by Ravindran Raman Kutty
A 120-year-old Hindu ashram in Brickfields on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur has attracted a lot of attention of late.
Word has it that its continuity could be impacted because of new rezoning regulations.
The ashram has been designated as a Category 1 Heritage Building under the National Heritage Act since 2016. But the draft Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (KLLP) 2040 has rezoned the ashram’s land as a major commercial area, threatening continuity of the ashram and by the same token, its preservation and the legacy of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings.
The ashram holds immense spiritual, cultural, and historical significance. It was expected to be protected as a public community facility (PCF). But the latest plans allow for high-density commercial development encompassing the site.
This zoning shift contradicts the ashram’s heritage status and its primary objectives of promoting Hinduism, arts, science, and community welfare. Residents in the area, heritage groups like Badan Warisan Malaysia, and Save Vivekananda Ashram Brickfields (SVAB) action group, including a senior politician, have voiced strong opposition. They argue that commercial zoning invites development pressures that could irreversibly damage the ashram and its surroundings, thus eroding Brickfields’ unique cultural identity and heritage tourism value.
Of particular interest is also the perceived lack of adequate protestations from those entrusted with protecting the ashram.
And despite multiple public consultations, signature-gathering endeavours, meetings and briefings attended by concerned citizens, the final draft plan did not reflect the community’s wishes. DBKL has defended the process as transparent and inclusive, noting that public feedback was considered and that the top leadership has been briefed.
VA was built 120 years ago with contributions from the community and all events held by the Ashram to date are funded by contributions come from the public. VA was established as a company under limited guarantee as it is meant for community services. Members of the community are the major stakeholders of VA.
The decision to proceed with commercial zoning appears to reveal a disconnect between public sentiment and official action. The failure to secure the ashram’s status as a public community facility zone represents more than just the loss of a historic building.
It threatens the continued promulgation of Swami Vivekananda’s values-selflessness, community service, and spiritual upliftment-that have inspired generations of Malaysians. The ashram is not merely a physical structure but a living symbol of Malaysia’s multicultural heritage and spiritual diversity.
The rezoning also sets a troubling precedent for other heritage sites, suggesting that economic interests and urban development priorities may override cultural preservation.
Brickfields, already heavily developed with a fully concretised ambience, risks losing its distinctive character and becoming indistinguishable from generic commercial districts.
To prevent the erasure of this invaluable heritage, the authorities should reconsider and rescind the commercial zoning for the ashram area and reinstate it as a public community facility zone aligned with its heritage status.
This case exemplifies how neglect and lop-sided urban planning can jeopardise local heritage sites and Malaysia’s rich cultural history.
The views expressed here are entirely those of the writer
WE