Pudu Jail’s final curtain

By Boo Su-Lyn

June 22, 2010

The wall came down last night at 10.10pm, June 21, 2010. - Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 – The mural wall of the 115-year-old Pudu Jail was demolished last night amid protesting honks of cars along Jalan Pudu.
Demolition of the 394-metre Pudu Jail wall fronting Jalan Pudu started at 10.10pm as hundreds of onlookers shouted their dismay while snapping last photographs of the historic wall.
However, work halted about 20 minutes later as a large crowd ignoring the moving excavator walked through the gap in the wall and casually strolled on the wide path between the decaying mural and a newly-constructed wall near the deserted prison building.
Boasting notorious former inmates like armed robber Botak Chin, Singaporean gang boss Jimmy Chua and bomoh Mona Fandey, Pudu Jail was first used as an army command centre by the British but became the central prisoner of war camp during the Japanese Occupation from 1941 till 1945.
“They should not destroy (the wall) as it is a reminder to people…although it had a grim history,” said 30-year-old IT trainer Sharifah Sharina who had come here after work at Ulu Kelang to take a picture of the historic wall at about 9.30pm yesterday.

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The mural featuring peaceful scenes of nature was painted by prisoner Khong Yen Chong and other inmates as community service in the early 1980s.
It entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest mural in the world at 394 metres completed in one year using 2,000 litres of paint.
Unlike many others posing in front of the wall, part-time photographer Garry Lin had set up his mini tripod and camera a few feet away from the Pudu Jail entrance where the Berjaya Sompo building loomed against the night sky in the background.

The cameras flashed to store pictures of a past no more. - Picture by Choo Choy May

“It (Pudu Jail) should be a tourist attraction rather than to have (the wall) taken down,” 23-year-old Garry told The Malaysian Insider yesterday, while adding that he was taking shots from this angle to indicate the location of the wall, compared to mere shots of the wall.
Although Garry was aware that the actual demolition was targeted at the wall facing Jalan Pudu, Sharifah and a few others were not.
In fact, there were about 100 people last night taking pictures of the wall facing Jalan Hang Tuah compared to the 10 people snapping shots of the actual wall that would be demolished outside Jalan Pudu.
“I am not sure,” said administrative assistant Mazliza Muhamad Yusof aged 28 when asked if she knew which part of the wall would be demolished.
“However, they should preserve history,” she added, saying that the government could restore and beautify the prison.
The government had decided that the 115-year-old Pudu Jail was “not something to be proud of” and hence should not be turned into a heritage site, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Awang Adek Hussin yesterday.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) public works director Siti Saffur Mansor said that the demolition of the wall had been scheduled at 10pm because heavy traffic on Jalan Pudu would have ebbed by then.
“It (the demolition) will be done on three nights…tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday night,” said Siti, adding that they would continue in the wee hours of the morning once the crowd dispersed.
“There are many people going out at night on Saturdays, especially during school holidays,” she added when asked why the demolition was scheduled on a Monday instead of on a weekend.
While the wall makes way for an underpass project aimed at reducing traffic congestion at the Jalan Hang Tuah and Jalan Pudu interchange, the 7.6ha Pudu Jail will be turned into a mixed development project where 40 per cent of the development would house residential properties and the remaining 60 per cent would be for commercial purposes.
The development project which will be spread over 10 years beginning the first quarter of next year is to include a transit centre, serviced apartments, office spaces, recreational areas, hotel and commercial spaces, which will be developed by UDA Holdings Berhad.
MI

Pudu Jail slips into Malaysia’s past

By Boo Su-Lyn

June 22, 2010

A young photographer taking a close pix of the now demolished Pudu side wall of the jail. - Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — While the hundreds of people shouted in protest at the tearing down of Pudu Jail's mural wall last night, an ex-prisoner and two former wardens expressed mixed feelings about the building's demolition.

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“It (the demolition) is part of development and we have to pay a price for it,” prison director Narander Singh told The Malaysian Insider yesterday. He used to serve as a warden officer in Pudu Jail from 1988 till 1995.
“I have mixed feelings,” he said, adding that the Pudu Jail once housed 8,000 prisoners in 1993 or 1994.
The ex-prisoner who did not want to give his name spoke about the cramped conditions of the jail during his time there in 1980 as he and seven other inmates took turns to sleep in a cell meant to house three people.

