I am a historian working in a space that is experiencing the harmonious synergy of development and cultural adaption, but at the same time caught in a historical narrative of racial dominance and place-making. Kuala Lumpur history is entwined with multiple, at times conflicting history-- a Malay heartland, a Chinese commercial centre and a British administrative legacy among many other things. My study in the neglected urban spaces in Kuala Lumpur, particularly Kampung Kerinchi begins from the curiosity into how race, and perceived threat to racial superiority affected the subalterns among the capital’s residence.
Kampung Kerinchi is one of the earliest Malay settlements in Kuala Lumpur and since its opening in the 1870s, has had a parallel experience of growth and modernization with the Malaysian capital. This was especially true after Merdeka, in which Malaya, and later Malaysia, expedited infrastructural and economic developments and encouraged the migration of people coming to work and live in Kuala Lumpur. Study of conflicting spaces in urban settings is key to understanding why and how developments can affect quality of life among residents. Kampung Kerinchi is located within the fast-growing and ever-changing development in the Klang Valley. Furthermore, this area has a strong ethno-cultural root founded by migrants from Sumatera from the 19th century. The historical and social context of the village gives urgency to a study that not only intends to understand its past, but unpack issues faced by its current residents amidst the altercations on their living spaces.