WHAT'S THERE TO SEE IN KL?

By Maznah Abu Bakar

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- If you are a resident of Kuala Lumpur
and are asked where the historical attractions are, what would you say?

And if you have watched the popular reality series, The Amazing Race Asia,
did you recognise the places in KL that the show featured?

Many KL residents admit that they have never taken a photo of the Petronas
Twin Towers, even though they often see tourists do so. Those walking or running
around with their cameras under the hot KL sun are usually foreign tourists who
are enamoured by the beauty of Malaysia’s capital city.

For the city’s residents, KL is where they work, shop, and eat. Rarely do we
find a group of KL residents strolling around the city just enjoying the sights,
let alone capturing images of its attractions. The few odd residents that we see
doing so are usually taking time out to spend with their children or relatives.

Therefore, when a 400-strong crowd, mostly KL residents, was given the
challenge to track down the location of the 1Malaysia heritage sites across a
15-kilometre-long path, many were a little "lost".

However, the journey opened their eyes to the beauty and rich heritage of
KL.

EXPLORACE

They walked, ran, and danced at the golden triangle and around KL during the
1Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Heritage Explorace 2011. The programme was held recently
for the first time at the KL Tower.

The event was jointly organised by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the
Information Communication and Culture Ministry.

The Bukit Nanas area was the first location to be explored by participants.
One of the venues was the KL Forest Eco Park, which used to be the Fortress the
Mandailing people built using pineapple plants to ward off attacks by the Bugis.
Today, the area is known as the Bukit Nanas Reserve Forest.

1MALAYSIA TRADITIONAL HERITAGE

The Sultan Abdul Samad building in KL is Malaysia’s equivalent of London’s
Big Ben. The building, inspired by Moghul-style architecture, is now the office
of the Information Communication and Culture Ministry.

The participants recalled the role the building's big clock played in
Malaysia’s first Independence Day celebrations.

Under the scorching sun, Explorace participants rolled around coconuts on a
former vegetable farm that later became a police marching field. This was the
location where the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag raised on August
31, 1957. Now, the venue is proudly known as Dataran Merdeka.

Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) was also the venue for the Chingay
event during the race.

Chingay is a traditional Chinese activity that is popular in the northern
state of Penang. During the event, colourful triangular flags are tied to
12-metre poles and balanced by on the head or forehead of participants until
they reach the finish line.

This is a particularly difficult challenge, as participants have to work
against strong winds in Dataran Merdeka.

It was indeed a difficult task, but if it were not for the event, it is
unlikely that KL residents would ever experience perching a Chingay on their
forehead in the middle of Dataran Merdeka!

KL’S HISTORY

When one is shopping along Jalan Masjid India it is easy to be drawn to the
colourful Malai flowers being sold there. Normally, stopping by the stalls to do
more than just stare – say to join in the fun of making flower arrangements –
might be out of the question.

However, during the Explorace, participants were challenged to make Malai
garlands using jasmines. Malai garlands are used by Indians for religious
rituals, weddings, and to garland dignitaries as a sign of respect. Making Malai
garlands requires meticulousness and utmost patience. The degree of complexity
is high.

The Masjid India area is also historically significant. Did you know that
Wisma Yakin, which is popular for its "baju Melayu", "songket", "sampin",
"songkok" and other apparel synonymous with the Malay community, is actually
standing on what was a paddy field hundreds of years ago?

Today, the roads leading in from of it, Jalan Masjid India and Jalan Melayu,
are the busiest trade areas in KL. Still standing, along the roads are
shop-houses built before the war. These humble buildings can be found wedged
between the modern buildings that tower proudly above them.


1MALAYSIA HERITAGE BUILDINGS

The new Malaysian era, on its way to Vision 2020, offers a variety of
telecommunication facilities for the public.

However, there is a place for the old at the Telekom Museum in KL. In it are
displayed telecommunication artifacts and the history behind their evolution
through the years.

Located near Bukit Nanas, the Grecian-inspired building stores the central
battery type of the manual telephone exchange. A row of eight Ionian poles is
one of the classical features that adds to the uniqueness of the building.

Where was the headquarters of the national petroleum company located before
the Twin Towers came into being? Participants were brought to the Daya Bumi
Complex, Petronas’s old headquarters, and asked to complete a jigsaw puzzle of
an image related to the 1Malaysia heritage.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall building also became a race venue, as
participants were asked to answer several questions about the agency and KL.

There is an 80-year-old mansion in Jalan Doraisamy that used to be a place
of residence before the war. Participants visited the Heritage Mansion and in
the spirit of 1Malaysia were asked to collect peanuts using chopsticks.

This proved to be difficult for some Malay and Indian participants, but at
least they took the first step in acquiring the Chinese skill of picking up food
using chopsticks.

Many know where the current Parliament building is, but few knew that the
first Parliamentary sitting actually took place at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall
in Jalan Ampang. It is now known as MATIC, or the Malaysian Tourism Centre. The
information centre operating under the Tourism Ministry provides tourists with
information and help when they visit Malaysia.

1MALAYSIA TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Participants also got to try their hand at another traditional activity at
MATIC – gasing-spinning. Gasing is a Malaysian top, and gasing-spinning is a
popular past time of paddy farmers after the harvest season. MATIC has a
gasing-spinning court open to those who would like to learn more about the
traditional game.

Meanwhile, what can city folk shoot at through a blowpipe in the middle of
KL? Balloons.

Although the skill of shooting through a blowpipe cannot be mastered in a
few attempts, there were a number of participants who could be called "sharp
shooters".

Besides the games, the traditional dances also posed a challenge to the
participants. This included the Ngajat dance, danced by the Iban people during
the harvest festival (Gawai Day), and the Lion Dance that is performed in
celebration of the Chinese New Year. Participants seemed to do reasonably well
in this challenge.

ACTIVE

Going back to the KL Tower from MATIC to finish the race proved to be more
challenging than expected. However, participants had the stamina and spirit to
make it through.

From the KL Tower they viewed the city in a new light. The tiredness they
felt from the five-hour race evaporated as they soaked in the beauty of the
city. Everything they now know sets it apart from other cities.