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與樂生院同為長年遭到隔離的漢生病友居住的馬來西亞毛糯院正面臨拆遷的危機，我們邀請您連署聲援毛糯院並於本週五一同至馬來西亞駐台單位遞交抗議信。

時間:9/28上午十點
地點:馬來西亞辦事處(台北市敦化北路102號)

聯絡人:青年樂生聯盟 何欣潔 0911371768

(News)NST-Spotlight: Home sweet... gone?

2007/09/08

Ali Long, 63, gazing forlornly at the eastern part of his 'home' which has been demolished. He hopes the settlement will be spared "for memory's sake".

The 77-year-old Sungai Buloh leper settlement was once hailed as the most scenic and impressive leprosarium in the world. Now bulldozers are crashing through this unique garden city in the name of development. TAN CHOE CHOE checks out the place.

Chui Ying, 70 (left), and her husband Kong Cheen, 75, are doubtful if their home can be saved from development.

This 1969 picture shows a patient-turned-farmer working on a plot of land that he'd been allotted.

THE scene is right out of a watercolour painting. The sky is overcast; the landscape dotted by farmers growing flowers, grass and potted plants; coconut trees swaying in the breeze with ripe fruits beckon at every corner.

But on closer look, one can see scores of abandoned cottages, some roofless, some partially collapsed, and some with trees growing right through them.

Strangely, the farmers, although friendly, are not leprosy patients but mostly Indonesian workers.

This is the much talked about Sungai Buloh leper settlement, once noted as the most beautiful and modern leprosarium in the world because of the surrounding lush forests.
It was built by the British colonial administration in 1929 as a self-contained settlement for leprosy patients uprooted from society and condemned to live in isolation under the Leper Enactment.

Badan Warisan executive director Elizabeth Cardosa wrote in her New Sunday Times column in July that the settlement "represents a part of our medical and social heritage, which sadly most of us know nothing about".

Author Joyce Wong Chau Yin, whose book ‘Valley of Hope’ details the history of the settlement and its inmates, described it as "a very important part of the history of leprosy in this country as well as the world".

The leprosarium originally covered an area of 230ha, but was reduced to 120ha to make way for the new Sungai Buloh Hospital, a nursing college and a new highway.

The area will be further reduced because 16ha on the eastern side of the settlement has been alienated by the Health Ministry for Universiti Teknologi Mara to build its medical faculty.

The construction of the faculty is estimated to displace between 40 to 50 residents of the settlement, most of whom are elderly former leper patients.

The authorities are still mulling over whether to gazette the area as a heritage site, giving hope to the inmates that their home won’t be taken away from them.

But in a move that was described as a "blow to heritage" last Sunday, UiTM had gone ahead and torn down some walls and removed tiles from the roof of the old prison — making some of the inmates nervous about their future.

"It’s the only home we know and we’re all mostly elderly people now. Why can’t they let us live out our lives in some semblance of dignity and peace?" asks former patient Kong Cheen, 75.

Kong Cheen has lived in the settlement since he was 25 years old. He met his wife Chui Ying, another leprosy patient, when she was admitted in 1961.

"They said we will be given houses on the western side, but what about our farming plots here?

"We will lose our main source of income if we move and they destroy our farm," says Chui Ying.

The couple admits that they are too old to work their farm plots themselves. Instead, they lease it to an outsider who employs foreign workers to work the plots for them.

"We get a few hundred ringgit in return to supplement the monthly allowance of RM136.80 from the government. It’s not much but it’s a lot to retirees like us," says Kong Cheen.

Another villager, Sin Kok Han, 72, says he has lived in the settlement for over 55 years.

"I don’t want to leave. This place bears testimony to the story of my life and my wife’s. How would you feel if I ask you to leave your place of birth? That is how we will feel if they evict us," says Sin.

Echoing his sentiments is Ali Long, 63, a leper patient who has lost both his hands and legs.

"It will be a loss (sayang) if they give this place up to development. This place has witnessed much... so many stories... so many memories," says Ali.

Those still living in the settlement are mostly elderly people in their 60s and 70s or very young children.

Many youths have since moved out and assimilated with society at large in the ‘outside world’.

One youth who remained after his father — a former leper patient who has passed on — is Lourdes Surenderen, 29, and he welcomes development because he feels that the settlement is being exploited by outsiders.

