Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz feels for the Vivekananda Ashram as debate over its redevelopment rages on both online and offline.
During a surprise visit to the century-old ashram in Brickfields , Nazri said he had spend a lot of time playing in the area with his friends in the past, The Star Online’s Bavani M and Vijethi Nair report.
“I spent a lot of time in my growing up years here, so I know what the people of Brickfields are talking about when they talk about losing their heritage values,”Nazri was quoted as saying.
“We are not just looking at the building, but the spirit behind the whole area. The building, the land, history — these are also what I feel as having heritage value,” Nazri reportedly said adding that the ashram needs to be gazetted as a heritage building.
Nazri added: “I want to advise the community to keep calm, don’t be emotional and we won’t give up.”
The iconic building has been earmarked to be redeveloped to accommodate a residential tower that has been planned to sit alongside the ashram.
Its board of trustees said this move was to generate more income to support cultural and educational activities.
But backlash came in immediately after the announcement, prompting netizens to set up Facebook page to save it
Meanwhile, The Malaysian Insider reports that Brickfields Asia College co-founder Raja Singham has offered RM1 million to stave off redevelopment projects in and around the ashram compound.
“I will start the ball rolling with a RM1 million fund and hopefully it will attract other corporate sponsors. But the trustees must accept this first,” TMI quoted him as saying.
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