Selasa, 22 Jun 2010

Pudu Jail: Rebahnya Sebuah Penjara Tua

Pedestrians walk past the main entrance of the historical Pudu Jail  in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to  tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the  Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts.  During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold  Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
Pedestrians walk past the main entrance of the historical Pudu Jail in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
A boy looks at  the paintings on the 394-metre (431-yard) wall surrounding the  Victorian-era jail, that will be torn down to make way for road  expansion, in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial  plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development  in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage  enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the  jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and  executed there.
A visitor looks through the  abandoned prison cells of historical Pudu Jail in down town Kuala Lumpur  on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a  115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital  has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War  II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied  prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
A visitor looks through the abandoned prison cells of historical Pudu Jail in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
A visitor walks  in front of the half demolished abandoned prison cells of historical  Pudu Jail in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial  plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development  in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage  enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the  jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and  executed there.
A visitor walks in front of the half demolished abandoned prison cells of historical Pudu Jail in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
Passer-by walk next to wall of historic Pudu Prison in downtown  Kuala Lumpur, on Monday June 21, 2010. The 394-meter-long wall of Pudu  Prison fronting will be demolished after having served its purpose for  the past 100 years.
People take pictures of the wall  of Malaysia's Pudu Jail in Kuala Lumpur June 21, 2010. A part of the  surrounding wall of the 115-year-old Pudu Jail began its demolition late  Monday to make way for road widening and construction of an underpass.  The Victorian-era jail was built in 1895 and officially closed in 1996.
The 394-meter-long wall of Pudu  Prison which is being demolished in downtown Kuala Lumpur, on Monday  June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old  jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn  fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese  occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many  of whom were tortured and executed there.
People walk along the perimeter  of the wall of Malaysia's Pudu Jail in Kuala Lumpur June 21, 2010. A  part of the surrounding wall of the 115-year-old Pudu Jail began its  demolition late Monday to make way for road widening and construction of  an underpass. The Victorian-era jail was built in 1895 and officially  closed in 1996.
A worker uses an excavator to  tear down the wall of Malaysia's Pudu Jail in Kuala Lumpur June 21,  2010. A part of the 115-year-old Pudu Jail's surrounding wall began to  be demolished late Monday to make way for road widening and the  construction of an underpass. The Victorian-era prison was built in 1895  and was closed in 1996 before it was turned into a jail museum and was  shut in 2005.
A worker uses an excavator to tear down the wall of Malaysia’s Pudu Jail in Kuala Lumpur June 21, 2010. A part of the 115-year-old Pudu Jail’s surrounding wall began to be demolished late Monday to make way for road widening and the construction of an underpass. The Victorian-era prison was built in 1895 and was closed in 1996 before it was turned into a jail museum and was shut in 2005.
Workers demolish part of the 394-metre (431-yard) wall surrounding  the Victorian-era jail for road expansion in down town Kuala Lumpur on  June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old  jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn  fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese  occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many  of whom were tortured and executed there.
Workers demolish part of the 394-metre (431-yard) wall surrounding the Victorian-era jail for road expansion in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
A worker tries to keep photographers away  the from the debris while demolishing part of the 394-metre (431-yard)  wall surrounding the Victorian-era jail for road expansion in down town  Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of  a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital  has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War  II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied  prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
A boy takes away bricks from the  debris of part of the demolished 394-metre (431-yard) wall surrounding  the Victorian-era jail in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A  controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for  commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce  criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese  occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of  whom were tortured and executed there.
A boy takes away bricks from the debris of part of the demolished 394-metre (431-yard) wall surrounding the Victorian-era jail in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
Malaysian stand  on a demolished wall of Pudu Prison in downtown Kuala Lumpur, on Monday  June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old  jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn  fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese  occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many  of whom were tortured and executed there.
Malaysian stand on a demolished wall of Pudu Prison in downtown Kuala Lumpur, on Monday June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.
A worker tries to  keep photographers away the from the debris while demolishing part of  the 394-metre (431-yard) wall surrounding the Victorian-era jail for  road expansion in down town Kuala Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A  controversial plan to tear down part of a 115-year-old jail for  commercial development in the Malaysian capital has drawn fierce  criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War II Japanese  occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied prisoners-of-war, many of  whom were tortured and executed there.
Workers wait to clear visitors  and media while demolishing part of the 394-metre (431-yard) wall  surrounding the Victorian-era jail for road expansion in down town Kuala  Lumpur on June 21, 2010. A controversial plan to tear down part of a  115-year-old jail for commercial development in the Malaysian capital  has drawn fierce criticism from heritage enthusiasts. During World War  II Japanese occupation forces used the jail to hold Allied  prisoners-of-war, many of whom were tortured and executed there.


Rebahnya Sebuah Penjara Tua

MALAM tanggal 21 Jun 2010 menyaksikan satu-persatu serpihan batu-bata dari tembok Penjara Pudu sepanjang 394 meter berusia 100 tahun itu rebah, lalu menyembah bumi.

