Kuala Lumpur @ October 2010


Soundtrack of KL:
Bach, cantatas
Cat Power, mixed


Liveablitity score (worse 1-5 best)
Sustainability:3
Sociodiversity: 3
Public transport:4
Creative Index: 3



Kuala Lumpur @ October 2010
Who gets history?

KL during the day is mavellous. A fine, small town, with a clearly defined touristic area, a minor high rail system, and wonderefull hotels and swimming poools.


KL is, succeding the discursive statements of the former state leader Dr Mahatir during 1980/1990th, the prototype for the realisation of the new Asian spirit. Even if he did not use the term "Asianness" explicitly, it was the birth moment of New Asia, including an heavy work on defining new Asian values. In order to fix the idea of the "New", he created, in accordance to the work done in Taiwan, South Korea and Singapor, an savage, unlimited, unbound, dynamic and eclectic system of capitalist economy. He was, obviously, successful.

But what we know really about Asian values?



KL is Petrona Towers. No other architectural landmark in Asia was, at least in last two decades, so consitutive for national confidence. A pair ot two high rise buildings in the middle of the town is the SYMBOL for Kl/ Malayasia. As if they could not create any other monument or real sign than a skyscraper as a confidence building procedure. Anything in the city remembers one on Petrona Towers, their sole existence in real external world seems to disappear in favor of pictures, movies, plastic/ metal / stone based miniatures of them you shall buy everywhere. Petrona Towers are, at some stage, just a clichee. Or a template for fantasies.