Cultural and historically, Petaling Street is a major draw for tourists. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT/The Star
After decades of neglect, Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Petaling Street, fondly known as Chinatown, will finally get a much-needed facelift.
Over the years, the bustling cultural hub, renowned for its vibrant street markets and rich heritage, has suffered from having dilapidated infrastructure.
Leaking roofs, torn awnings, broken pavements and ageing stalls with exposed wiring are among the many issues plaguing traders operating in the area.
Over five years, talks between stakeholders and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) took place towards revitalising this historic thoroughfare and breathing new life into its storied lanes.
The facelift of Petaling Street is expected to begin after the Chinese New Year period.
The roof over Petaling Street leaks during rain while old decorations (right) need to be replaced.
Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Petty Traders Association chairman Datuk Ang Say Tee said, “What’s left is a few details to be ironed out and we expect a meeting soon with DBKL either this month or the next.
“The hawkers are welcoming the effort by DBKL as the last upgrade was more than 20 years ago.
“We hope this beautification will bring transformation to Chinatown.”
In need of refurbishment
For years, conditions at Petaling Street have been a source of concern for locals and visitors alike.
Despite its undeniable charm and historical significance, Chinatown’s deteriorating physical environment has become an inconvenience to traders and reduced its potential as a tourist attraction.
“The roofs covering most of Petaling Street are leaking and water falls onto the road during a downpour.
“Some of the stalls are old, have wiring problems, and broken awnings pose a risk to both traders and visitors.
“There were also instances of flooding at the end of Petaling Street,” Ang said.
Upgrading works at Chinatown area including the roof are expected to start after Chinese New Year.
He said the facelift would solve all the problems faced by traders.
According to Ang, the association had called for upgrading and beautification of Petaling Street in the early 1990s.
“It was only in 2001 that Petaling Street underwent a major facelift.
“The project was completed two years later.
“Two Chinese-style arches were built at the beginning and end of the road while blue polycarbonate roofing was installed to shelter traders from the sun and rain.”
It was reported in an English daily that the project cost RM11mil.
Some traders in Petaling Street use canvas to protect people from the rain.
Since 2018, Ang said the association had been requesting an upgrade of Petaling Street facilities.
“After more than 10 meetings with DBKL and three Kuala Lumpur mayors, the beautification plans are finally underway,” he said.
Ang also showed StarMetro DBKL’s beautification plans, which included Chinese-inspired motifs and decorations as backdrop for the stalls.
“We understand that the entire project will likely take a year and will be done in four phases.
“This is so that traders operating along the street will not be affected for the entire year.
“However, they will still need to temporarily halt their operations for a short period to make way for the beautification project,” he said.
Additional stalls proposed
Ang said the beautification plans, however, came with a catch.
“DBKL wanted to add about 100 new stall lots in front of existing stalls, which we objected strongly.”
Old and exposed wiring in Chinatown poses a safety hazard.
With 773 stalls already in Petaling Street, he said, “There is barely any room for additional stalls, so adding lots would make the street more cramped, making it difficult for visitors to shop.
“We fear that this will compromise visitors’ comfort, thus driving them away.
“The addition of more stalls would also hamper access for fire and rescue vehicles into Petaling Street should a fire occur.”
Ang said he had sent a letter to DBKL with members’ objections and would bring this up again in the next meeting.
“The association also collected more than 600 signatures from traders objecting to the additional stalls,” he said.
Currently, stalls occupy the kerb in front of shoplots.
The proposed additional stalls would be placed in front of these existing stalls.
Ang (in red shirt) showing cracked tiles in Petaling Street alongside association treasurer Chan Pooi Chee (second from left) and a trader. (Right) Ang pointing out a stall’s tattered cover.
DBKL said in a statement that the status of the beautification project for the traders’ area was still at design stage.
Part of the works included replacing existing kiosks with new ones featuring bigger roofs, replacing roofing with more vibrant fixtures, installing lights to emphasise building designs and replacing old wiring, it said.
“DBKL is committed to upgrading and beautifying the traders’ area in Kuala Lumpur including Petaling Street to ensure they can operate in an organised and comfortable environment.
“We wish to remind traders to take care of the existing facilities for the benefit of all parties.”
The local authority, however, did not disclose the allocation for the beautification project.
Stakeholders’ feedback
Anticipation is mounting among Petaling Street stakeholders for the upcoming transformation.
Kwok Chin says the Petaling Street facelift is timely ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2025.Most business owners have voiced optimism, expressing hope that the facelift would not only enhance the area’s aesthetic appeal but also attract greater foot traffic and revenue.
Petaling Street KRT chairman Datuk Chan Kwok Chin said the facelift was timely ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2025.
“It’s been a while since Petaling Street received upgrades.
“We hope it will transform the place into a lively tourist attraction and bring more foot traffic to the area to benefit the traders,” he said.
Footwear trader KW Siow, 50, was happy about the proposed facelift since the stall that he was occupying was old and unsightly.
“Whenever there is a downpour, my goods will be soaked and the awnings are not doing much to keep the rain away.
“I have to cover my goods with canvas. I hope these problems will be solved after the beautification process,” he said.
However, amid the excitement, some concerns have been raised about the potential inconvenience the facelift could bring.
For vendors like Jaden Chan, whose livelihood depends on the daily operations in Petaling Street, the prospect of temporary closure during the renovation posed a significant challenge.
“Closing shop for an extended period could mean lost income for me and my family.
“It is hard to tell what the facelift will bring but I do not want my operations to be affected,” he said.
“I hope the authorities will provide support to affected vendors during this transition period.
The 30-year-old apparel trader operating at the edge of Petaling Street said he began trading after the movement control order was lifted and had been operating for two years.
“This place is flooded up to the kerb where my stall is located and this can happen two to three times a month.
“This affects me a lot because my goods get damaged.”