Leong feels change is part of a developing city. - Picture by Choo Choy May

“I am not sure what to say,” he answered when asked how he felt about the wall being torn down. The 34-year-old man who had just lost his job as a security guard a week ago after his manager discovered his criminal record stayed two years in prison for trafficking heroin.
“The Chinese and Indians are hanged on Wednesday mornings while the Malays are hanged on Friday mornings,” he added.
Former Pudu Jail warden Mohamad Simin, who had worked at the historic jail for 17 years from 1979 till 1996, said his most terrifying experience was when Jimmy Chua with four other inmates took two doctors and a medical assistant hostage in 1986.
“They (the prisoners) said that they wanted to escape…and overcame the doctors using the doctors’ scissors and other sharp equipment at the prison hospital,” said Simin.
The 54-year-old man who is currently working as a warden in the Sungai Buloh prison was, however, non-committal when asked about his response towards the Pudu Jail wall being demolished.
But what do the people who work around the area feel about the "passing" of Pudu Jail? Shop owners along Jalan Pudu and Jalan Hang Tuah also had differing opinions about the demoliton of the mural wall which once entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest mural in the world.
Teochew porridge seller Leong Wei Peng was optimistic about the future development of the prison site, expressing hopes that it would draw more people to his shop located at Jalan Pudu.
“The prison is right in the middle of the city…it will stop development,” said 60-year-old Leong.
“Business is very slow. Hopefully with new development, there will be more people,” he added.
Leong is a second-generation owner of the 51-year-old restaurant, which used to serve mixed rice to Pudu Jail wardens 20 years ago.
The prison was closed for several years following the executions of Australian nationals Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers for trafficking heroin, and finally closed its doors in November 1996 whereupon Urban Development Authority (UDA) took over.
It was opened briefly as a museum from 1997 till 1998 for a short time, reopened again as a museum in 2004, but finally closed due to poor visitor rate.
Bamboo and wooden chicks maker Tham Kok Koon aged 73 had ventured into the prison itself when he was asked to install blinds in the prison’s administrative centre 30 years ago.
“Preferably, it should not be demolished,” said Tham while he painted some blinds with his wife.
“At least they should preserve the wall for remembrance’s sake since the inside is already destroyed,” he added.
Tham’s Thye Fah Liki shop located on Jalan Pudu used to be a furniture shop when he started working there 59 years ago at the tender age of 14.
On the other hand, 60-year-old Yong Tai Wai who repairs motorcycles in a small shop on Jalan Pudu, did not specifically support or protest the destruction of the wall, saying that his only concern was whether his shop would be forced to close down in the event of road expansions.
“I am just afraid that my shop will be pushed backwards…if the road is expanded,” said the motorcycle repairer who once did repairs for wardens back in 1978.
MI

Generasi muda mahu penjara Pudu dipulihara

Fadzly Esa Jun 21, 10 6:03pm

Penjara Pudu atau dahulunya dikenali sebagai Pudu Goal terletak di Jalan Hang Tuah di ibu negara mula dibina pada tahun 1891 di atas tanah seluas 10 hektar.

Pembinaan penjara tersebut yang dibuat secara berperingkat itu siap sepenuhnya pada tahun 1895.

Temboknya mula dibina pada Februari 1891 dan siap pada bulan Ogos 1892. Tembok ini dibina daripada batu bata yang dilepa dengan simen yang diimport dari negera jajahan British.

Kini kompleks penjara dan tembok yang menjangkau usia 100 tahun itu akan dirobohkan bagi membolehkan kerja pelebaran dan laluan bawah tanah Jalan Pudu dilakukan bermula 21 hingga 24 Jun ini.

Manakala, kerja pembinaan akan akan bermula hari ini antara jam 10 malam hingga 5 pagi.

Namun, kerja-kerja meroboh kompleks penjara itu menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi daripada warga kota terutama bagi mereka yang mengetahui sejarah dan keunikan bangunan tersebut.