He says many immigrants have settled in the area, occupying some of the abandoned cottages, "getting free electricity, water, and shelter".

"They are causing us social problems. There have been increasing cases of theft and vandalism since they came here," he claims.

Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association (Malra) secretary-general Datuk E.J. Lawrence believes it’s time the settlement was developed, but for different reasons.

Lawrence, who helped found Malra in 1959, says the association was set up to help former leprosy patients rehabilitate and live independently.

"The interest of the outside world in this settlement shows Malra has succeeded in eroding the stigmatism that has long been associated with people afflicted with leprosy.

"It shows that people are no longer afraid to come here and mingle with the patients and this should be viewed positively," he says.

Leprosy was once considered an infectious disease that could not be cured — "but it’s no longer true", says Lawrence.

By 1969, powerful drugs had been discovered that could halt, in a matter of days, early cases of the debilitating disease and prevent the hideous deformities that are often its legacy.

Leprosarium facts

• Officially opened in 1930, it was hailed as the most modern and impressive leprosarium in the British Commonwealth because of its scenic setting and modern buildings and facilities.

• It was second largest only to the Culion Island Settlement in the Philippines that was established in 1910, with a population of about 6,000.

• Divided by a hill in the centre, the west section is for the sick and disabled who required care; the east is a village for cured patients to live independently, each working their allotted plot of land to grow fruits, vegetables and raise livestock.

• Every kind of imaginable facility was provided — a school, churches, mosques, Indian and Chinese temples, grocery shops, workshops, etc.

• The settlement was managed by the lepers themselves, working as clerks, police, hardeners, watchmen, dispensers, dressers and nurses.

• Between the 1930s and 1980s, it was a major centre of treatment and research in the world, especially for trials of alternative drugs

• At the height of the illness in the 1950s, it housed some 3,000 patients.

• About 300 patients still live there today, although most have been cured and are free to leave.

---

Gazetting a piece of history

IN the limelight after it was abruptly ordered to halt demolition works at the leprosarium last Sunday, UiTM is asking for answers from the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry on why no efforts had been made to gazette the settlement even though it has existed since the 1900s.

The question arises: How exactly do the authorities go about gazetting a heritage site?

Under the National Heritage Act 2005, the Heritage Commissioner is responsible for the National Heritage Register and the National Heritage Department (Jabatan Warisan Negara) is the administrating department for this.

The commissioner, Datuk Prof Zuraina Majid, has the power to identify areas that are to be gazetted, including the buffer zone around the area, if necessary.

Anyone who thinks a site is of heritage value can nominate the site to the commissioner, by sending an application letter with information on the historical background of the site, its built and usage.

The application should also include photographs of the building, building plans and site plan with the location of the buildings clearly indicated.

"Once we have identified the area, we will visit the site and examine its heritage value and authenticity of history," says Jabatan Warisan Negara head of enforcement Khalid Syed Ali.

This is done after a notice is given to the owner of the site, seven days in advance, of the visit.

Once the significance of a site is verified and the commissioner thinks it suitable to be gazetted, the commissioner will send a notice of her intention to the owner of the site — 60 days before making the designation.

"A notice of intention will also be forwarded to the Land Office," says Khalid.

If the commissioner thinks it necessary for the purpose of conservation and preservation, she will issue an interim protection order to the owner, with the concurrence of the state authority.

Then she will publish the intention to gazette in local newspapers after getting consent from the state .

"We are open to objections from the public for 30 days after the gazette is published, as stipulated under Section 28 of the Act," says Khalid.

If there’s no objection, the commissioner will issue gazette notice to the owner and the local town and city planner, and publish the designation in the Gazette and local newspapers.

If there are objections, the commissioner will set a date, time and venue to listen to the objection and then decide whether to go ahead with the designation or not.

Badan Warisan executive director Elizabeth Cardosa says a site can be gazetted as Grade 1, 2 or 3, which corresponds to the interest, uniqueness, level of authenticity and architectural significance of the site.

Grade 1 is the highest and is synonymous to the term National Heritage, while 3 is the lowest.

"Grade 1 and 2 sites are likely to qualify for conservation grants, but not Grade 3. There are guidelines on what owners or custodians can and cannot do with their sites once gazetted," she adds.

For example, for Grade 1 sites, the external face and internal layouts of the buildings must be retained along with all architectural elements and materials, "but appropriate adaptive re-use is permitted".

