Although the Pudu Prison is more than 100 years old, it would not be turned into a heritage site, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin.
"Firstly, it's because the government's view is that the Pudu Prison is not something to be proud of and secondly, it is not suitable to be turned into a heritage site despite its age," he said when replying to a supplementary question from Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang), who wanted to know whether the ministry planned to build a museum at the Pudu Prison site, at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday.
Awang Adek said a historical museum would not be built at the prison site and the government would proceed with the development that had been decided.
The Pudu Prison, formerly known as Pudu Gaol located in Jalan Hang Tuah, was first built in stages in 1891 on a 10-hectare site and was completed in 1895.
The Pudu Prison wall stretching about 300 metres will be demolished at 10pm tonight to enable widening of the road and the Jalan Pudu underground passage construction beginning June 20 until 23.
The Pudu Prison was officially closed in 1996 when construction of the new prison in Sungai Buloh was completed.
Replying to Fong's original question on the details of the development by UDA Holdings Berhad (UDA) on the site of the former prison and how the commercial lots were to be distributed, Awang Adek said the development was divided into six plots where construction works would be carried out in stages within a 10-year period.
UDA will build a mixed development project which will accommodate a transit centre, service apartments, offices, recreation centres, a hotel and business space.
Source : Bernama
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