A representative from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) insisted that they had offered to help the National Heritage Department (JWN) maintain some of the historical buildings in Dataran Merdeka, reported The Star.
In return, DBKL asked to impose rent for the heritage buildings, but the offer was rejected.
The spokesman also claimed that JWN did not do a good job in maintaining some historical buildings, such as the Panggung Bandaraya, which is owned by DBKL and was originally overseen by the department.
“But they did not do a good job taking care of the place, so we decided to take it back,” said the spokesperson.
The DBKL representative was responding to The Star’s report that dozens of heritage buildings in the capital are lying in a dilapidated state, while JWN’s request for funds from the government to preserve these buildings were not approved a number of times.
Some of these structures were built over 100 years ago but are now literally crumbling. For instance, the spire of one of the domes of the former HQ of the Federated Malay States (FMS) Survey Department collapsed last year.
As for Panggung Bandaraya at Jalan Raja, it was designated as a historical building under the National Heritage Act of 2005. Its features Moghul-inspired architecture, including a black dome at the primary and secondary porches.
Built in 1902, it is touted as the capital’s oldest theatre. Apart from being the original headquarters of the Kuala Lumpur Municipality, it also served as the office of Tan Sri Yaakob Latiff, KL’s second mayor.
The spokesperson revealed that Panggung Bandaraya was turned over in June 2014 to the firm holding the musical “MUD: The Story of Kuala Lumpur”.
Jointly organised by DBKL and Enfiniti Vision Media, the musical was part of the city’s tourism master plan for 2014 to 2025. But it ended on 30 April 2017 and the property was returned to city hall.
“It is currently closed for refurbishment and we hope to rent it out to interested parties in the future. We will put in terms and conditions, and allow them to do what they want as long as they don’t change the facade. Retaining the original features of the building is important,” noted the spokesman.
Meanwhile, at least six historical buildings along the famous tourist spot of Jalan Raja are showing signs of damages, with the Supreme Court building and the FMS Survey Department HQ displaying the worst ravages of time.
Image sourced from The Star
Radin Ghazali, Content Writer at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email radin@propertyguru.com.my
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