Anti-MRT banners line Jalan Sultan
More than 20 banners opposing the alignment of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) through the Jalan Petaling area have cropped up since yesterday morning.
More than 20 banners opposing the alignment of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) through the Jalan Petaling area have cropped up since yesterday morning.
The banners are all in bright yellow - the colour popular in recent campaigns against government actions and policies - and they describe the MRT project as an attempt to destroy a heritage zone.
Most of the banners cry out at the government's intention to forcefully push through the MRT project, which would require several buildings to be levelled.
One banner depicts a tank rolling onto Jalan Sultan while other depicts a huge boot about to trample over the same street.
A few shopkeepers interviewed by Malaysiakini believe the banners were put up in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Another set of three red banners, spotted along Jalan Hang Jebat, read: "Save Jalan Sultan: KL Heritage, national pride and treasure."
However, one of the banners was defaced with a message, written with a marker pen.
The message reads: Orang Cina halau orang miskin, dan orang cina halau orang Islam di semua tempat2. Kita tak perlukan orang Cina. Kita halau orang Cina dan kekalkan Umno. We love our PMs. TQ Allah. [Signed] Umno.
(Chinese people chased away the poor and the Muslims everywhere. We do not need them here. Let us shoo them and preserve Umno. We love our prime ministers. Thank you, Allah. [Signed] Umno).
Tunnelling to begin in 2014
People living and doing business in the locality said the red banners appeared as early as two weeks ago, but no one could say with certainty.
Tunnelling in the area for the MRT project is scheduled to begin in 2014, as part of the 51km mass rapid transit rail project to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.
Property owners within the Jalan Petaling vicinity are very unhappy with the alignment, which will require the demolition and acquisition of a number of buildings in the heritage area.
A committee comprising landowners has proposed an alternative route, which it says will provide a smoother ride and integration with the existing Plaza Rakyat LRT station.
Project owner MRT Corp has given its assurance to the property owners that the they would not lose ownership of their properties above ground, and that any building damaged would be repaired.
Yesterday's launch of the banner campaign is not the first time the arts were used to protest against the project.
On Sept 16, about 500 people gathered in the Jalan Sultan area for a cultural event to promote the heritage value of the area.
