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EXPLORING THE CITY CENTRE: Uncover the hidden stories beneath and around our city
Special Fundraising Heritage Talk
Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia
Date: 15 August 2026
Time: 2.30pm
Location: Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee: RM20 per person
A private heritage sharing session organised for the tour guiding community. All proceeds will support the conservation of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman.
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register!
About The Talk
Discover a different side of Kuala Lumpur’s historic city centre with veteran journalist and author Lam Seng Fatt.
In this engaging talk, Lam will reveal several fascinating “hidden secrets” of the city, including the only surviving Colonial Shield in Kuala Lumpur and the little-known underground power station that once operated beneath the iconic clock tower at Old Market Square. Drawing from years of research and storytelling, he will uncover overlooked landmarks and forgotten stories that continue to shape the city’s rich heritage.
Whether you are a heritage enthusiast, history lover, or simply curious about Kuala Lumpur, this talk offers a unique opportunity to see the city from a fresh perspective.
About The Speaker
Lam Seng Fatt is a veteran journalist with decades of experience in Malaysia’s leading newspapers, including The Malay Mail, New Straits Times, and The Star. He currently writes part-time for The Edge. Lam is the author of four books, the latest being Secret Kuala Lumpur, published by Jonglez Publishing, which explores the city’s hidden history and lesser-known heritage.
BWM Talk Series: The Ocean Remembers by Dr. Nia Deliana
Join us for a talk by Dr. Nia Deliana as she uncovers the forgotten history of seafaring Indian merchants and settlers who helped shape the cultural and commercial landscape of the Indo-Malay Archipelago.
This lecture will explore a vibrant world of maritime connections, cultural exchange, and shared heritage—before colonial rule dismantled these networks and transformed a once-respected identity into a racial slur. Drawing on extensive archival research from across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Türkiye.
Location: Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Date: 15 August 2026
Time: 10.00 AM
Fee: RM20 (non-members) | Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register!
About The Speaker
Dr Deliana is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam International Indonesia, and author of The Ocean Remembers: Indians and the Tide of Empire (2026).
Notice of Conservation Works at Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman
A new chapter begins for Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman.
This month marks the start of essential conservation works on one of Kuala Lumpur’s finest examples of Malay vernacular architecture. The first phase focuses on the Rumah Tengah, identified as the area requiring the most immediate attention. The conservation work will officially begin next week and will be undertaken by our appointed contractor in collaboration with JWN-registered conservation architect Ar. Azim A. Aziz of ATSA Architects.
Every aspect of the conservation has been carefully planned to safeguard the house’s authenticity, exceptional craftsmanship, and cultural significance. Using traditional materials and time-honoured building techniques, the work will strengthen and conserve the structure while honouring its original design.
Conserving places like Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman is about more than preserving a building. It protects the stories, skills, and architectural traditions that shape Malaysia’s cultural identity, ensuring they continue to educate and inspire future generations.
Follow along as we share progress updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the conservation journey.
While this phase addresses the most urgent priorities, much more remains to be done. You can help secure the future of this remarkable heritage site by supporting our conservation efforts. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to preserving this irreplaceable landmark.
Scan the QR code or click HERE to donate.
BWM Talk Series: Revisiting the Guthrie Dawn Raid by Prof. Nicholas J. White
Malaya (as it was then known) at the time of its independence in 1957 was the world’s largest producer of tin and rubber. However, these industries were mostly foreign (i.e. British) owned. Unlike some developing countries, Malaysia did not seize or nationalise colonial assets by force. Instead, we did it in the most gentlemanly manner possible – we went to the London Stock Exchange to acquire these assets at full market prices!
The Guthrie Dawn Raid in 1981 remains a watershed in Malaysian corporate history. It paved the way for the localisation of and cessation of foreign control in plantation and trading companies which were previously established under colonial rule in Malaya such as Sime Darby, Boustead, Harrisons & Crossfields, Guthrie and many others.
Location: Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Date: 4 July 2026
Time: 2.30 PM
Fee: RM20 (non-members) | Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
About The Speaker
Prof Nicholas J. White of Liverpool John Moores University, UK will share fascinating insights from his extensive research and work on this topic. We look forward to seeing you at the talk!
Click HERE to register!
BWM Talk Series: MEDAN PASAR: The Old Market Square of Kuala Lumpur by Robert Powell
How much do we really know about the origins of Medan Pasar?
Join us for a fascinating journey into the history of Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur’s historic Old Market Square and once the home of Yap Ah Loy, the 3rd Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur. Based on his forthcoming book MEDAN PASAR: The Old Market Square of Kuala Lumpur, Robert Powell will explore the people, places, and events that shaped the heart of the city.
The talk will also highlight key moments in the history of Medan Pasar, from early leadership and settlement to architectural developments and ongoing conservation efforts. It reveals how its story reflects the wider history of Kuala Lumpur.
Location: Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Date: 27 June 2026
Time: 2.30 PM
Fee: RM20 (non-members) | Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
About the Speaker:
Robert Powell is an architect, city planner, artist, and writer with over 45 years of experience across Asia and beyond. He has authored and edited more than 40 books and has long been committed to conservation and environmentally responsive architecture. To learn more about his work, visit: www.robertpowell-architect.com.
