The iconic Central Market in Kuala Lumpur celebrated its 125th anniversary with a big bash thrown by Central Market Sdn Bhd last night.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib launched the celebration.

“This is an iconic building and we will do all we can to ensure it gets pride of place in the city,” he said.

Central Market began life as a wet market in 1888, built by Yap Ah Loy, the city’s Chinese Kapitan.

It served as a prominent landmark in colonial and modern-day Kuala Lumpur.

When the wet market was relocated in the 1980s, the Malaysian Heritage Society successfully petitioned against the demolition of the building, and it was subsequently declared as a centre of Malaysian Culture, Arts and Handicrafts.

- Bernama