Prasarana won't budge on Jalan Sultan land acquisition

MRT Prasarana Negara Bhd, which will own and operate the multi-billion ringgit mass rapid transit (MRT) project, today refused to budge on its move to acquire land along Jalan Sultan for the underground stretch, saying the alignment had been set.

Prasarana's group director of project development Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff said the MRT corridor, which runs under Jalan Sultan, must take the route as it is the "most optimum" option to connect the Pasar Seni and Merdeka MRT stations.

Addressing about 100 irate traders from Jalan Sultan at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur today, Zulkifli (right) said the stations could not be moved as they must connect with the existing Pasar Seni LRT station and the controversial 100-storey Warisan Merdeka tower, which is yet to be built.

"As far as we are concerned, the Merdeka MRT station is fixed," he said, rejecting calls by the traders that the Merdeka station be shifted to spare their shops.

Zulkifli, who was grilled by the traders and shopowners from the historic downtown Kuala Lumpur street this morning, also stood his ground by rejecting suggestions that the tunnel go through several plots of vacant land, bypassing the colonial buildings.

"If we maintain (the Pasar Seni MRT) station under the Klang bus station and turn sharply into the vacant lands, we would not be able to make the 300-metre minimum radius requirement for the curve. It's a very sharp turn, almost 90 degrees," he said at the heated meeting.

The Klang bus station, Plaza Rakyat and Uda Ocean supermarket will be demolished for the construction of the underground Pasar Seni MRT station, which would connect with KL Sentral through tunnels under the Klang river.

The two tunnels, he said, would be 20 metres wide, including a safety buffer of three metres from the sides and six metres between the tunnels.

Colonial buildings to give way to ‘urban renewal'

Zulkifli said it was also impossible for Prasarana to conduct tunnelling work 20 metres under the shops on Jalan Sultan, as the National Land Code states that landowners have exclusive rights to space under and above their land.

Gamuda-MMC tunnelling expert Ooi Lean Hock said it would be unsafe to allow shopowners to continue to operate while tunnelling is in progress as limestone "is unpredictable" and could lead to sink holes.

"There would also be a degree of settlement when we dig underneath, and as these buildings are very old, their vulnerability is hard to ascertain," Ooi said.

It is also understood that tunnelling deeper would add to the price tag, which Prasarana would not be able to confirm until all land acquisitions have been done.

Nevertheless, Zulkifli said, Prasarana intended to develop the land acquired once the MRT construction was completed, and that the displaced Jalan Sultan traders "will have an opportunity to have new lots" within the new development.

"This is part of the government's plan for urban renewal. Just because a building is 100 years old it doesn't mean... I mean, we want to maintain heritage as much as possible but there will be an opportunity for you to do business there," he said.

Putting a price on heritage

However, there is no indication whether the displaced traders will be assured units in the new development, as hearings to determine compensation will only begin on Aug 15.

Those whose lands are to be acquired will be able to employ their own valuers and present the valuation reports to the authorities during the hearing, after which a presiding officer will determine the quantum of compensation.

However, for Hotel Lok Ann administrator Judy Tan, 50 (right), the quantum of compensation is immaterial as the owners have decided that they would not budge from what they deem to be their "heritage".

"We are not asking for compensation, we are not interested. We want to keep (the building). These are the sacrifices made by our forefathers. How do you put a price on that?" asked Tan.

She added that Jalan Sultan is part of Kuala Lumpur's history and is significant to the identity and culture of the Chinese in the city.

"This is our blood and tears. We will fight this to the end, all the way to the Prime Minister's Office," she said.

A total of 22 shoplots are affected, although some traders have yet to receive the notice of acquisition, which was delivered on July 21.

All matters involving the acquisition, including compensation, are expected to be resolved by February.