Najib says ready to declare Jalan Sultan shoplots as heritage sites
He said as prime minister he was aware of the need to have a balance between urban development and heritage, and that Malaysians needed both.
“For us to have development in Kuala Lumpur, efficient public transport necessary; it’s not a choice… the only way forward is MRT.
“We are prepared to declare as heritage buildings... (It is) important for us to preserve history, legacy but (it) should not impede progress… then you are not moving with the times,” Najib told Chinese-language radio station 988FM in an interview this morning.
“Jalan Sultan (landowners) not against MRT but they want assurance that their shophouses not affected. (We have) given assurance,” he added.
The dispute over the tunnelling along Jalan Sultan erupted after landowners were informed by the government that their properties would be acquired for the MRT project.
MRT Corp subsequently made an offer for Jalan Sultan property owners to vacate their premises for six months, and guaranteeing there would be no land acquisition, that any damage will be repaired and loss of income compensated.
Nineteen of the 23 owners along Jalan Sultan have so far said that they will pursue the offer, with another two willing to have their lots bought out by MRT Corp. A further two are still holding out.
_______________________________________________
Jalan Sultan landowners getting paid leave, says MOF
KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Putrajaya said today its offer to guarantee the income of Chinatown landowners while they vacated their premises for Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnelling work is like giving them a paid holiday.
Project owners MRT Corp has made an offer to Jalan Sultan property owners to vacate their premises here for six months, guaranteeing there would be no land acquisition and that any damage will be repaired and loss of income compensated.
The Finance Ministry confirmed today that two landowners are still holding out, with the rest saying they will either accept the offer or sell their land to MRT Corp.
“The compensation will guarantee income during the six months. This is like giving them a paid holiday. They don’t have to work but get paid,” Deputy Minister Datuk Awang Adek told Parliament.
The dispute over land acquisition began soon after landowners in Chinatown, Imbi and Bukit Bintang were informed in mid-2011 that the government would acquire lots above the MRT tunnel as owners’ rights extend to the centre of the earth under the law.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chief executive Mohd Nur Kamal has said landowners could then apply for stratum titles but added there was no guarantee Putrajaya would re-alienate the surface land back to them.
Critics have questioned the need for compulsory acquisition of both surface and underground land as the National Land Code 1965 was amended in 1990 to allow underground land to be acquired without affecting surface rights.
Unhappy landowners had mounted a high-profile campaign marked by many protests, signature drives and claims that Putrajaya was conducting a “land grab” in order to defray project costs.
But MRT Corp’s latest offer has been agreed to by the majority of landowners, likely clearing one of several hurdles the RM50 billion megaproject has faced since being announced in June 2010.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also said two weeks ago the government was prepared to declare buildings in Jalan Sultan as heritage sites, assuring owners that their shophouses will not be affected by the planned infrastructure project.
_______________________________________________
The Committee to Preserve Jalan Sultan and Jalan Bukit Bintang, or PJSJBB, said that the six-month compensation offered by project owners MRT Corp did not address the loss and suffering of the community while business was suspended.
"It will be difficult for us to resume operations and revitalise our business after being put on hold for six months. It is hard to change our mode of operations," said Stanley Yong, the chairman of PJSJBB, at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here today.
"Smallholders will never survive."
He said that the compensation did not cover tenants and subtenants, who would suffer the most from leaving their businesses, adding that some 3000 families and 30000 people in the area depended on it.
Yong also highlighted the situation in Jalan Petaling, which he said had turned into a haven for drug users, adding that he feared such damage would occur to Jalan Sultan, thus making it more difficult for tenants to resume business afterwards.
He added that if the government were truly sincere about addressing the people’s grievances, they should hold public dialogues regarding the project and extend it for a reasonable amount of time.
Yong further suggested that MRT Corp realign the tunnel to Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, as it is twice the width of Jalan Sultan and would result in less damage to buildings.
Putrajaya said today its offer to guarantee the income of Chinatown landowners while they vacated their premises for Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnelling work is like giving them a paid holiday.
Project owners MRT Corp has made an offer to Jalan Sultan property owners to vacate their premises here for six months, guaranteeing there would be no land acquisition and that any damage will be repaired and loss of income compensated.
“The compensation will guarantee income during the six months. This is like giving them a paid holiday. They don’t have to work but get paid,” Deputy Minister Datuk Awang Adek told Parliament.
The dispute over land acquisition began soon after landowners in Chinatown, Imbi and Bukit Bintang were informed in mid-2011 that the government would acquire lots above the MRT tunnel as owners’ rights extend to the centre of the earth under the law.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chief executive Mohd Nur Kamal has said landowners could then apply for stratum titles but added there was no guarantee Putrajaya would re-alienate the surface land back to them.
Critics have questioned the need for compulsory acquisition of both surface and underground land as the National Land Code 1965 was amended in 1990 to allow underground land to be acquired without affecting surface rights.
Unhappy landowners had mounted a high-profile campaign marked by many protests, signature drives and claims that Putrajaya was conducting a “land grab” in order to defray project costs.
But MRT Corp’s latest offer has been agreed to by the majority of landowners, likely clearing one of several hurdles the RM50 billion megaproject has faced since being announced in June 2010.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also said two weeks ago the government was prepared to declare buildings in Jalan Sultan as heritage sites, assuring owners that their shophouses will not be affected by the planned infrastructure project.
_______________________________________________
