'Syed Hamid turned Chua from hero to zero in 24hrs'

The assertion by Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairperson Syed Hamid Albar yesterday that the land around Jalan Sultan would be acquired to make way for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) was a “big tight slap” for MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, said DAP today.

On Tuesday, after a one-hour meeting with Syed Hamid (middle, in photo), Chua (on Syed Hamid's right, below) had proudly announced that “an agreement in principle had been reached” which will see the government acquiring only the strata title for the property 100 feet below ground required for the MRT tunnel, while the buildings and land above ground will remain in the current owners' hands.

Contrary to Chua's announcement, yesterday Syed Hamid said SPAD is working on a solution to allow traders to return to their lots after the completion of MRT but there was no guarantee.

Commenting on this, DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said Chua's role as a hero was, unfortunately, "a most short-lived one", for Syed Hamid has given the MCA president the proverbial 'tight slap on the face' by insisting that Chinatown would be acquired to make way for the MRT and there was no guarantee at all that it would be returned to the owners."

Syed Hamid's arguments 'utter nonsense'

"Chua has turned from hero to zero within 24 hours, but what is perhaps most telling is how shocking flip-flop and ad-hoc decisions are being made by this administration on a daily basis which affects the lives and livelihood of the man-on-the-street."

The MP for Petaling Jaya Utara said that Syed Hamid's argument that compulsory acquisition of the Jalan Sultan lots was necessary because under land law, landowners also owned the land that lies below ground, is "complete and utter nonsense".

Pua (left) reiterated that the National Land Code 1965 had been specifically amended in 1990 to allow for the acquisition of underground land without affecting surface property by inserting Part Five (A) (section 92A to 92G) under Clause 3.

"The amendment enables the disposal of 'underground land', which can then either be alienated or leased for the use [sic] to construct tunnels, car parks and to lay pipes."

Pua pointed out that even Chua agreed with his view after he raised it earlier in the media.

"Clearly Prasarana is attempting to hijack the land affecting the heritage shop lots in Chinatown for the purposes of profit and not for the purposes of MRT construction works 100 feet underground. Such action for profit is clearly bad faith on the part of the Government," he said in a statement issued today.

He stressed that the government must not abuse the powers in its hands to profiteer at the expense of the existing property owners and is against the spirit of the law.

"Given that it is possible for Prasarana to acquire the use of land underground without having to acquire property on the surface, it must immediately withdraw its order to the affected landowners without causing any further inconvenience to them."

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.