BEYOND the rusted grille on a cobweb-filled window of an apartment building in Masjid India lies a million-ringgit view of Kuala Lumpur’s gleaming skyline – a stark contrast to the deteriorating conditions inside the flats. Once a symbol of prestige, the ageing Malayan Mansion and the neighbouring Selangor Mansion now bear the scars of neglect. Certain areas offer a view of the city’s achievements like the iconic Kuala Lumpur Tower.
However, inside the flats’ grounds, rubbish clutters walkways and air wells while staircase walls are stained with betel juice leaving unsightly reddish-brown streaks. Air-conditioner units hang precariously on the sides of the buildings and clothes are draped on makeshift lines to dry. The narrow walkways, lined with old shop signs and faded paint on the walls, reflect a building that has seen no modern upgrades in years.
The overall impression each building gives is one of dilapidation, with its infrastructure in urgent need of maintenance or renovation to bring it up to today’s standards. The flats are two eight-storey twin structures in the heart of the Masjid India enclave. Built in 1969, these once-iconic commercial and residential blocks now show their 55 years.
The initial land lease, from 1964 to 1994, was renewed from 1994 to 2024. It expired on Sept 30. Air well at Selangor Mansion littered with rubbish thrown by irresponsible tenants and residents on higher floors.
In addition, developer and property manager United Malayan Re.