Issues regarding the design intervention and conservation of heritage areas: The case of Kuala Lumpur / Nur Amirah Adlina Mohd Sarfawi

The architectural form of Malaysia is now threatened by urban development which involves many kinds of visual problems causes. The purpose of this research is to identify physical and planning issues that related to conservation and design and to explore the perception of society in maintaining the conservation of built heritage. This study focused on the areas of Petaling Street and Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur in a historical enclave that is well known locally for its cultural, architectural and historical interest that is worth preserving and conserving to fulfil the purpose of enhancing the areas, the local authority introduced a covered pedestrian street which is said to be more convenient for shoppers considering the tropical climate of Kuala Lumpur. This effort is believed to have been done without any consultation with heritage conservators and activists, thus invoking a debate regarding its many pros and cons. This study examined the arguments concerning the intervention in the heritage area from various groups of stakeholders that are directly involved. Furthermore, this study presents the method of implementation used by the local authority when executing a conservation project. This study also found that the intervention did not affect the heritage value of the place but at the same time brought concerns regarding the extemporaneous method taken by the local authority when implementing the project.