Brief ............................................................. 05

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ABOUT CHOW KIT

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CHOW KIT

Chow Kit was named after a very well-known Chinese man named Loke Chow Kit who was a tin miner and a businessman here in Chow Kit. From 1889 to 1939 tin miming was very common here in Chow Kit. He also owned many licensed gambling. He owned the largest supermarket which was named after him. Chow Kit market was built in 1955 and was known to be thriving and was full of different open stalls. Nothing much has changed since then, the layout of the Chow Kit market has remained the same. The only difference is the diverse cultures Chow Kit has now.

Subsequently, Chow Kit was very popular due to it being a hub for film and entertainment. This was around 1950 and 1960. Chow Kit has slowly lost its identity and the red-light district has taken over. This is giving the city a bad reputation and as a result, people are avoiding it.

One thing that has not changed is the food and the restaurants. This is what Chow Kit is known for and was known for. One thing everyone here has in common is food and this brings the nation together.

Chow Kit has a beautiful skyline which is a combination of new and old buildings This gives Chow Kit a unique skyline.

TIA1840: Design Studio 3: Place and Architecture Historic time line HISTORIC TIME LINE

1880

Chow Kit was named after a very well-known Chinese man named Loke Chow Kit who was a tin miner and a businessman here in Chow Kit. From 1889 to 1939 tin miming was very common here in Chow Kit. He also owned many licensed gambling. He owned the largest supermarket which was named after him.

2010

The economy was thriving and a very affordable toy store was opened on Jalan Raja Laut which attracted lots of people to visit Chow Kit.

1634

Around this time tin mining had taken over in Chow Kit and buildings were set up between Gombak and Klang river. This is where people would exchange drugs as well as transport drugs to. They were then distributed amongst the people.

1986

Chow Kit is known for entertainment purposes and after the huge concert that took place held by Sudirman. This concert is still one of the reasons why Chow Kit is well known, it is also part of the Malaysia’s history.

2020

The pandemic had a very negative impact on the Sex workers and they began to struggle as most of their clients were not interested in the service due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

2018

The Rumah Degil also known as the stubborn house was the last timber Malay house built on Jalan Chow Kit and the remains still stand on the site. Architecture impacts the Malay history.

NOW

Due to the impact of COVID-19 many people faced a loss in businesses and as a result they are now jobless living on the streets of Chow Kit with their children. The NGO and other non- government organisations are helping out the homeless people.

REGIONAL IDENTITY

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and is known for its beautiful skyscrapers, colonial architecture, and diversity. Tourists recognise Kuala Lumpur for its landmarks, this includes Petronas twin towers which are the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers. It is also known for Petaling street the market and Bate caves which are more than 400 million years old.

Moreover, the modern city has three dominant ethnicities, Malays, Chinese, and Indians. The Malaysian culture intertwines with all cultures and traditions which makes other ethnicities feel welcome and comfortable in Kuala Lumpur. By welcoming different cultures it is increasing the population of tourists and this is helping the economy progress.

Food Diversity

Architecture

Chow Kit

Heritage sites

KUALA LUMPUR

A city full of diversity and different cultures

Landmarks

Malays 45.9%

• Largest ethnic group

• Friendly people

• different religions

• Love food

• Mostly Muslims Kuala Lumpur is best known for its diversity. The modern city has three dominant ethnicities, this includes Malays, Chinese, and Indians with Sikhs being a minority. Malaysians get along with all cultures and traditions which makes the city home to many ethnic groups.

Malays are the ethnic majority in Kuala Lumpur. They are mostly Muslims and speak the national language called Bahasa Malaysia. Malays were traditionally farmers and fishermen and they are known to have a rich heritage in weaving fabrics and making handicrafts from wood which can still be found in many places of Malaysia.

Chinese 43.2%

• Second largest ethnic group

• Living in Malaysia since the 15th century

• China town is for heritage sites

• No religion Chinese people have been living in Malaysia since the 15th century, they started to settle around the 18th century and have been living here since then. Over time Chinese people moved to Kuala Lumpur and Chow Kit.

Additionally, the Chinese have helped improve the city hence it is thriving today. They are also the economic power of Malaysia as well Kuala Lumpur. The majority of Chinese are involved with the corporate and commercial business sector of Malaysia. This helps improve the economy.

Furthermore, China town is located in Chow Kit and it is known for its rich and historic architecture. Lots of tourists like to visit Chinatown as they have a lot to offer to the tourists such as landmarks, heritage sites, and food. Events such as the Chinese new year light up the city and it’s nice to see everyone gather and get involved to celebrate together.

