‘Petaling Street a mini portrait of Malaysian Chinese history’
KUALA LUMPUR: Petaling Street is like a mini portrait of the history of Malaysian Chinese.
There should be more resources invested to beautify this iconic place, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
“It is one of the areas the Chinese first settled in Malaya and it has become a mustsee destination for tourists,” he told reporters after attending prayers at the Jade Emperor Temple here yesterday.
Chong complimented Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association president Datuk Ang Say Tee for actively participating in meetings with DBKL and other government agencies to put forward the voice of vendors in Petaling Street.
He said the support of the people is needed to preserve the heritage of Petaling Street and its status as a shopping haven.
“We have centuriesold temples and associations here. Our history has even attracted a PhD student from Austria to write a thesis on it.”
Ang added that the association would organise various activities to promote Petaling Street in conjunction with 2017 being the 60th anniversary of the Merdeka declaration.
He also encouraged other Chinese community leaders to take part in government meetings to increase Chinese representation and ensure their views are taken into account in development plans.
“I’m usually the only Chinese
representative in government meetings,” he said.
He often represents the petty traders at meetings with DBKL, the Federal Territories Ministry and the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.