building, and at the same time provide a grant to the tenant for the interior restoration of the building.
“We hope to then negotiate with the property owner to offer the tenant favourable rent thus creating a win-win situation for both the property owner and tenant.” she said.
Lee said ultimately, their aim for the grants programme in all cities was to create a rich, resilient and sustainable environment for residents in improving their quality of life.
“These cities will then have the capability of attracting and retaining world-class talent, a must-have for a thriving economy.
“More specifically, we hope to see a culturally vibrant and sustainable city, endangered trades, services and communities taken off the endangered list, a community aware of its history and heritage, and resilient small businesses evolving with regeneration.
“To us, this signals a healthy ecosystem that can last many generations,” she said.
The evaluation for TCGP is done twice a year.
Think City is accepting applications from today to July 31. Forms can be obtained from http://thinkcity.com.my/
