Universiti Malaya land is targeted

Universiti Malaya, or UM, is synonymous with Lembah Pantai. Ever since it first started in its current location back in 1959, the place has been a haven of peace, serenity, and tranquility for the tens of thousands of students who have walked through the campus, as well as a haven for the thousands of academics to engage in their scholarly pursuits. The peace and tranquility of the campus is further enhanced by a lake right in the middle of its grounds, as well as a jungle within an urban area where wildlives still have a chance to roam freely. Development in the campus has thus far been very carefully done without changing the original landscape and terrain much, and to me it is a model campus which other new universities should emulate.

Alas, precisely because the campus land is situated right between two upscale housing and commercial development (Bangsar and Section 16, PJ), a developer has decided to entice the authorities to consider surrendering the pristine campus in return for a bigger piece of undeveloped land at Sepang. Apparently, according to a Business Times report yesterday, GuocoLand Bhd - which is owned by tycoon Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan of Hong Leong fame - has made a bid to turn the hallowed campus grounds into an upscale residential and commercial development township with an estimated gross development value of RM10 billion.

I don't know what to make out of this. Government policies thus far have seem to be favouring commercial property development over education or heritage. When so many cities in the world are synonymous with their universities which have their campuses in the cities themselves, and with pride in a rich history, we seem to think that it is better for an institution of higher learning and research to make way for more immediate profits. Nevermind the rich history and heritage of our nation's first university. Nevermind its model for campus development that leaves the natural terrain and foliage intact. Nevermind the fact that the close proximity of the UM campus to KL and PJ allows its students and academics to be more fully involved in societal activities. Maybe by moving them to a remote area the government thinks it will then be able to better control and police the students and academicians since that is what they have always aspired to do.

I hope against all hope that this would not happen, and would not be allowed to happen. But seeing past precedents on how even buildings of historical significance were torn down without so much as a fuss, I may be day dreaming. Perhaps appealing to the hearts and emotions of the countless of UM graduates to stand together and make an appeal against such an eventuality is the only way. I will end this with Dr Syed Husin Ali's appeal on this:

"The UM has developed into an institution with a strong historical and academic tradition. It has served higher education well and contributed considerably towards the process of nation building. A large number of its graduates have been and are important political and administrative leaders of the country. Universiti Malaya and Lembah Pantai are one, the same and inseparable. There should be no attempt to separate them, especially if entirely for commercial purposes that will enrich only a handful few who are already extremely rich."

Update: Rocky has a take on this as well. If this turns out to be true, very likely nothing will be safe. The national monument, lake gardens, zoo negara (there was a plan to move the zoo to Batang Kali or Sepang), muzium negara, etc will be easily swapped as well.