MCA risks losing more votes over MRT

Uphill task for BN component party to regain lost ground if it fails to stop government's plan to acquire plots of land in Chinatown

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA’s bid to regain ground with Chinese could take a nosedive if it fails to stop the Najib administration from taking up plots of land in Chinatown for the Klang Valley Mass Rail Transit (KVMRT) project.

Today, representatives from MCA promised Chinese traders, distraught over the prospects of having their businesses shut down, that they will ask their president Dr Chua Soi Lek to convince Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to take heed of their concerns.

“We’ll arrange a meeting with Prasarana so that the traders can tell them how they feel,” said Gan Joon Zin, the deputy team leader of MCA’s 1Malaysia (Federal Territories) task force which has been assigned to get feedback on the KVMRT project, the ruling coalition’s biggest infrastructure endeavour to date.

“Should Prasarana ignore them, we will ask Chua to arrange a meeting with the prime minister and to convince him to listen to the traders’ worries,” he added.

State-owned Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd is the owner of the MRT project, estimated to be worth RM37 billion. Some say its final cost could be RM53 billion considering potential cost overrun.

While the DAP has told traders to voice out loud their protest against the land acquisition, the MCA, by virtue of being a part of the ruling government, has an uphill task.

Failure to stop the land acquisition would ultimately result in an electoral disaster that could wipe out any remnants of credible standing the MCA has with the Chinese community.

Many traders felt that the decision to take up land along Jalan Sultan was “too last minute” as there is ample land around the road’s outer districts like Jalan Panggong. Only a vast car park lot occupies the area.

Low turnout at meeting

At a similar meeting with the traders yesterday, DAP’s publicity chief Tony Pua agreed with the traders that it was unnecessary for the government to acquire the land for the project.

“The MRT station is located a block away, so these shops are not in the way. They are above the tunnel track which is 100 feet below ground. There is no reason for the government to acquire particular shoplots,” he said.

Most of the traders have had businesses at the popular tourist district for generations and are worried about their long-term income prospects should they be forced to give up their land.

“The area is a heritage zone, it should be maintained,” said Gan after the meeting with traders today

Thirty-four shoplots have been served compulsory acquisition notices to make way for the KVMRT project which will run along Jalan Sultan and Jalan Petaling, cutting through the arch that bears the name “Petaling Street”.

The area is a blend of new and old buildings, some untouched since the day they were built a century ago, while others have been refurbished, with only the original frame of the building used.

The Department of Land Survey and Mapping (Jupem) has asked the affected traders and building owners to meet on Sept 7 for a hearing to explain the legal aspects of the acquisitions and also to negotiate compensation.

MCA leaders say they are on the traders’ side and are convinced that the government, which they said is “people first”, quoting Najib’s clarion call, would act on the interest of the voters.

But the low turnout of traders at the MCA-organised meeting was telling of the traders’ scepticism that the second biggest BN component party could help address their worries.