In the case of the leper settlement, researcher Lim Yong Long had submitted a nomination form to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage on July 10 for it to be gazetted as a National Heritage site.

And Badan Warisan’s views on the settlement are clear in a Press statement issued on Tuesday where its president, Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, said: "Badan Warisan has written to, and spoken with, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, on the historical importance of the Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement at national as well as international levels.

"… The history of leprosy is an extremely valuable legacy to humanity … the role and significance (of the settlement) is found in all references to the history of leprosy of the world …"

"It was so successful that it became a model on which other leprosy centres around the world were based."

Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia heritage and conservation committee chairman Mohd Zulhemlee An agrees with Badan Warisan.

"We should conserve the leprosy centre, not because it’s a heritage building but because it’s an independent and sustainable community that is of historical value to us ... since the 1920s.

"The buildings may just be simple cottages to many people, but they were built with colonial features and adapted to tropical climes. They are of architectural significance," he says.

Source: NSTonline

News: （光明日報）麻瘋院獲批禁拆 仍有官員到來巡視

■於國慶日後，承包商開始進行拆建工作。(放大)

■於週一沒有操作的神手仍停留在工地內。(放大)

■部份房屋連屋頂上的屋瓦也被拆完。(放大)

■黃錦鴻：文物部已援引法令發出庭令，禁止瑪拉工藝大學工程承包商在90天拆除雙溪毛糯麻瘋病院，以待內閣討論，能否成為保留地。

（雪蘭莪•雙溪毛糯訊）文化、藝術及文物部已於週一（3日）取得庭令，禁止瑪拉工藝大學的承包商停止拆除雙溪毛糯麻瘋病 院，但週一仍有7至8名高教部的官員到現場巡視病院內的情況，並表明當局將在拆遷事件上保持一定的平衡點，即具有歷史價值的監獄建築或許被迫拆除，但穆斯 林回教堂和祈禱室將被保留。

其中一名官員指出，當局要拆除該院的原因，是想要讓病人有更美好的生活環境。當記者詢問他是否已接獲庭令時，他竟然拋出一句“你怎麼看待這裡的病人呢？”，似乎在逃避記者的提問。

神手仍停放工地

隆雪華堂總執行長陳亞財和建築學者劉永龍，也跟隨高教部官員巡視痲瘋院環境。

《光明日報》記者於週一到現場巡視時見到於前兩天進行拆除工作的神手已停工，惟所有的拆牆工具與神手仍停放在工地內。

雙溪毛糯痲瘋病院獲悉法庭已發出庭令禁止當局繼續動工時，大家都感到欣慰。他們希望政府不要為難年老的他們，讓他們能安享晚年。

他們並不反對當地有更好的發展，但在發展的同時，希望政府能開墾另外一幅地，好好安頓已與家人失去聯絡的病人，畢竟逼遷對他們來說是非常殘忍的。

文物部發出禁拆指令
麻瘋院暫保留90天

文化、藝術及文物部副部長拿督黃錦鴻披露，文物部已援引2005年全國文物法令第27及33條文於週一發出指令，禁止瑪拉工藝大學工程承包商拆除雙溪毛糯麻瘋病院，為期90天。禁令實行期間，該部門將完成文化遺產保留研究報告，再提呈內閣討論，以保障有價值的文物遺產。

他指出，在2005年國家文物法令第27條文下，瑪拉工藝大學工程承包商受令停工90天。為了避免承包商施予小動作和以各種不同的藉口和方式繼續開工，法庭也同時發出2005年國家文物法令第33條文，即暫時保護令，為該痲瘋院作雙重把關。

根據條令，若承包商牴觸庭令，他們將被罰款5萬令吉，坐牢5年或兩者兼施。

牴觸庭令罰款5萬

他接受《光明日報》電訪時聲稱，部門專員曾於週日（2日）在承包商動工時前往阻止，但對方卻絲毫不為所動，繼續拆除雙溪毛糯麻瘋病院的屋頂圍牆，因此，該部門才決定於週一向法庭申請庭令，最終獲得批准。

“我們已知會衛生部（地主），該部門也支持我們的決定，接下來，我們將按照內閣的指示儘快完成研究報告。不過，由於此地還涉及高等教育部，因此它最終的結果如何，能否成為保留地，則需通過內閣討論和同意。”

