Dataran Pahlawan a national heritage?

National Heritage for Dataran Pahlawan? Ali Gostan must be joking. After building a new complex in Dataran Pahlawan he calls on the Culture, Art and Heritage Ministry to expand the list to include Dataran Pahlawan. Maybe he has forgotten that he and his team had literally wiped out Dataran Pahlawan for developments and more so profits. Did he not remember that there were demonstrations to protect the field and its surrounding before the building of the complex? For blogees reading this, historically, the Dataran Pahlawan was where Tunku Abdul Rahman first make his stop to declare the road for Malaysia's independence after Tunku's negotiation with the British Government.

All Malaccans will know the importance of national heritage of the Square. However our CM must have forgotten the value placed on this Square. It is not just an ordinary field. I played that field since I was 3 and in my teens I played football with my friends. This was the place where every 31st August Merdeka Day, the march past will be held. Using the road to Ujong Pasir, the field is at our left whereas the sea is at our right. But now the dataran complex is on your left and Mahkaota Parade is on your right. Looks like our children's children will never able to experience what we used to experience in our growing up days. Parents use the field and the square to walk with their children. A wonderful sight in seeing bond between families are strengthen using the field. Now days, hearts are harden. While I was in Perak recently, I was told by a friend, it takes nature to soften the hearts of children, I think he is indeed true. Now with a lot of sophisticated games, we have harden hearts. Very unfortunate.

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(Reading from the Star on-line)

Ali wants listing expanded

MALACCA: The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry should declare more buildings as a national heritage, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said.

“There are many more buildings in Malacca which are on the Unesco heritage list but have yet to be declared a national heritage,'' he added.

Mohd Ali was commenting on the announcement by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim on Friday that 50 buildings and cultural elements in the country had been declared as a national heritage.

The Chief Minister hoped that buildings or structures which were on Unesco's heritage list, like Batu Berendam airport, Hang Tuah's well, Masjid Peringgit, Masjid Tengkera, Tun Teja's grave and Dataran Pahlawan could also be named national heritages.

He also welcomed efforts by the ministry to get Malacca and Penang jointly recognised as world heritage cities by Unesco. – Bernama.