Indians 10.3%

• Third largest ethnic group

• Estate workers for tapping rubber

• Sikhs are a minority where Hindus are not

• Known for their colourful clothes The Indians are the third-largest race in Malaysia and most of them are located in Kuala Lumpur the capital city.

Moreover, Indians were originally estate workers for taping rubber when they first came to Malaysia and today Indians are involved in the business sector and own many restaurants. This has been helping the economy grow.

Withal, most Indians practice Hinduism and during the celebration of their festival Deepavali, Indians dance and perform in their vibrant clothes. This fits well with the Malaysian culture. Similarly, Punjabis are known as Sikhs and they are an ethnic group In Malaysia. They are also from India but Punjabi and celebrate Vaisakhi which is their New Year.

RELIGION

Most Malaysians are Muslim and follow the religion, Islam. There are many mosques in Kuala Lumpur such as the Jamek Mosque and National mosque where Muslims go to pray. Friday is the holy day for Muslims, so you are likely to see them gathered outside the mosque for the Friday prayer. Additionally, there is an Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur which is often visited by tourists and locals. It gives an insight into the Malaysian religion and culture.

Furthermore, there are temples for people who practice Buddhism such as the Chinese people. Buddhism is the second main religion in Malaysia after Islam. The well-known temple Thean Hou is located in Kuala Lumpur and is visited at special festivals. Other religions such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Daoism are also practiced by the minority.

The St Mary’s Cathedral is located in Kuala Lumpur and is inspired by European architecture. Gothic architecture style has been used for the cathedral and it stands out because of its shape. You are able to find many types of churches. This includes Catholic, Protestant, and Methodist churches.

Hindu temples are equivalently important. The use of bright colours captures one’s attention. The temples were created for Tamil people who migrated to Malaysia around the 18th century.

Islam 61.3% Buddhism 19.8%

Christianity 9.2% Hinduism 6.3% Tribal/ Chinese religion 1.3% Unknown 1.0% No religion 0.7% Other religion 0.4% Page 18

LOCAL CHARACTER

Chow Kit is known as one of the infamous tourist attractions. The city offers diverse cultures, street food, open markets, and cinemas. Chow Kit was and still is known for entertainment hence why there are lots of cinemas in Chow Kit. This also makes a great place to visit with family or friends.

Although the Chow Kit market is well known to be a place full of laughter and fun it can sometimes get chaotic. The market is not to be visited by the light-hearted as they may experience loud noises and people shouting. Some enjoy the experience and some do not. The open market offers anything from food, vegetables, clothes, toys, and different types of meat.

However, as time has passed, Chow Kit losing its identity and is becoming a place not many like to visit. Homeless people and children scattered on the streets are ruining the reputation of Chow Kit. It makes the city appear poor and that is why many people are not visiting it anymore. Not only that, the red light district is tarnishing the name of Chow Kit and many residents are against sex workers hiding in ally ways as this is not what Chow Kit was known for. With COVID-19, there have been more homeless people and more sex workers on the streets of Chow Kit.

Bedford, S.B. (2018). Chow Kit

Bedford, S.B. (2018). Chow Kit outdoor market

Bedford, S.B. (2018). Chow Kit indoor market Bedford, S.B. (2018). Street signature

Bedford, S.B. (2018). Homeless kids in Chow Kit

Bedford, S.B. (2018). Redlight District

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE

Society

Kuala Lumpur’s economy is strong due to the migrants entering the country. The city has developed a multi-lingual and multi-ethnic culture. The city is full of Malays, Chinese, and Indians along with other ethnic groups. This helps the economy grow. In terms the society, urban planning has been prioritising the development of the public transit infrastructure, affordable housing as well as maintaining the pollution in the city (Lasca, 2020). This will most definitely help improve the society and economy of Malaysia.

Despite the challenges the Malaysian society and economy had to face because of COVID-19, they are still doing well. Kuala Lumpur has a very interesting skyline that is made up of old and new architecture. This is what makes Kuala Lumpur a unique and interesting place to visit.

Economy

There is no secret that Malaysia is the third-largest economy and their economy is growing rapidly. Since 2010 Malaysia has experienced 5.4% annual growth (Lasca, 2020). This has been helpful to the economy. The economy has a large manufacturing sector for electronics, tourism, finance as well as oil and gas, hence why Malaysia is known as the second-largest producer of palm oil in ASEAN in 2019 (Lasca, 2020).

The future aims of Malaysia are to improve the social policy, education, and other technologies that will help the country make progress.