Vivekananda Ashram land zoned as ‘main commercial' under KL local plan

The Star

07-05-2025

The public can check the draft KLLP 2040 at Menara DBKL 1 until May 9. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
THE Brickfields area where the Vivekananda Ashram is located is still zoned as 'main commercial' under the revised draft of the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (KLLP) 2040.
The Save Vivekananda Ashram Brickfields (SVAB) action group expressed its disappointment that its request for the ashram area to be zoned as a public community facility was not taken into account when the revised plan was drafted.
Lawyer Deva Kunjari Sambanthan, who is among those advocating for the iconic landmark's preservation, said the group was worried that the land where the ashram is sited could be designated for development in the future.
'The area is zoned as 'main commercial', the second highest in terms of allowed density.
'Although Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers responded to our queries saying that the site will be protected since the Vivekananda Ashram is classified as a 'Category 1 Heritage Building' under the National Heritage Act (Act 645), we are not convinced.
'It should be maintained as a public community facility zone so that no development will take place in that area,' she said.
Lucky Garden resident P. Tamilwanan said they were concerned about the possibility of heritage buildings being degazetted.
'We do not feel comfortable about this. We do not want to allow any room for development to take place,' he said.
DBKL is holding open-day sessions until May 9 from 9.30am to 4.30pm on the KLLP 2040 draft.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said, 'We have gone through the necessary steps, including going through public participation and holding hearings.
'The Prime Minister has also been briefed about the plan.
'We plan to launch and gazette the KLLP 2040 this month,' she told StarMetro.
'This open day is to inform the public about the draft plan and its changes.
'The public can see if their feedback was taken into consideration in the draft plan as well as the reasons why certain changes were not incorporated.
'We want to increase DBKL's transparency and accountability,' Maimunah added.
Residential groups, architects and town planners as well as other stakeholders had come on the first day to see the finalised plan.
Some accepted the changes of the finalised plan while others expressed disappointment.
Lembah Pantai Federal Territories Residents Representative Council (MPPWP) sub-zone 3 secretary Michelles Foo said the draft plan took part of their feedback into consideration.
'I understand that the authorities cannot take into account all feedback from residents but I can see that some of our suggestions have been incorporated into the draft plan,' she said.
'For example, one of the areas in Kampung Kerinchi was earmarked for development in the previous draft but DBKL changed the land use to public community facility,' she added.
Former Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan, who was also present at the open day, said more efforts should be made to develop city parks.
'We should have more parks, like Hyde Park in London, to make Kuala Lumpur a liveable city.
'A task force must be established to manage development in the city,' he said.
Nor Hisham also suggested Bandar Malaysia be constructed between the Selangor and Perak borders.