Unutilised ‘five-star’ facilities in Little India

BOOST FOR BRICKFIELDS: Palanivel (right) and Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan (with tie) discuss with traders during their walkabout — Pic: SHAHIR OMAR

BRICKFIELDS: MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is set to meet Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen to discuss ways to promote Little India in Brickfields as one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

He said for years now, the area seemed to have overlooked by tourists, despite having “five-star” facilities and its own uniqueness. “Our purpose is we want to boost the image of the newly revamped Brickfields. I will discuss with the minister on how we can bring tourists here,”

“We want this area to be promoted and advertised and we hope to turn the area into a ‘crowd puller’ with food festivals, product launches, carnivals and cultural performances. Business owners and traders here can also playtheir part to attract tourists,” said Palanivel.

With many problems, such as public toilets, bus stops and carparks being solved by the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, Palanivel said Brickfields is rapidly evolving from a residential to a very commercial extension of Kuala Lumpur.

“This is my second official visit here and I am happy to see that many problems are being solved and rectified.

We have had a discussion with traders here and we are willing to hear their views and needs in order to make this place better,” he said.

Palanivel, who is also the chairman for Business and Social Transformation for Indian Ethnic, said he would also hold discussion with Indian business communities in the country to figure out ways to boost not only their business but also ways for it to be more attractive to tourists.“We want to make this area booming and will help the small and medium entrepreneurs,” said Palanivel.

“We must bring tourists from Japan, Korea, Singapore here but at the sane time there must be quality goods and products being sold in Brickfields,” he said.

“Tourist will start spending money here and if it can be like Serangoon Road (Indian ethnic business community area in Singapore), it means that they are doing very well,” added Palanivel.

On a different note, he also touched on safety and security concern in the area which he felt to be lacking the police presence.

“If Bukit Bintang can have patrols or police beat bases. Why can’t we have it here too,” he said.