The government has approved a 99-year lease renewal for the land of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) and set the land premium at a nominal RM1,000, a fraction of the nearly RM4.67 million estimated earlier.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh announced the decision on Saturday (Nov 14) in a Facebook post and at the hall’s 103rd anniversary dinner.
She said the Federal Territories Land Committee approved the surrender and re-alienation of the land for institutional use on Sept 14, with a lease of up to 99 years, and that a formal approval letter dated Oct 1 confirmed the RM1,000 premium.
In all, the hall has to pay RM5,011 under the official land notice, an amount that includes the first year’s land rent and administrative charges. The annual land rent has been set at RM3,151.
Hannah said the nominal premium was approved after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pledged to give special consideration to preserving the historic building when he visited the hall during a Chinese New Year celebration on Feb 17. She said he asked her during that visit to find a solution.
The decision reflects the government’s commitment to protecting Kuala Lumpur’s historical landmarks and making sure that institutions of heritage value can keep serving future generations, she said.
The hall on Jalan Maharajalela has been recognised as a national heritage building since 2007 for the part it has played in the city’s history. Hannah said she hoped the lower premium would ease its financial burden, so that it could put more of its resources into maintaining the building, preserving its heritage and carrying on its community work.
She added that heritage protection should reflect the diversity of Kuala Lumpur’s history and cover all communities, noting that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is studying the preservation of traditional Malay villages in Sungai Penchala, including Kampung Palimbayan and Kampung Bukit Lanjan.
The KLSCAH, which was founded in 1923, marked its 103rd anniversary this year.