India Street more attractive after renewal works — Wee
KUCHING: India Street and its surrounding areas now have modern conveniences that will attract people to the city centre despite initial worries over the renewal of the historic quarter of the city.
Chairman of India Street Pedestrian Mall, Dato Wee Hong Seng, said with the completion of Plaza Merdeka project and the Waterfront Hotel opening its doors soon, as well as construction of a roof over the India Street Mall which is in full swing as are the construction of the f loating mosque and the golden bridge, the area will still retain its historic charms, which will definitely be an attraction to all.
“( Yang Di- Pertua Negeri) TYT Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has been visionary in wanting to see a renewal of the historic quarter of our city and this vision is becoming a reality with the many projects that are going on.
“He has indeed been visionary in balancing the preservation of our history as well as bringing development in the Legacy Square,” he said at the ‘ Malam Muhibbah Bersama TYT’ gathering at Hilton Hotel here on Wednesday night.
Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was the guest of honour for the night. His wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib was also present.
Wee added that despite initial worries especially when the old market was demolished, people in the area were now excited with all the developments.
What was unique about India Street, he said, was that there were a few Indians there yet it reflected the harmony that people of Sarawak shared.
“It ref lects how migrants or ‘ pendatangs’, a word that has recently acquired a negative connotation in West Malaysia, made Sarawak and India Street their home.
“The original migrants brought in new trades, contributed to the local economies and prospered. We must not forget this as many of our forefathers were migrants and we have been welcomed by the locals,” he stressed.
He also expressed his gratitude that because of the deliberate policies of a non- discriminatory state government, the Chinese here were able to retain their identities, language, religious and cultural practices even though many of them were fourth and fifth generation Malaysian Chinese or Indians.
He said the Chinese traditions remained and were practiced by the Chinese here and in some cases even more so here than in China itself where many of such practices had ceased due to modernisation and the challenges of today’s lifestyle.
“I am proud to say that while others speak of racial and religious tolerance, which in fact is not a right word as we may tolerate what we do not actually like, we practise racial and religious acceptance in Sarawak.
“These are all lasting legacies of the state government under TYT Tun Pehin Sri and now being continued by our present Chief Minister in vigorous manner. For this, we are hugely indebted to TYT Tun,” said Wee.
The gathering was jointly organised by India Street Pedestrian Mall Association, Plaza Merdeka Holdings Sdn Bhd, Kuching City Centre Community Association and Kuching City Centre Consultative Committee.
Programmes for the night included lion dance performance, singing and dance performances.