Padang Chetty gets a new name officially

MPK says a panel will be installed to display the sociocultural aspects of Padang Chetty.

PADANG Chetty’s new name — Dataran Majlis Perbandaran Klang — is now on an archway of the refurbished 1.34ha site in Jalan Bukit Jawa, Little India.

Klang Municipal Council (MPK) president Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin said it had taken into consideration various voices raised against the renaming of the historical field.

“People’s views on the matter have been noted and MPK will instal a panel at the entrance to narrate the sociocultural aspects of the field in the past, with time markers, ” he explained.

He said the council was grateful to south Indians who had contributed to the development of the Little India business enclave and to national sportsmen who had made the field well-known.

“Little India is one of the elements in Klang’s heritage trail, ” Ahmad Fadzli added.

Klang MCA Youth chief Datuk BK Tan said he was sad that the name of Padang Chetty had not been retained.

“In the past, this matter had come up and Barisan Nasional had managed to ensure the name was retained, ” he said.

In 2009, Klang MCA and MIC divisions had lengthy discussions with MPK when the council renamed the field Laman Sari and managed to get it changed back.

In 2019, MPK once again proposed to change the name of the field to Taman Warisan but had backed down after public objections.

Klang MIC division deputy chairman NP Raman said the name change showed a disregard for the south Indian traders who had contributed to the development of the area.

“We oppose the name change as no consultation was done with stakeholders of Little India.

“Padang Chetty is a brand for Klang’s Little India, especially for tourism, ” he said.

Pandamaran assemblyman Tony Leong Tuck Chee had in April opposed the name change, saying the move would remove a big part of its identity, culture and heritage.