The government has done much along Jalan Tun Sambanthan, creating decent space for retailers, restaurants and mini-markets to cater to the Indian community that lives here as well as those going to Jalan Tun Sambanthan to eat or shop there.

This effort by the government must be treasured and maintained with gratitude.

Unfortunately, the flouting of decent laws is so widespread in Little India that if the authorities continue to ignore it, this Indian enclave may suffer the same fate as several other traditional and cultural business centres in Kuala Lumpur, like Petaling Street or Masjid India.

It is hard to understand why the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) allows vehicles to park indiscriminately along Jalan Tun Sambanthan with double and even triple parking in front of the rows and rows of shops there. It causes perennial traffic jams day and night, seven days a week.

There is ample parking space in and around the vicinity. But the inconsiderate behaviour of motorists and their absolute disregard for the laws of the country that are in place or absolute lack of respect for other motorists and buses that are passing through cannot be ignored.

Let Jalan Tun Sambanthan not end up like a typical street in Chennai, please.

Then there is also this issue about excessive noise blaring out from the shops sandwiched between restaurants.

Some of the shops selling CDs have placed 1,000-watt megaspeakers outside their premises that are turned on at maximum decibel levels that one can hear even 300 meters away.

DBKL has allowed the eateries to place makeshift tables and chairs on the nicely-paved tarmac fronting these shops.

But with the pounding noise blaring out from competing shoplots selling music and movie CDs, one wonders how on earth are patrons supposed to meet, eat and chat here.

Going by the various banners hanging all over Jalan Tun Sambanthan, it is undeniable that a particular Indian political party also has vested interests in the population that operates businesses, stays there or comes around to eat and shop there.

The least the party leadership can do is to educate the business operators at Little India to keep to the rules.

But unfortunately even that is certainly not the case as even the hygiene and cleanliness of some of the restaurants leaves much to be desired.