Most Malaysians don’t give two thoughts about it. But if you really think about it, Malaysians and mall culture are inseparable. Just look at the sheer number of malls littered throughout the Klang Valley. You can’t throw a stone without it bouncing off the wall of yet another mall. With all these malls popping up every other month, have you ever wondered what is the first ever mall to be built in Malaysia? The answer to that question is Ampang Park.
What is Ampang Park?
Image Credit: Wiki Farazi on Wikipedia (Left), Malaysian Shopping Mall on Facebook (Right)
Where is Ampang Park? Aside from Ampang, of course. But if you are asking where it is now, the sad answer is that the historic shopping mall no longer stands. Demolished in 2018, the former site of the mall is now occupied by a recreational park connected to the Ampang Park LRT Station. It is quite the tragic fate for a mall which wowed Malaysians when it first opened its doors in 1973. While it may be gone now, the former landmark is still worth reminiscing about. Perhaps your parents met here during their youthful days?
A brief background
Image Credit: BFM Radio on Facebook (Left), SIAR on Facebook (Right)
The Ampang Park Shopping Centre began life as the brainchild of the late Dato Sri Low Keng Huat, founder of a construction engineering company which still exists today. He and his brothers had been involved in developing the People’s Park Complex in Singapore. After their success there, they were inspired to repeat the feat in Malaysia. So, for a total of RM15 million, they built Ampang Park at the junction of Jalan Ampang and Jalan Pekeliling. In 1973, the mall finally opened to the public to much celebration.
Wonder of its time
Image Credit: @sabrina_saradi on Instagram (Left), MalaysiaMall.com (Right)
Unlike the traditional marketplaces of the past, Ampang Park was designed to be as modern as possible. Instead of having shops facing toward the streets, the mall’s shops were built facing inwards, towards an atrium. There were also plans to make the place fully air-conditioned, but natural ventilation was found to cool the building sufficiently.
For a building of its time, it was of an impressive size. It had a parking capacity of 450, a children’s playground, an entertainment deck, an exhibition gallery and a theatre. You can only imagine how, in a world without social media, this place would end up being the hangout spot of bored Malaysians. Many Malaysians must have been awed when they walked through the doors or rode the escalator for the first time. The floors seemed endless, with rows of stores featuring local and international brands. Tailors and boutiques, in particular, had good business in Ampang Park. Perhaps your mother bought her first pair of jeans here, or your father his first tailored business suit?
Malaysians’ memories
Before Ampang Park’s closure, NST interviewed several of the shopowners as well as former shoppers. Mah Su Ping, the owner of a business which had been passed down for three generations, described his fellow tenants as his family. “For us, our customers and other owners have become our family as we have known each other for a long time.” Azean Hasan told the paper that she was just 11 when she visited the mall with her family in 1973. “We came from Perak and visiting a shopping centre like Ampang Park was a huge event.” She recalled how the escalator was a novelty to her back then and how they would go on loops with the escalator while her mother went shopping.
A sad fate
Image Credit: Utusan (Left), Malaysia Shopping Mall on Facebook (Right)
When news emerged in 2017 that Ampang Park was slated for closure and demolition, many people tried to save the mall. Unfortunately, there was no stopping development. It did not help that Ampang Park’s glory days had long ended. While the mall had its share of fans, many new, luxurious competitors were drawing shoppers away.
So, once all tenants had vacated the premises, the mall’s fate was sealed. Still, while Ampang Park may be but a memory, it still remains in the minds of many older Malaysians. Who knows? One day, your favourite mall might only be remembered through history books too.
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Feature Image Credit: NST (Left), The Malaysian Times (Right)
