Amidst tremendous pressure from the Chinese community and intervention by the MCA, the government has backtracked from its decision to acquire the land and 31 buildings around Jalan Sultan for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) mega project.
MCA president Chua Soi Lek (left in photo) said this follows a meeting he had earlier this afternoon with Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairperson Syed Hamid Albar at the commission's office in Kuala Lumpur.
“After the discussion between SPAD and the MCA, we have reached an understanding and agreement,” related Chua in a press conference immediately following the one-hour meeting.
Chua's negotiation team of five, which included representatives from the affected residents and land owners, met with Syed Hamid and a technical team from MRT Prasarana Berhad, to thrash out the matter.
According to Chua, the compromise will see the government acquiring only the strata title for the property 100 feet below ground required for the MRT tunnel, while the buildings, many of which are nearly a hundred years old, and land above ground will remain in the current owners' hands.
“The shops along Jalan Sultan will remain. They will keep their 'Chinese identity'... the MRT will continue to be developed, while Chinatown stays,” he explained further.
However, the residents may have to vacate their property during the six months or so of tunnelling works, while the government will also be required to strengthen the heritage buildings should they be affected by the works underground.
“The cost of the strengthening and the compensation to the owners will be detailed later,” added Chua.
The land along Jalan Sultan targeted by SPAD for acquisition are properties which have sentimental value to the Chinese community, who dubbed it 'Chinatown', not only because of its oriental feel, design and character but also because it is part of Kuala Lumpur's history and a popular tourist attraction.
Questions over the acquisition were first raised by Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua who also accused Prasana of abusing the National Land Code 1960 in its attempt to acquire the properties.
Pua said Prasana's excuse of its acquisition being bound by the National Land Code 1960 was “outrageous” as the code had been amended to allow for underground development.
The government move to backtrack follows Prasarana's tough stanceonly weeks ago, insisting its routes are fixed and optimum and hence cannot be altered, and that the land along its proposed MRT route near Jalan Sultan must be acquired and any building on site demolished for safety reasons, as the soil under the area contains limestone bedrock which may be affected by tunneling works.
The compromise may open the way for other land acquisitions in similar areas like Bukit Bintang where MRT construction works are underground. - Malaysiakini
MCA president Chua Soi Lek (left in photo) said this follows a meeting he had earlier this afternoon with Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairperson Syed Hamid Albar at the commission's office in Kuala Lumpur.
“After the discussion between SPAD and the MCA, we have reached an understanding and agreement,” related Chua in a press conference immediately following the one-hour meeting.
Chua's negotiation team of five, which included representatives from the affected residents and land owners, met with Syed Hamid and a technical team from MRT Prasarana Berhad, to thrash out the matter.
According to Chua, the compromise will see the government acquiring only the strata title for the property 100 feet below ground required for the MRT tunnel, while the buildings, many of which are nearly a hundred years old, and land above ground will remain in the current owners' hands.
“The shops along Jalan Sultan will remain. They will keep their 'Chinese identity'... the MRT will continue to be developed, while Chinatown stays,” he explained further.
However, the residents may have to vacate their property during the six months or so of tunnelling works, while the government will also be required to strengthen the heritage buildings should they be affected by the works underground.
“The cost of the strengthening and the compensation to the owners will be detailed later,” added Chua.
The land along Jalan Sultan targeted by SPAD for acquisition are properties which have sentimental value to the Chinese community, who dubbed it 'Chinatown', not only because of its oriental feel, design and character but also because it is part of Kuala Lumpur's history and a popular tourist attraction.
Questions over the acquisition were first raised by Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua who also accused Prasana of abusing the National Land Code 1960 in its attempt to acquire the properties.
Pua said Prasana's excuse of its acquisition being bound by the National Land Code 1960 was “outrageous” as the code had been amended to allow for underground development.
The government move to backtrack follows Prasarana's tough stanceonly weeks ago, insisting its routes are fixed and optimum and hence cannot be altered, and that the land along its proposed MRT route near Jalan Sultan must be acquired and any building on site demolished for safety reasons, as the soil under the area contains limestone bedrock which may be affected by tunneling works.
The compromise may open the way for other land acquisitions in similar areas like Bukit Bintang where MRT construction works are underground. - Malaysiakini
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