Leprosarium Demolition to Continue

KUALA LUMPUR: Demolition work to make way for Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) medical faculty has resumed at the Sungai Buloh Leprosarium site.

This came after a cabinet directive on Sept 12 to the ministries involved to resolve the issue of whether the 40 acres of land alienated to UiTM at the leprosarium should be developed.

UiTM vice-chancellor Datuk Seri Prof Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah said the secretaries-general of the Health, Higher Education and Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministries then decided that the development should go ahead.

“The National Heritage Commission has also withdrawn the interim protection order and it is not going to pursue this matter any further. The earlier agreement stands, that is the mosque and the church are to be preserved.

“As far as I am concerned, a decision has been made, we are simply abiding by the law. The project must go on because we have students who need these facilities,” he told the New Straits Times.

Centre of Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia research executive Lim Yong Long expressed disappointment at the decision, saying the government was not keen on preserving historical sites.

“Clearly, the latest cabinet decision has not been made known to all parties and the public. Now, the leprosy community seems to be fighting a losing battle because no serious preservation measure has been initiated by any of the ministries involved.

“It is alarming as we sit and let places and buildings of historical significance be destroyed when we should, in fact, be documenting and conserving them.”

He said the National Leprosy Control Centre told the affected settlers last Thursday to get ready to move out.

The preservation of the area became a hotly debated issue when the National Heritage Commission and non-governmental organisations protested against the demolition.

The site houses a renowned centre for leprosy research and the second biggest leprosy settlement in the world.

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