Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, a social activist, believes that the recent issue surrounding the historic Vivekananda Ashrama in Brickfields should serve as a lesson to all local authorities about heritage preservation.
Lee, head of the Alliance for Safe Communities, stated that maintaining heritage sites and buildings is the responsibility of everyone, including the government.”Although we all appreciate Minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa of the Federal Territories for assuring us that the building is secure, the issue should never have come up.It’s not about sentimentality or nostalgia, but rather a deep dedication to upholding morals, preserving the present, and igniting the future,” he said.
He continued by saying that historic structures were essential to employment generation, economic expansion, and tourism. Structures like the ashram should never be touched, even if the region is turned into a commercial zone.
Since 2004, the 120-year-old Vivekananda Ashram has had to contend with two challenges to its growth.There are questions over the building’s heritage designation because the land it sits on has reportedly been designated in the draft Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 as a significant commercial zone with a high plot ratio.
“When a building has been certified or declared as heritage under the National Heritage Act, it must be protected and preserved,” Lee stated.
Dr. Zaliha has reassured the people that safeguards are in place to protect the historic ashram, which was gazetted as a National Heritage Building and included as a Category 1 Heritage Building in the draft local plan, allaying their concerns about the building’s future.
Source : NST
