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

Mistik sebuah bandar diraja

CHUM REAP SUA. Begitulah sapaan lembut yang lazimnya didengar daripada mulut para penduduk di Siem Reap kepada para pelancong yang mengunjungi kota Angkor Wat.

Walaupun kurang fasih, kebanyakan pemandu pelancong cukup mahir menjelaskan susur galur tamadun kota Siem Reap dalam bahasa Inggeris dan Perancis.

Dalam urusan seharian, penduduk di Siem Reap yang terdiri daripada kumpulan etnik Khmer iaitu di antara 90 hingga 95 peratusnya Cina, Khmer-Islam, Orang Asli dari kawasan bukit di timur laut dan Vietnam, selesa berkomunikasi antara satu sama lain dalam bahasa Khmer atau Thailand.

Dibelenggu kancah kemiskinan, masyarakat setempat bangun seawal pukul 5 pagi untuk bersenam dan memulakan kerja sebagai petani, penyambut tetamu atau pelayan di hotel, pengawal di tapak arkeologi, nelayan dan pemandu tuk tuk atau remok dalam bahasa Khmer.

Kaum wanita lazimnya menjual sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan, barangan kraftangan, fabrik sutera dan barangan perhiasan wanita di Old Market, Noon Night Market dan Angkor Night Market.Kebanyakan penduduk di sini masih berpegang kuat kepada ajaran agama Buddha yang berasal dari India di samping kepercayaan-kepercayaan lain.

selanjutnya

Pengiktirafan Tapak Warisan Boleh Ditarik Balik, Kata Shafie

ALOR GAJAH, 30 Okt (Bernama) -- Pengiktirafan terhadap sesuatu kawasan atau bangunan sebagai Tapak Warisan Dunia (WHS) boleh ditarik balik sekiranya pembangunan yang dilakukan di kawasan itu tidak mematuhi garis panduan yang ditetapkan oleh Pertubuhan Pendidikan, Saintifik dan Kebudayaan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (Unesco).

Menteri Perpaduan, Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan Datuk Seri Mohd Sfafie Apdal berkata satu daripada syaratnya itu ialah kawasan itu tidak boleh dicemari pembangunan yang pesat termasuk bangunan pencakar langit.

Sekiranya berlaku sebarang pelanggaran syarat, Unesco boleh menarik balik pengiktirafan itu, katanya ketika diminta mengulas laporan sebuah akhbar hari ini mengenai projek bangunan tinggi yang telah diluluskan di bandar Georgetown, Pulau Pinang yang telah diiktiraf sebagai WHS, sama ada ia melanggar syarat Unesco.

Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan bangunan Pusat Aktiviti Perpaduan Daerah Alor Gajah di sini hari ini, Mohd Shafie meminta kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang merujuk kepada Jabatan Warisan berhubung perkara itu.

"Ini berlaku di Switzerland apabila Unesco yang mengiktiraf satu jambatan di negara itu kerana keunikan struktur dan seni binanya telah menarik balik pengiktirfan itu kerana gagal mematuhi syarat dan perkara yang sama boleh berlaku (di Georgetown)," katanya.

Unesco mengiktiraf Melaka dan Georgetown, Pulau Pinang sebagai tapak warisan dunia pada Julai lepas.

Mengenai peruntukan RM50 juta untuk kerja-kerja pemuliharaan di Melaka dan Pulau Pinang sebagaimana dibentangkan dalam Bajet 2009, Mohd Shafie berkata ia diurus tadbir oleh Jabatan Warisan.

"Kerja pemuliharan adalah di tapak-tapak warisan yang mempunyai nilai sejarah dan dalam hal ini peruntukan yang akan diagihkan kepada Melaka lebih banyak kerana nilai dan warisan sejarah yang lebih lama sejak zaman Portugis," katanya.

Beliau berkata kemungkinan besar pakar Unesco akan datang untuk melihat kerja pemuliharaan warisan itu dilakukan.

-- BERNAMA