3,000 light lanterns of hope along Jalan Sultan

As dark clouds loom over Jalan Sultan with the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project threatening its existence, proponents of 'conserve the heritage' staged a colourful cultural performance last night.

Some 3,000 people thronged the cultural event, lighting lanterns as a symbolic gesture to keep alive the glimmer of hope for the heritage street.

The event, themed ‘Light a Lantern, Save Jalan Sultan’, organised by the Petaling Street Community Art Project, kicked off at 8pm at the basketball court beside Chin Woo Stadium.

Audiences were treated to skillful brush strokes of a calligraphy session followed by the beating of drums and the melodious tune of a choir performance.

One of the calligraphy, written on a huge red paper spread across the ground, read: “Realign the project, protect our heritage.”

The participants later flooded Jalan Sultan, stretching from the Kuala Lumpur Gospel Hall to Lok Ann Coffee Shop, as they hanged lanterns throughout the street.

Along the way, they were treated to a Malay drum performance by Majlis Permuafakatan Kampung Tradisi Melayu Wilayah Persekutuan.

Other activities included writing participants’ wishes on notes and lighting candles in solidarity with the residents of Jalan Sultan, on the eve on Chap Goh Mei.
Concurrently, local artists lent their charm to the event with their very own song performance at the Gospel Hall.

Artist Yu Heng (right) said she her career’s humble beginning was at the Halo Rock Music Cafe which was situated in the vicinity of Jalan Sultan.

“If you don’t even bother to attend or join such a event, for me you are not exercising your right as a citizen,” she said.

Meanwhile, lyricist Al Kuan said he hoped that this event will move other artists to contribute to similar issues facing the people.

Crowd prays for Jalan Sultan

Film director Ho Yu Hang, who had famously worn a yellow ‘Kill Bill’ T-shirt protesting the Peaceful Assembly Bill in a photo shoot session with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at a movie premiere, was also present.

This time clad in a yellow “Anything But Umno” T-shirt, Ho said that as a student he had often visited Jalan Sultan to buy his school materials.

When the government first embarked on the country’s development, he said, many roads were built but not at the expense of heritage; the mooted MRT to link to the planned 100-storey Warisan Tower has ignored this fact.

Organisers had invited Najib for the event, but the premier did not turn up.

Meanwhile, five Federal Reserve Unit trucks were stationed at the Klang Bus Terminal, at the edge of Jalan Sultan, but its officers remained in their vehicles.

At 10pm, the crowd descended onto the car park adjacent to the Selangor Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association as members from more than 20 organisations delighted them with an array of cultural performances, including dramas, dances and songs.

As the participants celebrated Jalan Sultan’s heritage and culture with laughs, they were reminded of the solemn fact that the buildings surrounding them may soon make way for the MRT project.

Later an ustaz, a Buddhist monk and a Catholic priest and pastor led the group in prayer for the preservation of Jalan Sultan.

Slightly past midnight, the performances concluded with the singing of the national anthem before the crowd dispersed.