'Safeguarding Jln Petaling' parade on M'sia Day

The Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and a group of art activists will hold a lantern parade on Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur on the night of Malaysia day (Sept 16) to "safeguard" the street now facing an uncertain future with the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project.

The lantern parade, which is part of Petaling Street Community Art Project 2011, will proceed through some of the historical buildings in Jalan Sultan that the federal government plans to acquire for the MRT project, including Selangor Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association building and Hotel Lok Ann.

It is hope that the public could "unearth" the historical and cultural value of the buildings through parade and strengthening the public support of their conservation.

"If we do not do this, (this year), we will not able to do it next year," said an organiser, Chong Keat Ann, in a press conference held last Friday.

The community art project was initially planned for August or September next year, but they had decided to hold it earlier in this year due to fears that it would otherwise be overtaken by the land acquisition and construction of the tunnel for the MRT project, the famous radio deejay explained.

According to Chong, the lantern parade, which starts at 6pm, is entitled "Safeguarding Jalan Petaling" because the organisers felt that Jalan Sultan should be conserved as part of Jalan Petaling, which belongs to the same community.

A total of 17 artists and organisations had also agreed to perform in the parade, with historical buildings such as Hotel Lok Ann and the old grocery association building serving as their stage.

They intend to perform at the heritage buildings so that more people can know more about their historical and cultural value, Chong explained.

Beside the lantern parade, which is held in conjunction with the mid-Autumn festival that fall on Sept 12 this year, this art activists will also organise more activities on the morning of Sept 16, including an exhibition of old photographs and a guided tour.

Another organiser, Yeoh Lian Heng, said Jalan Petaling had been increasingly ignored by the Chinese community over the last 10 years its historical role as a symbol of Chinese contributions to the development of Kuala Lumpur.

"I hope we can together refurbished the significance of Jalan Petaling,”