How a Paloh shoplot consumed by flames became a ‘beacon of hope’

PALOH, May 7 — Along Jalan Abu Bakar in the quiet town here, sits a shoplot which has existed since 1937. For years, it was ignored by the locals.

In the late 1990s, it was destroyed by a fire, but strangely enough, none of the two lots adjacent to it were affected by the blaze.

In just a week two months ago, the ramshackle building was turned from an eyesore to one of the town’s main attractions — and what was called by Pakatan Harapan (PH) as a “beacon of hope” for the locals.

Sheikh Omar Ali speaks to Malay Mail May 3, 2018. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

‘Love at first sight’

Sheikh Omar Ali was in the diplomatic corps before joining politics as then-Pakatan Rakyat secretariat executive secretary. He joined DAP in 2015, and was working as its Johor assistant publicity secretary before he was announced as its Paloh state candidate.

Just before the announcement however, Sheikh Omar said his team was looking for a new operations centre in the middle of the town when they stumbled upon the dilapidated shoplot.

“We needed a new ops centre to make our presence known and move our operations from the existing centre along Jalan Datuk Au located just outside of town.

“We fell in love with the building at first sight because we wanted to perform a miracle,” he told Malay Mail in a recent interview.

Pakatan Harapan’s Paloh operations centre has become something of an attraction in the town. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

However, he revealed many DAP members, including the local branch leader, initially objected to the team’s choice of the ruined building as an operation centre. The challenge only strengthened the team’s resolve, Sheikh Omar said.

“They wanted a comfortable office space with proper doors to allow members to store party peripherals but we told them we will make sure the place is up and running as soon as possible.

“I remembered the branch leader claiming it would take us at least a year to clean up the mess from years of abandonment and there was a risk of the building collapsing due to the fire,” he said.

Sheikh Omar said the team immediately got in touch with the shop’s owner and discussed rental agreements around late March.

“We told her to have faith in us to refurbish the building as we saw fit and she allowed us to clean up the place,” he said.

Soon after acquiring the building, a team of about 20 people managed to transform the place into a fully functioning operations centre in the span of just a week.

Sheikh Omar said the original condition of the shop was terrible with a large tree taking root in the centre.

“Many people including the locals were intrigued by the idea of the centre and contributed their efforts to restoring this damaged building,” he said.

M. Manimekalai, 56, owner of the burnt down shop, said she had not expected anyone to get in touch with her after her shop burnt down 21 years ago. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

‘Answer to prayers’

The centre, now dubbed “Cafe Harapan”, officially opened its set of red-and-black heavy steel doors plastered with PH party logos doors on March 29, a day before Sheikh Omar was announced as DAP Paloh candidate for the polls.

The team kept the faded paint on the ground floor, with outlines of the neighbouring lots’ stairs etched on it.

The first floor was no longer, leaving a high ceiling which showcased the bare bricks of the top floor’s walls.

New lighting fixtures and simple wooden furniture were brought in, including a pallet box in a corner that serves as a stage for ceramah.

It was, in the simplest terms, Instagram-worthy.

“We want to change people’s perception of Paloh being an old town filled with the elderly and this is our first step in uplifting the town’s image,” Sheikh Omar said.

Pakatan Harapan’s Paloh operations centre has become something of an attraction in the town. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

Building owner M. Manimekalai, 56, still remembers vividly the day the shop burnt down during the night in July 1997 and how it fell into disrepair until Sheikh Omar showed up in March.

“I was ecstatic when they came and asked if they could rent the place for their operations centre because no one had approached me before regarding the shop.

“The feeling was surreal and I certainly did not expect something like this would happen,” she told Malay Mail at her sundry shop opposite the building.

Manimekalai said she felt happy that Sheikh Omar could put the shoplot to good use despite its condition.

“As a show of gratitude, I waived rent for 18 months after they moved in. My prayers have been answered and I believe this is divine intervention,” she said.

Sheikh Omar said the philosophy of the centre’s establishment was to show how something deemed worthless can be made valuable.

“The idea is not your typical political party operation centre as you can see, where only party members can be seen,” he said.

“This is a place for all Paloh people and the centre demonstrates its open-door policy to all regardless of background.”