他說，站在文化、藝術及文物部立場而言，雙溪毛糯麻瘋病院確實具備歷史、古早建築及醫療等文化遺產特色，值得內閣仔細考研。

未列入保留範圍
院方不能100%放心

住在痲瘋院已58年，現任該院參議會工作人員的李初成告訴《光明日報》記者，當他們知道停工令批准後，都感到一陣欣慰。但只要此地一天不列入保留範圍，他們就不能100%放心。

“如果90天後我們還是得搬遷，搬去那裡？搬遷費如何處理等問題？叫我們該交給誰去解決？”

他指出，病人住在這裡已60年，東區逾40戶人家是拆遷工程下影響最深的病人。大家都希望社會人士和知識分子，尤其是大馬律師公會協助他們保衛家園。

盼律師主動協助

“我們無法出去找律師幫忙，希望律師們能主動進來接觸我們，以他們的法律知識協助我們解決問題。”

現年61歲的林梅影說，她自7歲那年住進痲瘋院開始就不曾離開這裡，她辛勤照料寬大1英畝的花圃，數十年的心血實在不忍被承包商的機器剷平。她苦笑的說：“我們是病人，也是人啊，自己也要生活”，希望政府能體諒他們的處境，給他們一個安樂窩。

雙溪毛糯痲瘋病院共有306個病人，他們全部已康復。老人院住著年齡介於60至80歲的老人家，分別是95名老公公及64名老婆婆，他們都有專人照顧起居飲食。還有105人擁有自己的小房子，他們大多以種植盆栽和花草維持生計。

李家全將帶上內閣討論

衛生部政務次長拿督李家全指出，地方發展和遺產保留並不是對立的關係，只要各牽涉的部門協調合作，這件事情就能有個圓滿的結果。

他週一巡視痲瘋院後告訴記者，他將把週一的巡視狀況向衛生部長拿督蔡細歷報告，週三（5日）時，此事將帶上內閣討論，相信很快就有議決。

他指出，兩週前，衛生部首席秘書已接獲指示處理此問題，但由於涉及的部門和單位繁多，才會延伸後來的問題，包括停工與否、土地擁有權及庭令等問題。

他聲稱，他不清楚地主是誰，需要向土地局查證，也不曉得停工令是否已發出，他需要搞清楚整件事，才召各部門好好協調。

此外，李家全於週一早上在國會走廊對於雙溪毛糯痲風病院，於週日被拆除感到驚訝與不解，因為衛生部較早已指示承包商停止任何拆除行動，以申請將該院列為國家文化遺產。

他說，文物部長拿督斯里萊士雅丁也已同意這麼做，但是，有關承包商卻不聽從指示。

他認為承包商不聽指示，可能是因為相關法令還未正式頒佈；相關法令一旦製定及生效，任何人擅自拆除已被列為文化遺產的建築物就等於抵觸法令，將會受到對付。

詢及拆除痲瘋病院事件是否會影響病人時，李家全指出，政府當初是想充分利用麻瘋病院土地而決定在該區展開發展計劃，因此肯定也已為如何安頓病患做好打算。

他指出，事實上他們已經將痲瘋病人安置去擁有更先進良好設備的醫院，因此病人並不是問題，問題是如何將它正式列為文化遺產。

痲瘋病院演進表

8月8日
瑪拉工藝大學取得土地局批准，擁有痲瘋院東區部份土地，計劃興建行政及管理中心。

8月14日
痲瘋病院院長賈斯敏在國家遺產局官員協助下，成功停止承包商拆除東院東區廢置的小監獄。同一天，東區3個花圃業者接到土地局的指示，要他們必須在一個月內清空他們所霸佔的地段。

8月21日
文化、藝術及文物部副部長拿督黃錦鴻宣佈，部門將討論把雙溪毛糯麻瘋病院列為國家文化遺產，衛生部也諭令承包商暫時停工。

9月1日、2日
瑪拉工藝大學工程承包商於週六及週日悄開到麻瘋病院，以神手企圖強拆建築，受到當地居民大力阻止。

9月3日
文物部向法庭申請庭令，禁止承包商拆除痲瘋病院，為期90天。 （光明日報•2007.09.03）

News: （東方日報）功能消退擋不住發展洪流 麻風小城 衛土抗敵

-6th Sep 2007

人類史上有過不少集合了前人智慧結晶的偉大傑作，為當代帶來貢獻，甚至起了顛覆性作用，讓后世無數人的命運得以改變，變得更好。但隨著時代演變，它們卻因原有扮演的功能已褪色，而走向沒落。


