Kuala Lumpur: culture, arts and identity around the capital city

The Merdeka 118 Tower, which opens this month, can be seen around the vicinity of Petaling Street displaying the contrast of modern and vintage architecture in the Kuala Lumpur city centre. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

I lean in to catch Jane Rai’s anecdote about Yap Ah Loy, Frank Swettenham and the stench of fish. Our small group is standing in front of The Pacific Express Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, once the site of Kapitan Yap’s old home.

KL Unscripted offers free weekend walks for those with a quizzing gaze to the past. As one of their volunteer guides, Rai connects her clients to KL’s many stories with an “unscripted” walk filled with delightful details, observations and love.