Ada antara mereka yang setuju dan ada yang memberikan pendapat sebaliknya ekoran dengan langkah Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) yang mahu kawasan itu menjadi laluan alternatif menghubungkan Jalan Pudu Raya ke Cheras.

Ia bertujuan mengurangkan kesesakan lalu lintas yang sering berlaku di Jalan Hang Tuah.

Tinjauan Komunitikini di sekitar penjara Pudu mendapati masih ada segelintir yang masih mahu mendekati dan mengabadikan kenangan di sebalik bangunan yang menyimpan seribu satu rahsia itu.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/135147

Aktivis bantah rancangan roboh penjara bersejarah

Jun 21, 10 5:01pm

Pelan kontroversi untuk merobohkan sebahagian daripada penjara yang berusia 115 tahun malam ini untuk melaksanakan pembangunan komersil, mendapat kecaman hebat para penyokong warisan.

Mereka berkata, Penjara Pudu, yang terletak di kawasan utama bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, harus dipulihara kerana nilai warisan dan pelancongan.

Lewat hari ini, sebahagian besar daripada 394 meter dinding penjara era Victoria itu, akan dirobohkan untuk peluasan jalan.

Sewaktu Perang Dunia Kedua, tentera Jepun menggunakan penjara tersebut untuk menahan tentera Bersekutu, di mana ramai daripada mereka diseksa dan dibunuh, tetapi kerajaan berkata Penjara Pudu tidak memenuhi syarat status warisan.

"Kerajaan telah mengkaji perkara itu dan memutuskan bahawa tapak tersebut bukan tapak warisan dan tidak akan dijadikan sebagai tapak warisan," kata Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Awang Datuk Adek Hussin di Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

"Kerajaan berpendapat ia bukan sesuatu yang dapat kita banggakan, mungkin ada banyak benda (lain) yang dapat kita banggakan berbanding dengan sebuah penjara," tambah Awang.

Katanya, syarikat hartanah berkaitan kerajaan, UDA Holdings akan membangunkan tapak tersebut, dengan hotel dan pangsapuri yang akan dibina dalam tempoh 10 tahun mulai tahun 2011.

Para sejarawan juga marah, dengan berkata sekurang-kurangnya sebahagian daripada penjara itu harus dipulihara.

"Ada banyak tempat lain di Kuala Lumpur yang boleh dimaju semula untuk tujuan komersial dan kediaman, tetapi hanya ada sebuah penjara bersejarah seumpama itu," kata sejarawan yang berpejabat di Singapura, Brian Farrell kepada AFP.

Pengerusi lembaga warasan Malaysian Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji memberitahu AFP sebahagian daripada penjara tersebut harus dikekalkan walaupun seluruh bangunannya hendak dirobohkan.

SERIBU TAHUN DARI HARI INI !

SERIBU TAHUN DARI HARI INI KAMI ADALAH SEJARAH


DEMI ZEUS AKU HANYA MEMBACA SEBUAH PUISI



TEMBOK PENJARA PUDU BERUSIA 100 TAHUN DIROBOH MALAM INI- melayau

Tiba detik 10 malam esok, tembok Penjara Pudu di sini yang berusia 100 tahun, setinggi 4.5 meter dan sepanjang 394 meter yang menghadap Jalan Pudu akan dirobohkan.


MAKA MEREKA PUN SAMPILAH

maka tembok tembok a farmosa itu pun diruntuhkan
satu demi satu dindingnya diletupkan
tuan farquhar melihat betapa bahaya kota ini
maka tembok tenbok itu wajib dirobohkan
yang ditingglkan hanya pintu
untuk jadi ingatan kepada anak cucu

maka tembok itu pun akan dirobohkan
semenjak 1895 tegak berdiri
kini akan diruntuhkan pintu demi pintu
batu demi batu
satu demi satu

seribu tahun dari hari ini
anak kepada anak kepada anak kepada anak
kepada anak kepada anak kepada anak kepada akan
melihat bahawa kami yang berdiri dihadapan tembok ini
malam kelmarin ada sejarah

seribu tahun dari hari ini
maka anak kepada anak kepada anak kepada
anak kepada anak kepada anakan kepada anak
akan menangis hingga keluar air mata darah
maka menangislah mereka beramai ramai
hingga lahir intan dan berlian
dari cucuran air mata

