COMMENT Whoever comes to the small, modest-looking but historical Kampung Budaya Chetty (this is its official name) in Gajah Berang, Malacca, is immediately struck by a long metal wall surrounding a good deal of this neighbourhood.

Beyond this wall, there are cranes and, during the day, the constant noise of foundations being laid. A hotel, an exclusive condominium and a multistoried car park are rising up right next to the kampung. In fact, practically inside it. There are all kinds of speculations doing the rounds, and it is very difficult to sift the facts...