Remembering past, knowing the present
Haresh Says, as published in Malay Mail today. Selfie Pulla , a song from Vijay’s latest movie Kaththi, blared loudly. A foreigner, clearly with the tune stuck in his head, shook his head as his female companion was mesmerised with the colourful bangles displayed at a nearby stall. The smell of fresh apam completes the adventure of senses while walking along Jalan Tun Sambanthan in Brickfields on Monday. Locals took advantage of the Aidiladha break to prepare for Deepavali. As for the tourists, it was a natural destination. But Kuala Lumpur’s ‘Little India’ is more than just Indian food, DVDs of latest Tamil movies or fashionable Punjabi suits. It is ‘big’ in history — which sadly many fail to appreciate. Once referred by the locals as Batu Limabelas (15th mile), its humble beginnings was thanks to Chinese Kapitan Yap Ah Loy. Born Yap Tet Loy, the China migrant of Hakka descent, who was also known as Yap Moa Lan, played an instrumental role in developing Kuala Lumpur and gav...