Saravanan recounts the 16-year history behind Brickfields’ transformation into Little India

KUALA LUMPUR: Reflecting on sixteen years of transformation, former Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan recounted the inception and historical journey of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Brickfields ‘Little India’ precinct during a special anniversary celebration held yesterday, Tuesday, October 27.

Today, Brickfields is a bustling commercial centre, lined with modern high-rises, thriving retail hubs, and high-density residential complexes that attract local visitors and international tourists alike. However, at the 16th anniversary celebration of Little India, an event marked by cultural performances, community feasts, and festive fireworks ahead of Deepavali, Saravanan, former Human Resources Minister, highlighted the vision and persistence that brought the cultural enclave to life.

Recalling the turning point after the 2008 General Election, Saravanan, elected Member of Parliament for Tapah and appointed Deputy Federal Territories Minister, shared how he invited then-Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak to tour Brickfields.

During that inaugural visit, Najib walked through the commercial rows and stopped for tea at the Korttumalai Pillaiyar restaurant. People still remember the spot where he sat as “Najib’s Corner.”

Saravanan noted that during the walkabout, he highlighted Brickfields’ historical significance to Najib and proposed that, just as Chinatown serves as a cultural benchmark for the Chinese community, establishing a formal ‘Little India’ in Brickfields would give the Indian community national recognition and honour their historical contributions to Malaysia.

Taking the vision to heart, Najib contacted Saravanan on the very morning he assumed office as Prime Minister the following year. He declared his commitment to transforming Brickfields into Little India and instructed ministry officials to entrust Saravanan with leading the initiative’s planning, design, and execution.

The timeline accelerated sharply following Prime Minister Najib’s state visit to New Delhi. Upon returning to Kuala Lumpur, Najib summoned Saravanan to the Prime Minister’s Office with an urgent directive: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was scheduled to visit Malaysia in two months, and Najib intended to jointly inaugurate Little India alongside him.

“For the next two months, we worked tirelessly around the clock, practically living in Brickfields to ensure the project was completed on schedule,” Saravanan recalled. “At the time, people jokingly asked if I had bought a home in Brickfields because of how much time I spent on site overseeing every detail.”

Several Indian online and print media outlets also highlighted the creation of Little India in Brickfields and its 16th-year celebration. Indian media also extensively reported Saravanan’s tireless efforts as Deputy Minister of Federal Territories in bringing the project to life, with the help and support of then Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Saravanan urges the government to help the Indian traders

Before launching 16th anniversary celebrations with a cultural show and dinner for the public, Saravanan also conducted a walk-around of Little India, mingling with the petty traders, shop owners and Deepavali shopping crowd.

Later, in his speech, Saravanan expressed deep satisfaction with how Brickfields has evolved into a vibrant economic landmark. Saravanan also urged the government to continue supporting local vendors, particularly micro-traders, during peak festive seasons like Deepavali. He noted that traders assigned to peripheral stalls often face financial hardship due to lower foot traffic and advocated for allocating them trading spaces within the central commercial zone.

“Traders interact with the public daily and serve as a vital bridge between the leadership and the community,” Saravanan emphasised, calling on authorities to ensure the long-term economic well-being of local shopkeepers.