在大馬，就有一些具有重要歷史價值的城鎮，因失衡的計劃，畸型的開發，或人口的流失，被遺棄了。終久失修，人去樓空，連剩余的破舊建築物也可能從地面上被「抹掉」。

《東方日報》尋訪這些曾為大馬人做出偉大貢獻，但今天已瀕臨湮沒的城鎮，包括貢獻鐵苗的龍運鐵山、錫苗的林明、煤礦的煤炭山，以及最近因開始被拆除而引起人們關注的麻風病院社區雙溪毛糯。

《湮沒城鎮》系列將分開不同時段連載。讀者每閱一段，可以沉殿思考，才再繼續。首先登場的，正是近期成為新聞焦點的田園社區「烏托邦」雙溪毛糯。

雪蘭莪雙溪毛糯麻風病院，已在月前被本地民間學者證實，該院在人類文明史及麻風病治療史上，都有非凡意義。若獲良好與完整的保存，后世人能從中學習它對世人帶來的教育意義；反之，只殘留依稀記憶。

該病院社區除了有重大醫學發現外，在歷史文化、建築學、城鎮規劃概念方面，其重要價值也是不可被忽略。

《東方日報》實地調查和向各方瞭解后發現，事實上，雙溪毛糯麻風病院的貢獻並不局限在本區域，而是涵蓋了全世界，但由于77年來未曾被大肆宣揚，以致其偉大貢獻鮮為人知。

社區如今剩300病患

再加上，隨著人類在1960年發明了由3種藥方組成的聯合化療（MTD），得以治愈糾纏人類數千年的麻風病，更中斷該病症的傳染性，令到「麻風」兩字不再可怕，全世界麻風病患人數也開始劇跌。

雙溪毛糯麻風社區從居住了逾2000名病患居民的頂峰時期，逐漸沒落至如今僅有約300名病患，許多特別供病人居住的小屋因而騰空，社區內的許多公共設施建築物，如福利機構、宗教場所及監獄等也停止運作。

瑪拉大學相中建校

正因為如此，該院極為重要的東院部分，在2年前被瑪拉工藝大學無聲無息地相中，通過地方政府將東院40英畝原屬衛生部的土地，規劃為該校校地，並敲定今年8月2日動工。

儘管衛生部和文化、藝術及文物部介入，要展延工程的進行，以便進行研究工作，來決定是否列為國家文化遺產，將具有歷史及文化價值的病院社區保留下來，但讓人遺憾的是，瑪拉工藝大學並沒有擱置建校工程，至今已3度強行展開拆除工作。

該院內具有象征意義的監獄，已有部分被破壞。每次拆除行動本報記者都趕到現場進行報導，見到民間學者和當地病患居民雖嘗試阻止拆除，卻無能為力。都得請求衛生部及文化部官員到來制止，而每次制止喊停后，過不久承包商仍會繼續發起再一次工程行動。

9月3日，該院3度遭承包商強行拆除后，文化部終于動用2005年保護法令第27條停工令，及第33條文暫時保護法令，對已再三漠視停工指示的承包商發出最嚴厲警告。法令有效期限是90天，觸犯者可面臨最高5萬令吉罰款或5年監禁，或兩者兼施。

無論如何，雙溪毛糯麻風病院已消退的功能，及廣大群眾對該院的重要性認知不足，導致保留該院社區的力量變得單薄，可能更多有歷史意義的建築物將夷為平地。

Source: 東方日報

News: （東方日報）雙溪毛糯麻風病院功成身退？

-6th Sep 2007

雙溪毛糯麻風病院裡，社區監獄雖有重要象征意義，但由于早已被廢棄，于是成了拆除行動首個目標。圍牆已倒，屋瓦沒了，拄著拐仗的病患居民慨嘆何時會拆到他的家？圖片右上角可隱約看到推倒建築物的「怪手」。 -詹華祥-

