QUICK FACTS ABOUT CENTRAL MARKET
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Coordinates: 3°8'44"N 101°41'43"E
The Central Market is one of the most visited place in Kuala Lumpur for its originality and creativity in promoting Malaysian arts, crafts and cultural heritages to locals and foreign tourists. They have won several prestigious tourist awards in the past few years.
We recommended it as a must-visit place for everyone.
HISTORY OF CENTRAL MARKET
The history of Central Market goes back to 1888 where the location it now stands was used as an open wet market. Later when the open market continued to expand, a permanent structure was built to house all vendors. By the 1930s, the permanent structure was further improvised to have the current facade which we can see today and hence on opened its doors to Kuala Lumpur’s growing population as a wet market.
Towards the end of the 1970s, the Malaysian Heritage Society decided to preserve the building under its heritage program and through an allocation of RM9 million granted by the Federal Government, the building underwent another facelift to renovate the building from a wet market to a Centre for Malaysian Culture, Arts and Handicrafts. Ever since then the facade remained unaltered to retain the charm of the yesteryear.
On the 15th April 1986, Melewar Leisure Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Kumpulan Melewar Berhad took over the ownership of the building and used it to promote the Malaysian Culture through the sales of Malaysian Arts and Handicraft products.
The Old Market was initially built by Yap Ah Loy. The British government eventually took over the market and extended it to 250 feet long and 90 feet wide. At the same time, the floor was laid with concrete tiles, the walls were clad with timber and the roof covered with zinc sheets.
Map of Kuala Lumpur during the Yap Ah Loy era around the 1880s.
Map of Kuala Lumpur drawn by Draftsman W.T.Wood, from the Land Office, Kuala Lumpur (1885-1895) and endorsed by the British Government.
The Map shows the location of the Central Market which is actually south of the old market.
In 1936, Kuala Lumpur Sanitary Board invented Tenders for the construction of the Central Market. Messrs T.Y Lee was appointed the Architect and Designer whilst Mr. R.H Steed was the Town Engineer. 21 contractors bid for the project which was eventually awarded to contractor Brizary & Co. from Singapore for a contract sum of $249,000.00.
However, the original cost escalated to $330,000.00 in view of the additional deco works which eventually saw the size of Central Market measuring 123.7 meters long, 60.8 meters wide and 7.9 meters high, all cladded with “Calorex” glass to minimize the entry of too much sunlight.
The Central Market was able to house 3 cold rooms to keep frozen meat, 170 vegetables and fruit stalls, 158 fish stalls, 36 beef stalls, 27 pork stalls and 20 poultry stalls.
In the 1970s, there were plans to demolish the Central Market as well as the shops surrounding the market. Fortunately the Malaysia Heritage Society petitioned against the demolition of the Central market so as the preserve history and the building was then classified as a Heritage building.
A proper development company, Bumi Harta Sdn. Bhd. Appointed architect William Lim Associates and Chen Voon Fee to receive and redesign the Central Market wet market into Centre for Arts and Culture. Melawar Leisure Sdn. Bhd. was given the management of Central Market which was officially opened on the 15th April 1986.
The Central Market was set to become a Central promoting Malaysian Arts and Handicrafts products reflecting the Malaysian Culture and show case events of Cultural and Heritage values to attract both foreign tourists and local visitors. In the year 2004, the management to Central Market changed hands and a new organization proceeded to upgrade the premises adding more features to expound the Malaysian Culture.
Since the 15th April 2004 the Central Market was taken over by a new organization called Central Market Sdn. Bhd. headed by My Bernard Bong Yam Keng.
Central Market Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as Prestige Debut Sdn. Bhd.) was incorporated on the 24th February 2004 with the aim to manage and operate Central Market to be recognized as a culture centre for Malaysian Arts, Handicrafts, Batik and to promote the Malaysian Culture and Heritage.
The management Team’s aim is to manage and bring Central Market to be a World Class Tourist Destination through operational Management Excellence Programmes.
In conjunction with the visit Malaysia Year 2007, the Central Market will undergo 2 phases of upgrading to enhance its role in the promotion of cultures, Arts and Handicrafts and Malaysia Batik.
Engage with Central Market
Discover a truly enriching and fulfilling Malaysian cultural experience at Central Market.
| map: http://bit.ly/Rn8Ses Central Market Sdn Bhd (643213-W) Address: Lot 3.04-3.06, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 50050 Kuala Lumpur. Central Market Operating Hours: 10am - 10pm Kasturi Walk Operating Hours: 10.30am - 10.30pm Telephone: 03 - 2031 0399/5399/7399 Facsimile: (6) 03-2032 2399 Email: info@centralmarket.com.m Parking rate (start from July 2011) 1st hour - RM3.00 *Subsequent hour remain unchanged. Flat Rate - RM 4.00 5pm - 7am source: http://centralmarket.com.my/ | |
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