LETTER | Lebuh Ampang is not just a street-it is a living archive of Malaysian-Indian heritage, etched with the legacy of the Chettiar community whose quiet brilliance helped shape the economic backbone of Malaya.
The Chettiars, a South Indian trading community famed for their mastery in finance and moneylending, were more than merchants.
They were visionaries. In the early 19th century, Lebuh Ampang affectionately called "Chetty Theru" or Lorong Ceti by locals - rose as a vibrant financial artery pulsing with Chettiar enterprise.
When British banks turned their backs on local entrepreneurs - Malay, Chinese, and Indian, the Chettiars stepped forward.
They didn’t just lend money. They lent possibility. They lent progress. They lent hope.
“They were not just lenders - they were enablers of dreams, builders of industries, and quiet architects of Malaya’s economic rise,” said M Saravanan, MIC deputy president and Tapah MP.
The MP spoke at the celebration event organised by the Lebuh Ampang Traders Association, last night.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa was also present, bearing witness to this historic call.
Chettiars’ history
From humble shophouses, these financiers extended credit to tin miners, rubber plantation owners, and small traders - fuelling the rise of two industries that would define Malaya’s colonial economy: rubber and tin.
Their offices were modest - a small desk, ledger books, and a mat for clients - but their methods were revolutionary.
They practised double-entry bookkeeping, a rarity among Asian traders, and a testament to their precision and professionalism.
Between 1896 and the early 20th century, British laissez-faire policies created fertile ground for Chettiar enterprise.
They flourished as moneylenders, venture capitalists, and landowners. Their financial activities remained stable until World War II, sustained by strong commodity markets and a trust-based credit system that Western banks refused to offer.
When others withheld capital, the Chettiars offered microfinancing backed by promissory notes, land deeds, and personal trust. They didn’t just support commerce-they built the scaffolding of a nation’s economy.
True soul
At the Deepavali celebration hosted by the Lebuh Ampang Traders Association, Saravanan made a bold and heartfelt appeal: “rename Lebuh Ampang as Chetty Street” - a name that reflects the street’s true soul and honours the Chettiar community’s enduring contributions.
Renaming Lebuh Ampang is not a cosmetic change. It is a “restoration of truth”.
It is a “recognition of legacy”. It is a “celebration of the unsung architects of Malaya’s prosperity”.
Let us rename Lebuh Ampang as “Chetty Street”. Let us honour the Chettiar community’s enduring contributions to our nation’s development.
Let us preserve the historical memory of a people who built the economic foundations of Malaya - not with fanfare, but with quiet brilliance.
Let us educate future generations about the power of informal finance, diaspora entrepreneurship, and the spirit of multicultural collaboration.
“This proposal is not merely symbolic - it is a reckoning with history, a tribute to legacy, and a step toward a more inclusive narrative of Malaysia’s past.”
The time to honour them is now. Let the name Chetty Street rise - not just on signboards, but in the hearts of every Malaysian who walks that road.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