Click HERE to register!
The Klang Wars by Khoo Salma Nasution
The Klang Wars (1866-1873) were non-communal wars based on multiracial allegiances and business joint ventures in the pursuit of profit.
Nevertheless, thousands of lives were lost in this war, the most consequential civil conflict in the Malay Peninsula in the nineteenth century, and one which changed the course of Malayan history and paved the way for formal British intervention in Malaya.
Do join us to rediscover this explosive chapter of history through the eyes of those who defended early Kuala Lumpur.
Admission is free, Click HERE to register. Limited seats left with limited walk-ins available. Please arrive early, entrance and seating is on a first come first served basis.
Venue: Badan Warisan Malaysia, 2, Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur (nearest MRT: Conlay)
Sutan Puasa and Abdullah Hukum by Abdur-Razzaq Lubis
Was Sutan Puasa the Founder of Kuala Lumpur? Abdur-Razzaq Lubis will make a case for it and enlighten us about Abdullah Hukum, another pioneer whose name is well known among KL dwellers by virtue of the train station bearing his name.
This talk will examine the intersecting lives of Sutan Puasa and Abdullah Hukum, two pivotal Sumatran migrants who shaped the socio-economic foundations of 19th-century Kuala Lumpur. It will provide a rare, indigenous perspective on the transition from a frontier mining outpost to a colonial capital, highlighting the vital role of Sumatran leadership and infrastructure in the birth of Kuala Lumpur. We look forward to seeing you at this fascinating talk!
Admission is free. Click HERE to register. Limited seats left with limited walk-ins available. Please arrive early, entrance and seating is on a first come first served basis.
Venue: Badan Warisan Malaysia, 2, Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur (nearest MRT: Conlay)
Asal Usul Orang Asli Kuala Lumpur oleh Shereen Ajani, Batin Ulang Sipang dan Mahat China
Tahukah anda bahawa antara penduduk terawal di Kuala Lumpur ialah masyarakat Orang Asli Temuan, yang telah lama mendiami kawasan sekitar Jalan Melaka, Bukit Nanas hingga ke kawasan yang kini dikenali sebagai KLCC?
Sertai sesi perkongsian ini untuk menelusuri sejarah awal Orang Asli di Kuala Lumpur melalui riwayat, memori dan kisah yang diwariskan turun-temurun oleh komuniti mereka sendiri. Para penceramah juga akan berkongsi tentang budaya, kesenian, aspirasi serta cabaran masyarakat Orang Asli dalam mempertahankan identiti dan warisan mereka di tengah-tengah arus pembangunan moden.
Sesi ini akan disampaikan dalam Bahasa Malaysia.
Kemasukan adalah percuma. Sila daftar kehadiran anda di SINI. Tempat adalah terhad dan hanya sebilangan kecil tempat disediakan untuk walk-in. Sila hadir awal kerana kemasukan dan tempat duduk adalah berdasarkan siapa cepat, dia dapat.
Tempat: Badan Warisan Malaysia, 2, Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur (MRT terdekat: Conlay)
The Legacy and Heritage of Loke Chow Kit by Ar. Junn Ng & Ar. Noor Fazlina Rosley
“Every building holds a story.
To understand Loke Hall,
one must understand the man who built it.
He is Loke Chow Kit”
Many Malaysians know of Chow Kit Road and the market of the same name in Kuala Lumpur but not many know of the man that these places were named after. In this talk, the vast history left behind by Loke Chow Kit will be discussed and explored by Ar. Junn Ng (the conservation architect who brought Loke Hall back to life) together with Ar. Noor Fazlina Rosley of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which played a pivotal role in the saving, conservation and continued relevance of Loke Hall, now known as Rumah Tangsi. Do join us to learn and listen to fascinating insights about Chow Kit and his lasting legacy.
Please note: a short mini tour of Rumah Tangsi will be conducted at the end of the talk.
Admission is free. Click HERE to register. Limited seats left with limited walk-ins available. Please arrive early, entrance and seating is on first come first served basis.
Venue: Rumah Tangsi, Mayor’s Courtyard, No. 11 Jalan Tangsi, 50480 Kuala Lumpur (nearest LRT: Masjid Jamek)
URGENT: HELP SAVE RUMAH PENGHULU ABU SEMAN
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Just RM200 could help us save Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman.
Preserve the past. Conserve for the future. Protect against a changing climate.
Dear Members and Friends,
When it rains, it pours… inside
Rumah Penghulu’s roof is no longer keeping the rain out and the building is now in a fragile state.
Badan Warisan Malaysia has already laid the ground work for this vital project and is now raising additional funds for the restoration.
Click HERE for more information and to donate.
Feel free to share this with others who might want to support – it would mean a lot to us. Thank you for helping keep our heritage alive.
*Tax receipt available upon request with the provision of details – Name, IC Number, Address, Phone Number and Email.
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