I had the privilege of going into Pudu Jail when I was doing my Chambering many moons ago, when Pudu Jail was still operating as a proper prison. Eventhough we (my Chambering mate and I) were only allowed into a small interview room located just inside the jail walls, it was an unforgettable experience.
At the appointed time, the big gates at the front opened with a loud clang and we were escorted into the jail by a prison warden. As I stepped over the threshold and the iconic Walls into the compound itself, I saw there is another huge and tall iron gate, all securely locked, separating the actual prison, the actual holding block, from the entrance. There is at least 10 feet of space between that iron gate and the main entrance. I remember having goosebumps upon seeing a group of at least 20 men, heads all shaved, wearing beige shirts and shorts, squatting on the cement ground just inside the iron gate. Some turned around to look curiously at my friend and I as we waited to be escorted into the interview room.
We were warned not to go up to the iron gate less we got accosted by the inmates from inside. We were warned not to touch them nor get too close to them. We were told to keep a safe distance, literally outside of arm's reach. And we were repeated told that some of Malaysia's toughest, meanest, baddest criminals are in there, so we must not be careless eventhough we were not actually IN the main holding block.
My fellow Chambee and I took up the Pudu Jail Programme and our duty were to interview inmates who needed legal representation but cannot afford to appoint one. As both of us are girls, the prison warden allocated inmates who were charged with non-violent crimes. Before they brought the inmates in, we were reminded not to get personal, not to give our personal details, not to give out our telephone numbers except that of the Bar Council/Legal Aid Centre. We are also not to give them pens or pencils or any thing that can be fashioned into a weapon! And the inmates brought to us were at all times handcuffed, with a prison warden standing nearby.
To tell the truth, the place felt cold and unforgiving eventhough I was only in the interview room. Eventhough the road just outside the jail is one of the busiest in KL, with the thick high Walls surrounding the jail, traffic noises were like yesterday's dream - muted and forgotten. lt was a place for bad people and the grim place reminds you 24/7 that because you are bad, you need to be locked away from society.
I remembered when I stepped out of the main entrance and the iron gate clanged shut BEHIND me, Gosh, was I glad to be in the sun, with dust, noise and pollution slamming into my face, nose and ears. I was glad to leave but it was an experience that I will never trade with anything.
To me, Pudu Jail IS iconic and should be preserved because it should serve as a reminder to everyone that crime does not pay and no matter how notorious you are, the long arms of the Law will still find and get you one day and justice will be served. It should be turned into a museum, and get retired prison wardens to act as walking guides, just like what they do at the 100++ year old Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia. Make it an educational, eye-opening tour.
When I was there, you walk where the convicts walked before and see the inside out of Fremantle Prison. The guides also proudly showed me their Gallows and it was simply awesome. And this is how the Aussies have promoted their prison, which if compared to Pudu Jail, is not as colourful and historical ---> (
http://www.fremantleprison.com.au/Pages/default.aspx ) and (
http://www.fremantleprison.com.au/virtualtour/ )
...sigh...no one will appreciate legacies, history and heritage until it is all too late...
Imagine meeting Botak Chin's soul and Takashi Kanegawa's soul and Mona Fandey's soul while you are having dinner or just about to sleep 
