Paying the price of modernisation

Recently, a friend from Kyrgyzstan came over to Kuala Lumpur for a family vacation.

When asked about her impression of Kuala Lumpur, she said: “Malaysians really love malls, huh? The malls are everywhere!”

She is absolutely right in that Kuala Lumpur has such a vibrant retail scene.

Today, Kuala Lumpur has turned into such a cosmopolitan city that developments are taking place in almost every street.

For a lot of first-time tourists to Kuala Lumpur, the first impression is that of a city with malls.

Modernisation has both positive and negative consequences.

Take Kampung Baru for example, formed in 1900: this famous Malay village is strategically located next to the Kuala Lumpur city centre.

Kampung Baru has also been at the centre of some key events in our history, for instance the May 13 tragedy in 1969.

Unfortunately, Kampung Baru has not escaped being “modernised” although it was gazetted a Malay Agricultural Settlement.

It is reported that some residents are resistant to relocation, but the fate of the village is still unsure.

Just recently, the historical century-old Vivekananda Ashram building in Brickfields was put at risk as the board of trustees applied to build a luxury condominium in its neighbourhood.

Luckily, this time around the public outcry was so intense that the plan was finally aborted.

In Malacca, too – one of my favourite states in Malaysia – tourism has developed over the years but its originality is fading due to rapid developments in the city centre.

I can never understand why big malls are allowed to operate in the centre of Malacca city which, on its very own, is rich in heritage and unique architecture.

For example, why do we need a Hard Rock Café in Jonker Street?

I am not saying that we should not allow Hard Rock to expand its business. But why can’t we have the café outside the heritage zone?

It is true that tourism generates income and can improve the quality of life for locals.

However, it is sad that in the midst of development to face the challenges of modernisation, we have ignored the balanced development of the tourism industry.

These uncontrolled developments then result in various social and environmental strains such as environmental degradation and cultural pollution.

Many historical buildings are being rebuilt although some are still in good condition and might just need proper preservation.

In the end, we do not want to destroy our historical heritage and create more artificial tourist attractions, like Putrajaya.

Rather than spending money on creating artificial scenery, specially built buildings or landmarks, it is really time for us to start preserving what we have now. Historic buildings after all are not simply a tourist attraction; rather they are the demonstration of our proud history. – January 12, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.