menangisi jejak sejarah
waktu dan sejarah yang tidak akan berulang
detik detik yang pergi
tembok tembok yang dihancurkan
hanyalah debu debu ingatan yang akan pudar

apabila tembok ini mula retak
zeus di kayangan bersama dewa dan dewi
melihat betapa angkuh dan bodohnya manusia
yang tidak mengetahui jalan cerita
yang tidak mengetahui makna sejarah bangsa
yang tidak mengethaui bahawa tembok itu adalah paku negara

malam kelmarin kami mendongak keatas langit
demi zeus
agar roh roh yang terkorban dalam tembok ini
akan tenteram dan selasa berkeliaran
bersama angin subuh sejuk dan menyegarkan

berapa ramai yang telah gugur
ketika tembok tembok ini dibuat
berapa ramai yang tewas di gantung penjajah
berapa ramai nasionalis gugur saheed menuntut merdeka
berapa ramai gelandangan miskin digantung tanpa peguam

untuk mereka buta sejarah
untuk mereka yang tidak tahu menilai erti bangsa
untuk mereka yang tidak tahu melihat tanda dan makna
untuk mereka yang mata hanya melihat emas dan tinta
demi zeus seribu tahun dari hari ini
anak kepada anak kepada anak kepada anak kepada anak kepada anak mereka
akan menangis dan menyumpah betapa bebal ibu ayah keturunan mereka

demi zeus seribu tahun dari hari ini
kami tahu
kami yang berkumpul malam kelmarin di tembok itu
adalah sejarah yang tidak akan berulang lagi.

esok ketika kau buka mata
semua nya telah pergi
semuanya telah terlambat

dunia ini musnah bukan kerana
ramai orang jahat
tetapi kerana ramai orang baik
tidak mahu melakukan apa apa

seribu tahun dari hari ini
yang kau lihat nanti hanyalah gambar
dan puisi ini

Demolition of Pudu Jail Receives Negative Response from Public

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 JUNE, 2010: When the clock strikes 10pm tomorrow, the 394-metre stretch of Pudu Jail wall fronting Jalan Pudu will be demolished after having served its purpose for the past 100 years. Construction on the 4.5 metre wall, also known as Pudu Goal, started in 1891 on Jalan Hang Tuah and it was fully completed in 1895 at a cost of RM15,360.90. The wall which had once set a record for the longest mural in the world (384 metres) now has no meaning as it stands amidst flourishing development in the Bukit Bintang Golden Triangle. The prison itself stopped operating in 1996 and prisoners were shifted to the Sungai Buloh Prison, 36km from here, after the building could no longer cater to the high volume of up to 6,550 people at a time since 1985. The memories linked to the historic landmark will remain part of the country's history even after the wall is torn down, a move proposed by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail, which aimed to ease traffic congestion in the area through a road-widening project including the construction of an underpass.     A check by Bernama revealed soil levelling works on the prison premises completed and awaiting demolition of the wall tomorrow night, which has received negative reaction from those who know the building's historical value and uniqueness. Prabu Munusamy, 32, expressed his disappointment on the move saying the prison complex could be a valuable tourist attraction. He said although the building had housed criminals, it should be preserved for its own unique values. "This prison has even held several prominent convicts and until today the public still come by to see and take photos there," he said. Fifty-two-year-old Chew Chong Huai said he was saddened to know a building with such historical value, which should be made a heritage site, would be torn down.    "In other countries, like China for example, historical buildings would be kept and preserved as tourist attractions," he said. Irwan Hashim, 32, also disagreed with the move to demolish the prison complex and wall, saying the city was already congested with development. "Enough with these developments. Kuala Lumpur is packed with buildings, shopping complexes and such, so let's not destroy whatever is left of our heritage," he said. Meanwhile, a tourist from the Philippines, 49-year-old Farancisco B. Lopez said the Pudu Prison should be preserved for tourism purposes like the Alcatraz prison in California, United States. "It's a waste and pointless. I was told that this building is one of the historical sites in Malaysia because it was built in the 1800s during the British colonial era,” he added.    - Bernama