Little India in need of a spruce up
It is Visit Malaysia Year 2014, but there are still so much that is found lacking in the city here that needs the attention of the authorities.
Johor's Little India, in Jalan Ungku Puan, is listed as a "must-visit" place in the Johor Tourism Department's official website.
It is popular for its carnival-like atmosphere, local Indian food and sweetmeat, the latest Indian music, and fashion, and decorations in all colours imaginable.
There are also tailors and shops selling flower garlands and prayer paraphernalia.
An interesting building in Jalan Ungku Puan is the Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam temple, which is over a century old.
The temple was founded in 1911 by Kootha Perumal Vandayar, a supervisor in the rubber and coconut plantation in Pasir Pelangi.
The plantation belonged to the former Sultan of Johor Sultan, the late Sir Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar (Sept 17, 1873 to May 8, 1959).
Kootha Perumal approached the Sultan for a piece of land to build the Hindu temple, and the Sultan gave him an acre (0.4ha) of land and RM500.
In return, Kootha Perumal added "Raja" to the temple's name, in appreciation of the sultan's gift. The temple was originally known as the Mariamman Temple.
Today, the temple, and its surrounding attract locals, and foreign visitors from all parts of the world.
Its rich history, beautiful architecture and colourful culture, are often written about by its visitors on the Internet. However, its lack of facilities and cleanliness is casting a shadow over its beauty.
Lawyer Khalilah Abdul Rasip, 40, said during a visit recently, she found that the road strewn with rubbish, and the signboards vandalised. She said it was embarrassing to see that little was done by the authorities to clean up the mess.
To make matters worse, she said, the traders did not dispose of their rubbish properly, and the area smelt like a dirty drain when it rains.
"Stop the blame game, if the traders are at fault, then the enforcement officers from the municipal council should slap them with summonses, and if the council is providing below par services, then it should buck up," said Khalilah.
Trader Salman Hadhir Khan who sells traditional garments said the Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd, (SWM), the company awarded with the task to dispose of solid waste in the state, hired foreigners to sweep and clean the area.
"We often see these foreigners in bright green fluorescent uniforms with the SWM logo on their backs, but they hardly clean up the rubbish, normally, they just sit around," he claimed.
Johor Baru’s Little India has a carnival-like atmosphere and is a popular place to shop for locals and visitors alike.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
It is Visit Malaysia Year 2014, but there are still so much that is found lacking in the city here that needs the attention of the authorities.
Johor's Little India, in Jalan Ungku Puan, is listed as a "must-visit" place in the Johor Tourism Department's official website.
It is popular for its carnival-like atmosphere, local Indian food and sweetmeat, the latest Indian music, and fashion, and decorations in all colours imaginable.
There are also tailors and shops selling flower garlands and prayer paraphernalia.
An interesting building in Jalan Ungku Puan is the Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam temple, which is over a century old.
The temple was founded in 1911 by Kootha Perumal Vandayar, a supervisor in the rubber and coconut plantation in Pasir Pelangi.
The plantation belonged to the former Sultan of Johor Sultan, the late Sir Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar (Sept 17, 1873 to May 8, 1959).
Kootha Perumal approached the Sultan for a piece of land to build the Hindu temple, and the Sultan gave him an acre (0.4ha) of land and RM500.
In return, Kootha Perumal added "Raja" to the temple's name, in appreciation of the sultan's gift. The temple was originally known as the Mariamman Temple.
Today, the temple, and its surrounding attract locals, and foreign visitors from all parts of the world.
Its rich history, beautiful architecture and colourful culture, are often written about by its visitors on the Internet. However, its lack of facilities and cleanliness is casting a shadow over its beauty.
Lawyer Khalilah Abdul Rasip, 40, said during a visit recently, she found that the road strewn with rubbish, and the signboards vandalised. She said it was embarrassing to see that little was done by the authorities to clean up the mess.
To make matters worse, she said, the traders did not dispose of their rubbish properly, and the area smelt like a dirty drain when it rains.
"Stop the blame game, if the traders are at fault, then the enforcement officers from the municipal council should slap them with summonses, and if the council is providing below par services, then it should buck up," said Khalilah.
Trader Salman Hadhir Khan who sells traditional garments said the Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd, (SWM), the company awarded with the task to dispose of solid waste in the state, hired foreigners to sweep and clean the area.
"We often see these foreigners in bright green fluorescent uniforms with the SWM logo on their backs, but they hardly clean up the rubbish, normally, they just sit around," he claimed.
Johor Baru’s Little India has a carnival-like atmosphere and is a popular place to shop for locals and visitors alike.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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