Kampung Chetti’s historical ambiance will be destroyed by the development of condominium blocks, a hotel and a multi-level car park.
PETALING JAYA: Indian-rights group Hindraf has called on Malaccan state authorities to halt the development of two condominium blocks, a hotel and a multi-level car park in Kampung Chetti, a village gazetted as a national heritage site in 2002.
Kampung Chetti dates back to 1414 – almost a hundred years before the Portugese invasion.
But like the now-destroyed temples of Lembah Bujang, the historical village’s tranquil atmosphere will be shattered by the construction, Hindraf chairman Waythamoorthy said.
“We have received complaints that there is great possibility of causing environmental effects on the conserved surrounding green plush area as well as the possibility of causing damage into the structures of the said temples as well as the residences’ premises with the probability of losing its originality,” the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said in a statement today.
“Hindraf is very disappointed that such attempts to destroy and demolish the ambiance and the surrounding of historical sites within Malaysia seems to be going unabated under the very nose of the Malacca state government and the National Heritage Department.”
According to Hindraf, the construction site is located between the residential area of the village and the Muthu Mariamman temple, which was built in 1827.
Waythamoorthy noted that former Malacca Menteri Besar Mohd Ali Rustam had previously intervened in the development, and the District and Land Office of Melaka Tengah had subsequently issued a notice under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 in January 2013.
But the developers apparently paid no heed to the notice as the construction remains ongoing in the area, said Waythamoorthy.
“What is puzzling is what happened to the Special Area Conservation Management plan involving City Council of Malacca, Malacca State Town & County planning Department, Muzium Corporation of Malacca & National Heritage Department and how the development was approved by the Malacca state government.
“Once again the Heritage Commissioner is silent as he did at the Bujang Valley site,” said Waythamoorthy.
He urged the agencies to “get their act together”, pointing out that their inertia revealed their lack of responsibility and accountability in protecting the nation’s natural heritage.
PETALING JAYA: Indian-rights group Hindraf has called on Malaccan state authorities to halt the development of two condominium blocks, a hotel and a multi-level car park in Kampung Chetti, a village gazetted as a national heritage site in 2002.Kampung Chetti dates back to 1414 – almost a hundred years before the Portugese invasion.
But like the now-destroyed temples of Lembah Bujang, the historical village’s tranquil atmosphere will be shattered by the construction, Hindraf chairman Waythamoorthy said.
“We have received complaints that there is great possibility of causing environmental effects on the conserved surrounding green plush area as well as the possibility of causing damage into the structures of the said temples as well as the residences’ premises with the probability of losing its originality,” the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said in a statement today.
“Hindraf is very disappointed that such attempts to destroy and demolish the ambiance and the surrounding of historical sites within Malaysia seems to be going unabated under the very nose of the Malacca state government and the National Heritage Department.”
According to Hindraf, the construction site is located between the residential area of the village and the Muthu Mariamman temple, which was built in 1827.
Waythamoorthy noted that former Malacca Menteri Besar Mohd Ali Rustam had previously intervened in the development, and the District and Land Office of Melaka Tengah had subsequently issued a notice under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 in January 2013.
But the developers apparently paid no heed to the notice as the construction remains ongoing in the area, said Waythamoorthy.
“What is puzzling is what happened to the Special Area Conservation Management plan involving City Council of Malacca, Malacca State Town & County planning Department, Muzium Corporation of Malacca & National Heritage Department and how the development was approved by the Malacca state government.
“Once again the Heritage Commissioner is silent as he did at the Bujang Valley site,” said Waythamoorthy.
He urged the agencies to “get their act together”, pointing out that their inertia revealed their lack of responsibility and accountability in protecting the nation’s natural heritage.
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