KUALA LUMPUR: Robert Heinlein once said, "A generation which ignores history has no past, and no future."
This city we call our capital is steeped in historical details which can easily be forgotten if nothing is done to preserve it for the younger generation.
In a bid to remind Malaysians of "KL Dulu" (the old Kuala Lumpur), the City Hall (DBKL) launched a new project to mark important locations throughout the city with the story behind these places.
"KL Dulu" is a project in which history is written down in "interpretive panels" placed along the Heritage Trail in the city.
At the launch today, in which DBKL unveiled the first panel, Executive Director (project management) Mohd Sahak Surip said the storytelling method adopted for "KL Dulu" is meant to serve as reference for visitors on the historical aspect of the sites, which would include what happened at the site in the past as well as iconic buildings.
"KL has its own attraction that can be highlighted to draw more visitors, especially foreign tourists," Mohd Sahak said.
The first panel is located outside Loke Hall, along Jalan Tangsi. This is made from glass fiber reinforced stone (GFRS), a material produced locally by Pioneer Process SDN BHD.
Loke Hall was built as a townhouse in 1907 and named after its first owner Loke Chow Kit. It now houses the offices of the Malaysian Institute of Architects.
Throughout the years, the building went from being a home to a hotel and eventually an office building.
Heritage consultant Mariana Isa when met at the launch today said the plan was to install around 350 panels of various types in Kuala Lumpur.
She explained that it is called "interpretive panels" because the information in "KL Dulu" is made up mostly from word-of-mouth stories passed on by city dwellers, and interpreted into the panels which will be installed at the sites.
With vandalism being a concern, Mariana said this first panel is an experiment of sort, to see if this type of installation would work in the city centre.