The developer, who declined to be named, said the name Bangsar South was not unrelated, as the area fell within the vicinity of Bangsar.

“This is why the name change was approved. The rationale to have a new name is because the area was redeveloped.

“When you choose a child’s name, you want the name to signify something. For property developers, we want a name which signifies prosperity and gives the market confidence.”

The developer said it had nothing to do with Kampung Kerinchi being a Malay name, rather it just didn’t signify prosperity.

“If you look at Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), it is a Malay name, but it reflects prosperity and strength. That’s why it remains unchanged, and why developers not only want to build there, but also have the TTDI name as part of their development.”

Kuala Lumpur mayor Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz, said the change in name was approved in 2008. “I’m not sure of the exact reason, it was before my time,” he said.

DBKL did not regard the name to be an issue and the name was already established, he told FMT.

Earlier, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil, who is the PH candidate for Lembah Pantai, said he would push for a change as the name Kampung Kerinchi was part of the area’s heritage.

Residents also told FMT they would support the move, as ‘Bangsar South’ meant nothing to them.

Tourism minister Nazri Aziz had also previously criticised the change, saying the name of a place would not affect its value as long as its location was strategic

Redevelopment of the area began in 2007.

Kampung Kerinchi traces its history to the 18th century when a Kerinci community from Indonesia settled there after growing weary of Dutch colonialists. Over the years, it grew into a major Malay settlement, and was for many years home to the old Kampung Kerinchi flats.

The Bangsar South development is a popular mixed-development project, home to residential, commercial and lifestyle properties.

‘Bangsar South’ means nothing, give us back ‘Kerinchi’, say residents