從肩責重任．到回歸平淡

1923 白人醫生特拉維斯在新加坡的熱帶醫學大會上，提出以開明政策創造一個「近乎自供自足的社區」，以改善麻風病患生活條件。

1930 西院和東院建竣，雙溪毛糯麻風病院于8月15日正式成立，成為當時英殖民共和聯邦國家最大、設施最先進的麻風療養院和研究中心。

1935 發行只限院內流通的紙鈔，檢驗紙鈔會否傳染疾病，直至1938年停止發行。

1936 配合病患人數日益增加趨勢，最后階段的中院部分工程展開，以增加更多房屋。

1946 第一個有效治療藥物Dapsone（DDS，氨苯（石風））開始投入治療麻風病。

1948 在雙溪毛糯院內初步發現麻風桿菌已變種，開始對Dapsone產生抗藥性。

1964 該院與英國倫敦的醫藥研究院合作，使用試驗老鼠經過1年研究后，在該院發現有抗藥性的3名病人，證實了對Dapsone的抗藥性。

1969 百年歷史的檳城木蔻山麻風病集中營的315名病患，大規模遷移至雙溪毛糯，前者于較后關閉。

1976 發現首宗原始耐藥。雙溪毛糯的動物之家被用來進行腳墊調查，這是第一次在亞洲進行。

1981 雙溪毛糯麻風病院與英國醫藥研究院的14年合作計劃，共在多份醫藥和科學刊物發表了約百份研究報告。

1981 世界衛生組織建議使用Dapsone、Rifampicin和Clofazimine 3種藥物組成的聯合化療，成功解決麻風桿菌對單一藥物治療的抗藥性。麻風病變得容易治愈，病患人數開始劇跌。

面對拆除命運

2007

7月10日本地古跡研究學者林永隆以個人名義，致函文化、藝術及文物部、衛生部、雪州衛生局及高教部等單位，要求整體保留雙溪毛糯麻風病院為古跡，並說明其保存價值。較后衛生部長宣佈成立跨部門委員會研究。

7月22日古跡保護機構執行主任伊麗莎白卡多薩在《新海峽時報》發表「There's Hope for The Valleyof Hope」。

8月12日隆雪華堂青年團率團前往該院進行實地考察。8月13日瑪拉工藝大學承包商首度展開拆除工作，東院監獄成為首個下手目標，導致病人和學者不滿和擔憂。

9月3日該院3度遭承包商強行拆除后，文化部動用2005年保護法令第27條停工令，及第33條文暫時保護法令，對漠視停工指示的承包商發出最嚴厲警告。法令有效期限90天。

從與世隔絕到開放

這個特別功能社區成立于英殖民時代的1930年8月15日，當時被稱為The FederalLeper Settlement at Sungai Buloh，1965年改名為雙溪毛糯麻風病院。

它在1 9 6 9年被我國政府重新命名為「國家麻風病控制中心」（Pusat Kawalan KustaNegara）。

整個病院社區佔地562英畝，分為西院、東院及中院3個部分。最早的西院于1929年建竣，由病房和行政區組成，該病房是專門安置失明、殘障等情況嚴重的病患。

東院于1930年建成，主要是讓已痊愈或情況不嚴重的病患居住的場所，中心地帶集中了民眾會堂、學校、福利機構、宗教場所及市集等建築物，供居住的小屋則圍繞中心地帶而建。

中院是1936年興建，主要為配合當時病患居民人數劇增的需要，而興建更多房屋。

整個病院社區處在森林和山區等天然屏障內，與世隔絕的環境，早期要從外界出入該院須經過特別通行，后來才隨著當地交通設備的發展與時代改變，開放讓外人自由出入。

但迄今真正被允許在社區內居住的，主要還是麻風病患或其家屬。

希望之谷：兼顧病患生心理

雙溪毛糯麻風病院興建于1930年，是當時英殖民和共和聯邦國家中最大、最現代化的麻風病療養院，佔地562英畝的病院社區，涵蓋了醫院、病患住所、小鎮、農場及森林區。

古跡研究兼現代建築學者林永隆向《東方日報》說，該病院社區的設計概念來自白人醫生特拉維斯，從該院區如今的保留情況，還能從中發現它每個部分都經過周詳計劃來興建，堪稱為「偉大傑作」。

所謂周詳設計，包括選擇了雙溪毛糯這個策略性地點、兼顧了病患在生理和心理層面的需求，以及當地每間建築物的存在與規劃，都有其深意和作用，帶出的教育意義尤其值得讓后世更進一步研究。

