For development’s sake, Jalan Sultan shops must go, says Prasarana

By Yow Hong Chieh

August 11, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Sacrifices must be made in the name of development, the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) project owner told Jalan Sultan landowners whose properties will be acquired to allow for underground tunnelling works.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (SPNB) project development director Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff said today it was necessary to tunnel underneath Jalan Sultan as it represented the optimum alignment between the fixed points of KL Sentral and Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) Merdeka development.

A section of those who turned up for the Prasarana briefing on August 11, 2011. — Picture by Jack Ooi

“We understand this place has been there for more than 100 years but I think all of us must realise that there must be sacrifices for development,” he told some 30 landowners at a briefing here today.

“It’s not that we want to purposely acquire your land. The alignment has to go somewhere. This is for the rakyat.”

Zulkifli pointed out that Kampung Baru land had been similarly acquired for the Light Rail Transit (LRT), saying other areas along the proposed Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) KVMRT line will also face compulsory acquisition.

“Jalan Sultan is not the only place. We have land in Kajang, land in Kota Damansara. Everyone is affected,” he said.

He was responding to Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, who expressed concern over the “great impact” acquisition and demolishment of part of the historic Chinatown enclave will have on the nation’s cultural heritage and tourism.

Zulkifli stressed that unless the KVMRT optimised ridership by linking key fixed points that coincided with existing transport infrastructure and future developments, traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur would continue to worsen.

“We don’t want Kuala Lumpur to be like Bangkok or Jakarta where the roads are like a parking lot [and] your car doesn’t move,” he said.

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