INGENIEUR
Gian Singh Building, 3.1.2019
building in Kuala Lumpur at the time and Radio
Malaya was once located in it. It was originally
built for the Oriental Government Security Life
Assurance Company.
According to a report in The Straits Times
newspaper dated November 26, 1931, the
construction of a five-storey building with the title
“Big Building for Kuala Lumpur”; would commence
soon. The building once completed, would stand at
82 ft tall and would be the tallest building in Kuala
Lumpur. It would change the skyline of the city
and would add some welcome ‘liveliness’ to the
commercial centre which seemed to be stagnating
at the time perhaps, partly due to the effects of
the worldwide Great Depression.
The Gian Singh Building, which is another
important landmark was constructed in 1909
and stands opposite the Oriental Building. It is
located between Jalan Tun Perak and Lebuh
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Ampang on the eastern side and Jalan Benteng
on the western side. Although built by different
owners in a diversity of styles, there is a common
roofline that complement one another beautifully.
The intricate plasterwork and detailing represent
a blend of Dutch, English and Islamic influences.
Other old landmarks along the road include
many shophouses; those facing Lebuh Ampang
were built by Tan Jit Cheuh, the central shophouses
were built by Loke Yew and Rasoolbhoy Allibhoy
built the two shophouses on the right. In 1921,
the right section was extended and Gian Singh,
a major textile store occupied the site from the
1920s onwards.
The street scene of Mountbatten Road has
now changed dramatically, interspersed by the
elevated LRT Ampang Line and the Masjid Jamek
LRT station which once stood the Whiteaway
Laidlaw Department Store.