Name a main road in KL after Yap Ah Loy, says descendant

Glenn Yap said the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple (pic) near Central Market
was founded by his great-great grandfather Yap Ah Loy and should also be gazetted as a heritage site

KUALA LUMPUR - Yap Ah Loy’s great-great grandson urged the government to name a main road in Kuala Lumpur after the founding father of modern Kuala Lumpur.

Sunday Star reported Glenn Yap, a unit trust agent now in his 40s, as saying that the third Kapitan Cina of Kuala Lumpur had contributed enormously to the development of the capital city.

“It is my sincere hope that all Malaysians will recognise that this man helped build Kuala Lumpur, setting up fundamental public amenities and sowing the seeds for the city to grow to what it is in the present day,” he was quoted as saying by the English daily today.

“The Sin Sze Si Ya Temple near Central Market was founded by him and should also be gazetted as a heritage site,” Glenn added.

Yap, the third Kapitan Cina of Kuala Lumpur in the late 19th century born in 1837, was largely credited for his efforts in rebuilding the city after it was battered by the Selangor civil war and a string of natural disasters.

The Kapitan is elected by the Chinese business community and appointed by the British colonial rulers on behalf of the Malay Sultans and Rajahs in the 19th century.

Glenn said that Malaysians can still learn from Yap 132 years since his death in 1885.

“His qualities as a skilled mediator and hardworking man can be emulated by all Malaysians.”

Yap Ah Loy

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Loga Bala Mohan conceded that Jalan Yap Ah Loy, presently situated near Petaling Street, was a small road compared to other roads in the capital.

“But perhaps in those days, it was one of the main streets,” Loga Bala was quoted saying.

However, he said that the government welcomes proposals from any parties on the matter.

“We can consider such a suggestion. I urge those who have suggested this to write in to the ministry and we can see how things can be worked out.

“For all intent and purposes, we wouldn’t want important historical figures to be left out of history.”