Pudu jail ~ Why can't they preserve it?

Pudu jail

Assalamualaikum,

Pudu Jail. 

Gradually another of our criminal justice system's icon embedded right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur will be obliterated leaving just a small facade for the coming generations to ponder what this peculiar structure is all about.These future generations might not  know the background  to this structure unless of course, the structure itself can,like in a cartoon movie,  give a run down of it's own existence.

Whatever the situation Pudu Jail will always remain notched in the minds of every senior residents of Kuala Lumpur including me, once a 'man in blue ' serving in Kuala Lumpur . Sadly this piece of relic has been earmarked for the development and a commercial complex will take it's place despite the glut of shopping complexes in Kuala Lumpur. Can it be that some sinister  hands were at work to see their scheme become a reality?

Among the lame reasons cited for the extermination of this famous icon was that this penal institution's location itself is no longger inappropriate as it stood right in the heart of the city.Unlike in most countries, prisons are located right in the heart of town and they still stands till this very day. In fact Pudu Jail should have been left right where it is standing  to serve as a grim reminder  for potential crooks to be aware that Pudu Jail can be their home.

Another hilarious reason cited was that this jail was no longer safe. They must just be joking, a structure like Pudu Jail that stood prominently from 1895 till this very day,without any serious incidents was said to be unsafe? Funny, a stadium hardly 2 years old came tumbling down and for that matter how safe are most of our present buildings in the country?  Pudu can be proud of it's record and I bet there were no record of escape from legal custody reported connected with Pudu.

Apart from a sensational  incident that happened  in Pudu Jail where a lady Malay Magistrate on judicial duty inside was taken hostage by some prisoners no other serious drama took place herel apart from probably minor and normal incidents common in all prisons. Nevertheless as expected, the hostage drama in Pudu Jail had a happy ending. All praises went to the Special Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police for a job well executed.

The "Death Row", where inmates awaited execution formed an integral part of this jail with gloomy clouds hanging above this place.This was understandable as most inmates here have lost all recourse and waiting for the day of reckoning. The first foreigners hanged here were Australian nationals Kevin and Barlow convicted for drug trafficking that still carries the mandatory death sentence in Malaysia.Many on drug charges were hanged in Pudu Jail and this routine was carried on until Pudu Jail ceased to function when the new Sg Buloh prison started operation.It was not known how many inmates have kept their dates with the hangman since the existence of this jail Female inmates were segregated from the male and do not get any special treatment.

The Death Row too has it's eerie stories to tell. In one of the cells in Death Row it was said that a beautiful painting of a lady drawn by an  inmate  was said to  shift it's location on the wall of the cell at night. How true this is,is not known but strange stories do go around. Death row was a gloomy and lifeless section of the jail.  Apparently Fridays were designated as hanging days for death row inmates. On this day inmates scheduled to hang will be taken to take the stand on the gallows and after a brief ritual, according to the inmate's belief,in a flash  he or she will be on the way to the next world.

Hanging usually takes place early in the morning.The clanking of the heavy steel cell doors opening and the sound of pounding foot steps  will suddenly be punctuated by eerie howls and cries from the inmate scheduled to answer the date with the hang man. It must have been hard for the hangman, but someone has to do this job. The Directors of Pudu Jail probably have good, bad and ugly experiences to tell about this jail.

Canning was also a routine in Pudu just like in other prisons. This sentence by the courts was carried out by trained warders. Usually the prisoners wil be informed of this court order. This will be executed in one go as ordered by the court and not in installments as most people thought. Prisoners facing canning too will have sleepless night before facing the man with the rotan.

Canning  is a skill arranging all strokes of the 'rotan' arranged neatly in three rows. The first strike sometime drew blood. To some with thicker buttock probably this happened after a couple of strokes. One thing for sure going to the toilet and sleeping on one's back will be a painful experience for some time.Prisoners were often helped to their cells after this session and the 'addidas stripes' will be permanently visible on the prisoner's butt

 Pudu Jail was listed into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest mural declared In 1984. A talented inmate, Khong Yen Chong painted the mural of a local  scene along the walls of Pudu.Apparently unable to finish the job he came back after his release and volunteered to finish the task. It probably broke lots of hearts including Mr Khong to see his mural disappear but Mr Khong need not worry as there are people who knows and appreciated his talent and contribution. His family can be proud of him as this achievement will remain recorded in the book of records.

Standing in front of the main entrance of this jail it makes us wonder what hidden secrets this institution held and who were the individuals that have been 'guests' of this famous prison over the years? I bet there certainly exists reliable records somewhere to answer this question?

Oh yes! Like it or not a modern shopping complex will next step in place  to greet us all soon. Pudu Jail should be maintained as a heritage relic but sadly it is not the case and will soon be gone forever. Contrary to countries in Europe structures like this will be preserved. Pudu unfortunately was not listed and  gazetted as a Heritage building under the Heritage Act. So they passed the "death sentence" under dubious circunstances.But how stupid can this be when a building like Pudu Jail could just have been automatically listed as a Heritage building  as everyone knows it's age.Even a smart 5 years old can tell you this.

After the closure of Pudu Jail, it was briefly used as a police lockup but was later discontinued apparently due to 'economic reasons' and factor of safety. It would have been a wise move if this icon prison was used as a central lockup for Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent as the police was then facing a acute shortage of detention cells involving remand prisoners.

Due to this acute shortage,  the Home Ministry even suggested  a plan  to acquire abandoned buildings transforming them into lockups. This move  sounded ridiculous and absolutely absurd.A structure like the great Pudu Jail that stood the test of time over the years, should have been upgraded with state of the art systems and facilities and fully utilised as a central police  lockup.

Pudu Jail was beyond doubt  a more secure alternative compared to the normal  police lockups.This can be proven by the various escape from legal custody cases reported from police lockups over the years. Also appropriate. a Criminal Court should be constructed on the open ground  adjacent to Pudu Jail with a tunnel constructed from the jail leading to the Criminal Court next door. Prisoners scheduled for proceedings can be escorted from the jail to the court proceedings without any traffic jam and risks faced by the "Black Maria". Riding in the "Black Maria" was like being in a mobile sauna. Building a shopping complex is definately not a wise move as many malls are within walking distance in this Golden Triangle and can this proposed mall attract the expected patronage? The proximity of the LRT station is also convenient for relatives of inmates coming for visits. 

For those who were connected with the Prisons Department it's sad to see Johore Bharu and Kuching prisons meeting the same fate as Pudu. A guessing game on the fate goes on involving other old prisons in Malaysia. We have to sometimes appreciate legacies left by our colonial masters and to remember history of monuments like these. For now the curtains came down on Pudu Jail or Penjara Pudu.In a matter of time the same fate will probably befall old prisons in Penang, Alor Star, Malacca, Sabah and the other states.The same unacceptable excuse of 'not gazetted as Heritage monument' will be cited to legalise the demise of other monuments of historical significance.

Oh mighty Pudu Jail! You are now awaiting in silence for the day when it will be your turn for a date with destiny when the swing of the demolition ball will strike deep into your heart and send you into the criminal justice system's annals.The generations to come will also not realise that you, once upon a time, stood majestically at this junction of Jalan Pudu and Jalan Hang Tuah. You served as a grim reminder to all irrespecitive of their status.

Well to Pudu Jail, after all these long years I salute  and bid you " Adious! "