Bukit Bintang is all about tourists, not Chinese community, say opposition lawmakers
Jalan Bukit Bintang is the most popular tourist destination in Kuala Lumpur with 133 hotels. August 25, 2013.Opposition
lawmakers today reminded Utusan Malaysia that Bukit Bintang is a
tourist magnet and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall is justified in spending
RM12 million on the area to develop a Chinese food hub in Jalan Alor.Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui said City Hall was reinforcing Jalan Alor’s pull as a food haven and the area was already packed with hotels catering to tourists.
“It has a whole range of hotels from budget to five-star. It simply is a case of City Hall helping the government to promote tourism in the country,” he told The Malaysian Insider, while pointing out that the area had some 133 hotels.
Fong also noted that the area benefitted from Putrajaya’s ambitious Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) which ran from Kajang to Sungai Buloh.
"It is not about helping the Chinese community in the area, it is about tourists who frequent the area," he said.
He also pointed out that Chinese cuisine had a global audience and was not confined to just Malaysians but also foreigners.
“It is wrong to say it will benefit only the Chinese,” he said.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said City Hall's development of Jalan Alor is in line with the development in various parts of the city.
"It reflects the multicultural community we have in the city. This is what makes us special," she said at her constituency's Hari Raya open house today.
She said Utusan's stand was curious as City Hall had before worked together with (Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd) MRCB to upgrade the Little India in Brickfields to promote it as an Indian cultural hub.
Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia has demanded to know why there is a need for a Chinese “Food Paradise” in Kuala Lumpur, continuing its attack on the community following the May 5 general election.
The Awang Selamat column in its Sunday edition, Mingguan Malaysia, has taken exception to City Hall's project to turn Jalan Alor into a Chinese food hub.
Awang Selamat, the pseudonym for the collective voice of the paper’s editors, warned City Hall to be mindful of who would benefit while noting that there is already a strong Chinese image in Bukit Bintang.
“It already resembles Hong Kong,” Awang Selamat said noting that spending a lot of money into a location that would benefit the Chinese community is an exercise in futility.
“From way before, the voters in the area have never supported the government, even if given the moon and the stars, there will be no appreciation,” it said.
Jalan Alor is located in the Bukit Bintang parliamentary constituency and since it was formed it has always been won by the DAP.
The seat is currently held by the party’s treasurer, Fong Kui Lun. - August 25, 2013.
Jalan Alor food hub project to continue, says Federal Territories Minister
Ignoring
strong criticism from Utusan Malaysia, the Federal Territories Minister
Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s
project to turn Jalan Alor (pic) in Bukit Bintang into a food haven
will proceed as planned.He said the project was aimed to give Jalan Alor a “cleaner and nicer look”.
“It will look like Jalan Petaling. The project will go on. Maybe the Datuk Bandar made a mistake in saying it is a food hub for the Chinese. It is for everyone’s benefit,” said Tengku Adnan when contacted by The Malaysian Insider today.
The Umno secretary-general’s statement on the project today goes against Utusan Malaysia’s demand over the weekend as to why there is a need for a Chinese “Food Paradise” in Kuala Lumpur, continuing its attack on the community following the May 5 general election.
The Awang Selamat column in its Sunday edition, Mingguan Malaysia, has taken exception to Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) project to turn Jalan Alor into a food hub for the community.
Awang Selamat, the pseudonym for the collective voice of the paper’s editors, warned DBKL to be mindful of who would benefit while noting that there is already a strong Chinese image in Bukit Bintang.
“It already resembles Hong Kong,” Awang Selamat said.
The paper pointed out that pouring RM12 million into a project, which would benefit the Chinese community, is an exercise in futility.
“From way before, the voters in the area have never supported the government; even if given the moon and the stars, there will be no appreciation,” it said.
Jalan Alor is located in the Bukit Bintang parliamentary constituency and since it was formed it has always been won by the DAP.
The seat is held by the party’s treasurer, Fong Kui Lun.
The newspaper’s latest salvo at the Chinese community is in line with its attacks on it after the May 5 polls.
Following the general election, it ran a story with the provocative headline “Apa lagi Cina mahu?” (What more do the Chinese want?) on its front page.
Utusan blamed the community for Barisan Nasional’s dismal performance after it was returned to power with 133 seats – down from 140 in the 2008 polls.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun said City Hall was reinforcing Jalan Alor’s pull as a food haven and the area was already packed with hotels catering to tourists.
“It has a whole range of hotels from budget to five-star. It simply is a case of City Hall helping the government to promote tourism in the country,” he told The Malaysian Insider, while pointing out that the area had some 133 hotels.
"It is childish to politicise the food hub project in Bukit Bintang. The writer has failed to recognise that the district is already a multinational food paradise.”
Fong also noted that the area benefited from Putrajaya’s ambitious Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system which ran from Kajang to Sungai Buloh.
"It is not about helping the Chinese community in the area, it is about tourists who frequent the area," he said.
He also pointed out that Chinese cuisine had a global audience and was not confined to just Malaysians but also foreigners. – August 26, 2013.
Read more @ SAYS.com:
Utusan Asks Why Develop A Chinese Community In Bukit Bintang?
http://says.com/my/news/dbkl-bukit-bintang-wants-to-upgrade-jalan-alor-utusan-malaysia-says-no
1 comment:
ujudkan pula melayu hub food di kl
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