As we turn onto Jalan Tun Perak, let’s take a fun trip back to 1850, when Kuala Lumpur was basically a jungle gym for early adventurers. Back then, Java Street and Market Street were the only shows in town. The Malays, especially the Rawa and Mendahiling folks, ran the business scene, selling clothes, food, and even tending fish ponds. Sutan Puasa had his pond at Lorong Ceti—now Ampang Street—while local legends Sutan Puasa and Raja Bilah were the rulers of the roost.

Kuala Lumpur in the 1880s: a few humble shanties emerging from a clearing, with the dense forest of Weld Hill as their backdrop. At the edge of this forest stood the earliest houses on Ampang Road, an extension of Ampang Street. Meanwhile, the row of simple attap hovels you see running diagonally behind the figures in the background? That’s Java Street in its nascent stage. Image source: Straits Times 30 Dec 1934, article by Joseph Christopher Pasqual (1865-1937)

Picture this: Kuala Lumpur was still a wild playground, and getting around was all about river sampans or footpaths. No fancy roads, just jungle trails. Homes were made from clay and bertam leaves, and shophouses were bamboo wonders with roofs of the same leafy material. Bridges? Well, one was bamboo and the other a couple of logs. Even a little stream ran where Foch Avenue is now, though it’s long gone.

So, as you wander down Jalan Tun Perak, just remember: this street has evolved from a leafy, log-crossed wild frontier into the bustling urban sprawl we see today. Quite the transformation, don’t you think?

17. Java Street – Mountbatten Road (1946) – Jalan Tun Perak (1981)

Java Street—where Kuala Lumpur’s old-school charm meets a dash of historical whimsy. Once a humble boundary line separating the Chinese and Malay quarters, it had a glow-up in the 1890s. Picture this: a street suddenly bursting into life with dining rooms trying to impress, bakeries with pastries that could make you weep, and grocers practically begging for the elite’s attention.

Enter Robinson’s from Singapore, making a bold move to establish its presence in KL. Whiteaway and Laidlaw joined the fray, adding a touch of British sophistication, while Gian Singh and Co. brought in some local flair. Java Street was the place where retail titans clashed and mingled, turning the street into a commercial hotspot.

But hold onto your hats, because the drama doesn’t end there. In 1946, Java Street received a makeover – renamed Mountbatten Road. As if the street was suddenly invited to a royal ball. So, if you’re curious about the street’s former name, take a wander behind the former Survey Office. There you’ll find an electrical substation—Mountbatten Road, no less—proving that even in the world of street names, history knows how to leave a lasting impression.

Let’s hit rewind and for the next part, take a cheeky stroll back in time. Strap in and get ready to uncover the remnants of what once made this street the ultimate hotspot.