I have posed a written question to the Tourism Minister asking on the latest updates on the proposal to declare and list the Vivekananda Ashram area in Brickfields KL as a heritage site.
I welcome the announcement today by the Minister in Parliament that after due process of hearing all vested groups and the public, the Vivekananda Ashram will be finally declared as a Heritage site. I congratulate the Minister and his officers who diligently read the interest of the society at large rather the Trustees illogical, self-interest and unreasonable proposal.
The announcement is a victory for all who have fought hard to want Vivekananda Ashram preserved as a heritage.
Late last year I had raised this issue in Parliament and later the Minister himself visited the Ashram area. He agreed that the Ashram building and area could be listed as heritage site within the meaning of the Heritage Act after due process. When notices were sent out under section 272(2) of the Heritage Act to list it as Heritage site, surprisingly the Trustees of the Ashram put in objections to the proposal.
The Trustees had proposed to redevelop the Ashram area and build a 23 story residential tower with 264 units and an eight-story car park. If this proposal had proceeded, it would have meant a process of erasing what Vivekananda had always taught and advocate for. Very laborious and dedicated to social causes, Swami Vivekananda was a great personality and is credited with raising interfaith awareness.
The Ashram, a unique place, was built early last century where early Indian settlers had resided at. A famous and cemented part of history, the Ashram would have to be sacrificed in the name of development? Fortunately a signature campaign by “Save Vivekananda Ashram Brickfields” with over 17 NGO’s and with civil society support over 100, 000 signatures were obtained to oppose the proposal to redevelop the Ashram area.
Various other groups and individuals like Toh Puan Uma Sambathan also protested the proposed redevelopment. But all this did not deter the hungry Trustees to mount a challenge to lists the Vivekananda Ashram as a heritage site. The trustees were list bothered by the over whelming adverse public opinion against their decision to redevelop this tourist and historical site. But Self interest finally lost to public demands.