由于這座病院社區讓許多麻風病患從此重獲新生，它也被稱為「希望之谷」。

林永隆說，雙溪毛糯麻風病院成立前，當時馬來亞半島也有其他麻風病患收容所，用以將病患從人類社會隔離在收容所內。「但，這些收容所的設施及治療都不理想，導致病患無比的痛苦，甚至須長期依靠吸食鴉片麻醉自己才能過活。」

從事種植活動　病患經濟來源-6th Sep 2007

隨著麻風病治療的突破，如今在大馬就算感染了麻風病，也能在簡單的療程下得到治愈。


若說起雙溪毛糯麻風病院， 或許還有許多人不認識它，但是，若說起雙溪毛糯的著名售賣盆栽、草皮及橘子等植物的地方，相信很多人都不會陌生。

這個靠近雙溪毛糯醫院的著名植物買賣地點，正是在雙溪毛糯麻風病院社區內。

每間小屋四周，都保留了土地的設計特質，在超過70年前這裡設立麻風病院時，它的社區規劃模式，就是特別顧及麻風病患的心理和生理層面的需要而設計，讓在這里居住的居民能從事種植活動。

在病院社區已開放的今天，種植行業也成了病患居民的主要經濟活動，瑪拉工藝大學的發展計劃，導致在東院居住的40多名病患居民受到最直接影響，因為投入畢生心血的種植和居住多年的環境，即將因而讓路搬遷。

社區五臟俱全　病患自治管理-6th Sep 2007

雙溪毛糯麻風病院曾是一個自給自足、沒有藩籬、沒有圍牆的社區， 也是病患離鄉背井后的家園，在1935年時還一度發行只限在院內流通的紙鈔，長達3年。


社區裡具備的各種設施，包括宗教場所、福利機構及公共設施等，成功讓病患能自治管理，並在健全環境下生活，多元種族共存的和諧社會，也在這里獲得實現。

設施失修

無論如何，病患人數逐年減少的趨勢，導致如今許多小屋出現空置，許多具備各種功能的公共設施因而荒廢，在年久失修情況下變得陳舊不堪。

原有功能逐漸消退，讓失色的雙溪毛糯麻風病院，需要找到重新定位的價值。

民間學者努力讓該院的保存價值浮上台面之際，瑪拉工藝大學的發展計劃是否有辦法與文化遺產的保留並存？應該是值得當局參考方案，但近期的事態發展似乎不樂觀。

Source: 東方日報

News: (NST)Three ministries to resolve leprosy settlement issue

2007/09/06

KUALA LUMPUR: Three ministries are to discuss together a solution to the Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement issue.

The three ministries involved are the higher education, health, and culture, arts and heritage.

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said yesterday the secretaries-general of the ministries would meet to thrash out the issue tomorrow.

They will discuss the possibility of at least preserving the mosque, church and the prison precinct at the site.

"A solution will be presented to the cabinet next week."
Rais told the New Straits Times: "We don’t want to hinder the development of Universiti Teknologi Mara in building the medical faculty.

"However, we have due respect for the wishes of families as well as the Health Ministry to preserve structures that have historical importance."

"We can’t preserve everything as we want to develop the place as well."

In the meantime, he said, the cabinet agreed yesterday that no statements should be made about the issue until the meeting is held.

Last Sunday, UiTM, which had started demolishing some of the buildings on the site, was served a stop-work order by National Heritage Commissioner Datuk Prof Dr Zuraina Majid.

By then, however, four of the abandoned chalets had been torn down and the roofing on several other buildings removed.

UiTM had said that something "fishy" was going on as it had gone by the book in demolishing the buildings, which it said had no heritage value.

Source: NSTonline

News: (NST)Health Ministry in the dark over work

2007/09/04

THE Health Ministry is in the dark over why demolition work had started at the Sungai Buloh Leprasarium.

Its parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon was surprised by the contractor’s actions as he had been directed to stop demolition work two weeks ago.

"The buildings have historical value and we are going to preserve part of the buildings. I do not know why the demolition works continued. I need to clarify this with my ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Nasir Ashraf."

He said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek had proposed that part of the buildings be turned into a heritage site. Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim had agreed.

Lee said the issue was not about the patients as the ministry could relocate them to better facilities.
"I don’t think the patients are the problem. The issue is preserving part of the buildings."

Meanwhile, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said the area had yet to be earmarked as a heritage site.

He said Universiti Teknologi Mara had been given the green light by the Finance Ministry to build a hospital there.

"I have no knowledge on the status of negotiations between the various ministries."

Source: NSTonline