Keeping the soul of Brickfields alive, one story at a time

When Reverend Balan Moses reminisces about the Brickfields of his youth, one of the first things that comes to mind is its once-vibrant hawker scene.

He still remembers the mouthwatering array of food on offer, from nasi lemak to vadai. One of his favourites was fragrant chee cheong fun, served in enamel cups by a friendly elderly man who sold his wares from a motorcycle.

As a youth, Moses also loved visiting the ais kacang stalls that mushroomed outside the now-defunct Lido Cinema on the former Jalan Brickfields, where he and other residents would gather to watch Tamil films.

“It wasn’t just food. You could buy everything from shirts and sarees to sand for your garden from the hawkers. There would be people selling sofas and furniture off a one-ton lorry,” Moses, a pastor and retired journalist, told FMT Lifestyle.

“Even as a teenager, I was captivated by the rustic character of Brickfields. I think it’s changed a lot over the years. But no matter the form it changes to, it’s always impressive.”

The 71-year-old has long been fascinated by the soul of Brickfields. He has written two books about the neighbourhood: the memoir “Brickfields: A Place, A Time, A Memory” (2007) and “Brickfields and Beyond: Stories from the Past” (2012), a collection of short stories inspired by its colourful inhabitants.

A third book, he hints, is also in the works.

His affection for the neighbourhood made him a natural choice for “Brickfields: A Place We Called Home”, a community heritage project by Project Future Malaysia (PFM). Comprising a book and two films, the project explores the people, places and everyday experiences that helped shape one of Kuala Lumpur’s most distinctive neighbourhoods.

The book, “Brickfields: A Place We Called Home”, brings together photographs contributed by current and former residents, alongside personal stories and recollections of life in the area.

It also features 10 short creative works by Malaysian writers Damina Khaira, Malachi Edwin Vethamani, Melizarani T Selva, Miriam Devaprasana, Mohan Ambikaipaker, Preeta Samarasan, Puvana Gnanasagaran, Sharmilla Ganesan, Sharmini Aphrodite and Sumitra Selvaraj, each rooted in or inspired by Brickfields.

The first film, “Brickfields: A Place We Called Home”, is a documentary directed and edited by Perassath and produced by Kevin Bathman. It offers an intimate look at the residents and communities that have both shaped Brickfields and been shaped by it over the years.

Among those interviewed are Brickfields residents Wong Yoon Loong, Vatsala Sivadas and Malar Gunaratnam, Tilak Leslie Jayawardena, siblings Kana, Kanchana and Malar Moothathamby, and Moses himself.

Kana Moothathamby, a retired IT director who lived in Brickfields with her family from the 1950s to the 1980s, contributed several photographs to the project, including one of a family wedding.

“To me, Brickfields has everything. It has such a vibrant food culture, and so many different kinds of people living together.

“I’m glad a project that celebrates its history like this exists, and I hope we can do this for other places too,” said Kana, who is in her 70s.

The second film, “The Origins and Future of Brickfields”, is a video essay directed and produced by Satpal Kaler. It traces the neighbourhood from its beginnings as an industrial brickmaking area in the 1880s to the multifaith community and commercial transit hub it is today.

Those involved in the project hope it will celebrate Brickfields’ distinctive character, preserve its history, and ensure that the stories of its communities are passed on to future generations.

Moses, for one, hopes Brickfields will never lose what makes it special: the sense of camaraderie that once flourished among its diverse residents.

Growing up in government quarters in the neighbourhood, he remembers knowing about 80 of the 100 families who lived there. These days, however, he barely sees his neighbours.

“I used to meet up with other children who would come from all over town, from Bangsar and Scott Garden and so on. And we’d play konda-kondi, or badminton and soccer by the road,” he recalled fondly.

“Brickfields is flourishing now, and it’s growing into quite a commercial hub. But I just hope that as the neighbourhood becomes more cosmopolitan, it doesn’t lose its soul.”

‘Brickfields: A Place We Called Home’ will officially be launched on Saturday, Oct 17 at Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields from 3pm to 5pm. Entrance is free, but registration is required here.

For more information, visit Project Future Malaysia’s Instagram profile.

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