In this episode of I Love KL, we explore the heartwarming journey of Little Giraffe Story House, a community library in Cheras, founded and designed by Lee Soon Yong. Originally a small book club housed in a shipping container, the library has now transformed into a vibrant space that offers over 3,000 books along with a café and event space, all aimed at fostering a love for reading among children. Soon Yong joins us today as he shares insights on the renovation process that involves the community, and the library's role in preserving local culture while adapting to the challenges of the digital age. Tune in now as we discover how this initiative is inspiring future generations in the community, and serving as a model for community-driven projects throughout Malaysia!

Photo Credit: Little Giraffe Story House 长颈鹿故事館 

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, the oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur, was established in 1864 by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy. This historic temple honours the deities Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, who have guided Yap during the civil wars back in the day. In this episode of I Love KL, we delve into the temple's evolution from being a place of worship for the Hakka Chinese community to a vibrant cultural heritage site and tourist attraction today. Tune in as we discuss how the temple remains a symbol of resilience and faith in Malaysia today, in line with Yap Ah Loy’s statement, “Kuala Lumpur will continue to thrive as long as the temple stands”.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Prominent theatre producer and the Chairman of Persatuan Angkatan Seni Lakon Interaksi, Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor (ASLI) Goh You Ping joins us as we delve into the history of modern Chinese theatre in Kuala Lumpur, exploring its evolution from a nearly non-existent scene in the 1990s to the vibrant community it is today. Goh shares his personal journey as one of the few students who dared to pursue theatre during its formative years, recounting the challenges he faced such as juggling a day job in television to support his passion for theatre at night. We discuss the early struggles of the theatre community, from limited venues to the lack of stage equipment, to the current challenges they face in the scene. From passing the baton to the younger generation and the future of performing arts in KL, join us to listen more about Goh You Ping’s inspiring journey.

Pameran Teater Cina will be running from October 10th to November 10th, 2024, at GMBB KL, an exhibition that showcases the history of modern Chinese theatre culture.

Photo Credit: Pingstage on Flickr

The Urban Redevelopment Act proposed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) aims to inject new life into the city, especially into the areas deemed dilapidated and worn down. While the intention is great on paper, it has received opposition from some quarters, especially among home owners. They’re against the proposal to lower the consent threshold for the redevelopment of old buildings, which is currently set at 100%. Professor Ainul Jaria Maidin joins us to unpack the conversations surrounding this act and its importance and impact to various stakeholders.

For more than 20 years, local studio Canvas Art has been restoring old photographs through digital techniques - fixing discoloration, damage and even editing people in and out of photos, such as the inclusion of a deceased loved one. Managing Director Faye Lim joins us on I Love KL today, sharing her journey in the field of photo restoration. Focusing on the intersection of art, technology and nostalgia, today’s episode highlights the meticulous process behind restoring images and the impact of artificial intelligence on her craft, as we explore how it affects her practice and the importance of preserving human touch.

Photo credit: Canvas Art Malaysia

In this episode of I Love KL, we recall the late Loke Yew’s contribution in developing KL, and the legacy that he left behind, including his rubber estate in Wangsa Maju, the Hawthornden Estate. He was buried in this estate, which was then acquired by the Ministry of Defence in the early 80s. The whole area then grew to become what we now know today as Wangsa Maju. Heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa walks us through the whole story.

Photo Credit: Publisher Zamilyn Sdn Bhd, F.M.S. Survey Department, 1929

Architects’ role in developing communities cannot be understated, and at Shift 2024, an international conference that gathers architects from around the world, this point will be reemphasised again. This two-day event will gather creative architects from different contexts and perspectives to unpack this year’s theme - Rebuilding Communities - a theme that’s more relevant than ever now, post-pandemic. Veronica Ng, Head of School of Architecture, Building & Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology at Taylor’s University joins us to share more.

Kembara Stories and Food Trail returns for the second year, after a successful outing last year. Project coordinators Kevin Bathman, David Tneh, and Swagata Roy, together with Bangladeshi storyteller Nadia join us on I Love KL to share the journey of bringing this walking tour to life, and the importance of sharing the stories of these migrant communities to the larger public. They also speak about the collaboration process with these communities, and the blindspots that we might have missed or overlooked when it comes to interacting with the migrant communities. Oh, there’s also a quick chat on food from these communities and their role in uniting us!

Photo Credit: FMT

The recent sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India has raised concerns about urban safety here in Kuala Lumpur - Dr. Lim Choun Sian, Chief Research officer at UKM joins us to share his insights on the situation, discussing our capital city’s topography along with its susceptibility to sinkholes. From the geological factors such as limestones potentially being the cause, to the complexity of our underground piping system and the preventive measures we can take as citizens to mitigate future risks, today’s episode not only addresses the concern regarding the Jalan Masjid India situation, but also the wider implications of KL’s urban planning and geological safety.

Photo Credit: The Star

Stadium Merdeka opened its doors to the public again recently, marking the stadium’s next chapter in its life serving the nation. In conjunction with Malaysia’s National Day, I Love KL goes back to the beginning to chart the stadium’s explosive beginning as that iconic location where the country marked and celebrated its independence, as well as the journey it went through afterwards, including hosting a plethora of sporting events, concerts and even grassroots-level activities. Heritage conservation expert Elizabeth Cardosa walks us through these moments, and shares the story of her involvement in the restoration of Stadium Merdeka in the mid 2000s.

Photo credit: BaniHasyim / Shutterstock.com

Filled with loads of tradition, Petaling Street has been regarded as a heritage site with its historical buildings, traditional trades and rich history. Taking note of the clash of modernisation and inhibitors maintaining their traditional practices, arts-and-culture initiative Project Future Malaysia (PFM) introduced its latest project - “Traditions in Transition”, a book and video series featuring the stories of these traders. Joined by project manager Kevin Bathman, local author Francis Nantha and the producer of its video series Daniel Lim, we’ll be exploring all aspects regarding this project, as it gears up for its launch this weekend.

Photo credit: Unsplash