By Vimal Palasekaran
If you don’t know your Klang Valley history well, you probably could never have guessed that the Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) neighbourhood you know today, was previously a rubber plantation.
Bukit Kiara, where TTDI is now located, was privately-owned by Semantan Estate before being acquired by the government with the intention of developing the National Botanical Gardens there.
However, that plan fell through, with portions of the land sold to developers over time.
Development plans for the 286-hectare land on the western fringe of Kuala Lumpur took off in 1973, when two experienced industry players teamed-up to form UDA-Seapark Sdn Bhd, a joint venture company between the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Sea Housing Corp Sdn Bhd.
Although the area was considered rural back then and located too far away from the city centre, the developers saw the potential in developing the area as a blend of residential, commercial, cultural, institutional and entertainment spots.
According to sociologist Johan Fischer, the residential areas of TTDI were intended as a social statement of modern Malaysia, a distinct suburban design which reflected the “national Malaysian family”.
This was evident in the former website of the TTDI Residents’ Association, which said, “If Malaysians of various races are brought together in pleasant communities, with plenty of opportunities for neighbourly interaction, they will come to be more aware of the things they have in common and less conscious of the aspects in which they differ.
“If their children grow up together, and mix freely in schools and on the playing fields, they will think of themselves and of each other as Malaysians rather than Malays, Chinese or Indians.”
Unfortunately, this page has since been removed.
Fast-forward to more than 40 years, and residents are indeed living in unity as they were envisioned to be all those years ago.
The neighbourhood is named after popular statesman Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, the country’s second deputy prime minister in 1970. Unfortunately, he passed away three years later from a heart attack while in office.
Not limited to just the name of the development, the streets in this neighbourhood are also named after other inspiring leaders – Aminuddin Baki, Datuk Sulaiman, Zaaba, Athinahapan, Leong Yew Koh and Tun Fuad Stephens, who have marked great achievements in various fields, including language, education and politics.
Although regarded as an affluent neighbourhood, TTDI is now the go-to spot for outsiders looking for authentic experiences.
The recent years has witnessed the mushrooming of several super trendy restaurants and other spots to hang-out, attracting a younger crowd who like to be seen in the area, although they don’t actually live there.
High-rises have also begun showing up in the area, one of the latest being Menara Ken TTDI, by Ken Holdings Bhd.
The emergence of TTDI as a hotspot was further heightened by the construction of the TTDI MRT Station, linking commuters from all around Klang Valley to the neighbourhood.
Even though the gentrification of TTDI allows for businesses to boom in the area, it has unfortunately resulted in traffic congestion and regrettably the disappearance of the residents’ many favourite kopitiams and convenience stores.
Future development projects also threaten TTDI’s Taman Lembah Kiara, which is home to various flora and fauna, including two different species of hornbills.
Nevertheless, TTDI continues to be the vanguard of the old and new, with historical buildings such as the Pasar Besar Taman Tun Dr Ismail still serving patrons many years down the road while “pisang goreng” street vendors co-exist with luxurious fine-dining establishments.
This article first appeared in uppre.com