The Vivekenanda Ashram, located in what is now a prime area in Kuala Lumpur, opposite KL Sentral, may finally get the full protection desired after the latest move by the Tourism Ministry. - The Malaysian Insider pic, November 17, 2014.The century-old Vivekananda Ashram may be gazetted as a heritage site as early as March or latest by October next year following the furore over plans to redevelop the historic building by its trustees.
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the notice of intent to gazette the land surrounding the ashram as a heritage site was hand-delivered to its management committee last Wednesday.
A similar letter to the Federal Territories ministry, as the local authority, on the intention to gazette the 110-year-old building as a heritage site, was also submitted on same day.
"The next step is to publish a government gazette on the move and after that, we will file a notice of intent with the land office next month," he said in Parliament today..
Hearings are expected to be held between March and May next year to hear any objections to the plan to gazette the site as a national heritage.
Nazri said the same process will be repeated again in June until its final hearing in September.
"If everything goes according to the procedures, the minister will make a decision on this in October," he said.
However, he said if the ministry did not receive any objections, the site can be gazetted as a national heritage site as early as March next year.
Non-governmental organisations, concerned individuals and political parties had come together in the past few weeks after it was revealed that there were plans to develop the site into a multi-storey apartment building.
A signature drive was carried out, with tens of thousands signing the petition to save the ashram from redevelopment and handed over to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall last week.
The Vivekananda Ashram Board of Trustees defended their action, saying that the move would provide funds for schools and charity homes under its care and for its future plans.
During a visit to the ashram two weeks ago, Nazri had revealed that the Vivekananda Ashram Board had rejected the national heritage department offer made on November 13, 2008 to gazette the site as a national heritage.
Following the furore, the ashram management commitee finally broke its silence last week, saying that its redevelopment plans did not include plans to demolish it. Instead the building would remain intact and the Swami Vivekananda statue outside the building would be retained.
- TMI
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