Saat dinding merekah, disusuli adegan jentolak ‘menggigit’ tembok batu yang sebenarnya masih kukuh itu sehingga pecah, hampir 1,000 warga kota secara bersilih-ganti sudi meluangkan masa mereka melawat penjara tua itu bagi menyaksikan detik penuh bersejarah lagi dramatis itu.

Rata-rata yang berkunjung ke situ mahu melihat detik-detik tembok penjara itu ditumbangkan walaupun Penjara Pudu selama ini dilihat dengan pandangan kosong, bagai tidak memberi makna apa.

Malah ada juga yang menganggapnya sebagai tinggalan sejarah yang ‘menyemak’, mencemar keindahan kota dan cuma mampu menyumbang kepada kesesakan lalu lintas.

Seawal pukul 8 malam, kelihatan orang ramai mula berkumpul di sekitar Penjara Pudu, terutama di gerbang utamanya.

Bagai menjadi perkara wajib, setiap seorang yang berada di situ sama ada secara sengaja atau tidak sengaja, pasti akan mengeluarkan sekurang-kurangnya telefon bimbit mereka untuk merakamkan gambar mereka di Penjara Pudu yang akan lenyap dari pandangan tidak lama lagi.

Pendek kata, Penjara Pudu yang selama ini sepi dan terpinggir, sekelip mata mempunyai ribuan peminat. Tidak keterlaluan juga dikatakan malam robohnya Penjara Pudu umpama pesta bagi sesetengah warga kota.

Tepat pukul 10 malam, dua jentolak yang dibawa khas oleh kontraktor yang telah dilantik oleh Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) dengan gagahnya telah memecahkan tembok yang terbina daripada susunan batu-bata dan simen yang dibawa masuk dari negara Britain pada tahun 1891 dulu.

Ada yang bersorak ‘hooray’, tak kurang juga yang diam seribu bahasa, pilu melihat penjara yang tidak bersalah itu dirobohkan.

Ternyata, memang mudah untuk menumbangkan tembok penjara yang teguh itu. Dalam masa lebih kurang satu jam, hampir 30 peratus tembok usang itu tiba-tiba menjadi serpihan batu-batu halus.

Jika ‘harimau mati meninggalkan belang’, ‘manusia mati meninggalkan nama’, Penjara Pudu yang berkeluasan 10 hektar dan dibiarkan sepi selama 14 tahun dulu meninggalkan apa pula untuk kita?

Kita mungkin boleh berbangga dengan rekod mural terpanjang di dunia yang diabadikan di sepanjang tembok bekas tempat himpunan segala macam penjenayah itu, namun amat tidak wajar jika penjara yang terletak di tengah kota Kuala Lumpur terus dibiar bersemadi di situ tanpa dipelihara.

Zaman yang berubah, pembangunan pesat serta tuntutan masyarakat yang berterusan mendambakan kesenangan dan keselesaan pabila mereka berada di tengah-tengah kota, khususnya semasa meluncuri jalan raya membuktikan ada juga relevannya tindakan menumbangkan penjara yang menyimpan 1001 kisah dan sejarah ini.

Bagi pencinta seni dan warisan misalnya, tindakan merobohkan penjara ini mungkin dilihat tidak wajar sama sekali.

Hj Piroz Ahmad, 60, ketika ditemui menyatakan kesedihannya bila mana dia melihat jentolak membaham tembok Penjara Pudu tanpa rasa belas kasihan.

Dia yang juga pengusaha pasar mini sanggup menutup kedainya lebih awal dan menaiki LRT semata-mata mahu menyaksikan detik bersejarah ini.

“Saya sedih, tapi saya tiada kuasa untuk menghalang. Bagi saya, kita perlu berbangga dengan tinggalan sejarah yang ada di negara kita,” katanya.

Menurut Hj Piroz, kerana terlalu cintakan seni, dia sudah pun bergambar di hadapan Penjara Pudu 12 tahun lalu. Ketika itu kerajaan cuma berura-ura untuk merobohkannya.

Sebagai kenang-kenangan, dia telah mengambil dan membawa pulang serpihan mural dan bata yang pecah.

Hj Piroz Ahmad, 60, membawa pulang serpihan batu-bata tembok Penjara Pudu yang dirobohkan sebagai kenang-kenangan.

“Saya ambil ini tak bermaksud apa-apa. Saya cuma mahu simpan dan tunjukkan kepada anak-cucu saya bahawa inilah serpihan batu daripada tembok Penjara Pudu yang satu masa dulu gah di negara kita,” katanya.

Penjara Pudu kini tinggal memori. Segala apa yang tinggal hanyalah baktinya. Bakti apabila tempat ini pernah menerima dan mengizinkan beribu-ribu penjenayah menghuni di dalamnya.

~Mstar

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