The nightmare that is Little India
Music blaring from shops selling CDs, haphazard parking that causes perennial traffic jams and dirty restaurant premises make Little India a big horror along Jalan Tun Sambanthan.
From J D Lovrenciear
The government has done a lot along Jalan Tun Sambanthan, creating a decent space for retailers, restaurants and mini markets to cater to the needs of the Indian community. This effort by the government must be valued and maintained with gratitude.
Unfortunately the flouting of laws at Little India is so widespread that if the authorities continue to ignore it, this Indian enclave will soon suffer the same fate as several other traditional, cultural business centres in Kuala Lumpur like Petaling Street and Masjid India.
It is hard to believe why DBKL allows vehicles to park indiscriminately along Jalan Tun Sambanthan with double and even triple parking in front of the rows of shops there. It causes traffic jams day and night, seven days a week. Let not Jalan Tun Sambanthan end up like a typical street in Chennai.
Then there is the issue of excessive noise blaring out from the shops sandwiched between the restaurants. Some of the shops selling CDs have installed 1,000 watt mega speakers outside their premises that are turned on at full blast – so loud one can hear the music even 300 meters away.
DBKL has allowed the eateries to place tables and chairs on the nicely paved tarmac fronting these shops. But with the pounding noise blaring from the speakers, one wonders how on earth patrons are supposed to meet, eat and chat here.
Going by the various banners hanging all over Jalan Tun Sambanthan, it is undeniable that a particular Indian political party has vested interest in the population that operates businesses, stays there or comes around to eat and shop there.
The least the party leadership can do is educate the business operators at Little India to adhere to the rules. Unfortunately, that is not the case as even the cleanliness of some of the restaurants leaves much to be desired.
Hopefully DBKL will take notice and crack the whip so that the joy of going to or passing through Little India can be enjoyed by all.
J D Lovrenciear is an FMT reader.
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The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.