Built exactly 100 years ago, the three rows of colonial-style homes along Jalan Rozario in Brickfields used to house employees of the Malayan Railways, who helped build the connective tissue of the country’s trade and commerce.
Now the historic 100 Quarters will soon face the bulldozer of progress, as Brickfields’ gentrification and upgrading continues.
Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) execituve vice-president Dell Akhbar Khan told The Star Online‘s Bavani M and Vicky Ooi that the plot of land on which the 100 Quarters sit, designated Lot 349, had been greenlit for demolition and development by its owners, Properthy Management Division (PBH) and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
“We have to demolish it for safety reasons,” he said at a media briefing at MRCB headquarters in KL Sentral today.
However, Lot 349 had not yet been handed over to MRCB.
The homes, left unoccupied and derelict, have been the target of scavengers since February, who have stripped out stainless steel fixtures, copper wires and roofing materials, leaving an eyesore in the Brickfields district.
MRCB pledged to employ the latest technology to ensure the homes would be demolished with as little noise, dust and inconvenience to the public as possible.
Although there has been no confirmation as to what MRCB plans to build on the lot once it has been cleared, the company conceded that it was considering building three residential towers of about 40 storeys each.
Sources told The Star that the plan was to build 1,350 serviced apartment units on the site.
The Brickfields Community Society (BCS), conmprising 40 NGOs, residential associations, schools and places of worship in the district, had earlier met with MRCP reps to discuss the future of the 100 Quarters, and what was to be done on the site once it had been cleared.
“We are appreciative of them informing us their plans, but we made three requests. The first is that they try to retain or salvage at least two units of 100 Quarters for remembrance sake. Secondly, we hope MRCB will set up a community heritage centre in Brickfields, and thirdly, the new project will incorporate some elements of Brickfields heritage,” said BCS secretary Dr Christopher Nicholas.
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