No need to evict all BB Plaza tenants, says MRT Corp
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — MRT Corporation (MRT Corp) has said the construction of its Bukit Bintang station would not require the entire Bukit Bintang Plaza (BBP) to be vacated, allaying fears raised by tenants over their impending eviction from the mall in the capital city.
MRT Corp strategic communications and public relations director Amir Mahmood Razak told The Malaysian Insider that only the five outlets operating on the busy sidewalk outside the mall would have to clear out by month-end to facilitate “pre-works” on the station.
Work is scheduled to commence on July 2 and The Malaysian Insider understands that eviction notices have already been issued to the five businesses.
The only other portion that MRT Corp would require, said Amir, is part of the building’s basement parking, which he pointed out is often deserted.
“We only want to build the station to integrate with BBP. We need to vacate the traders on the sidewalk and some areas in the parking lot.
“But the traders inside the building would only be affected if they are going to rebuild or redevelop BBP,” he said, referring to mall owner UDA Holdings Bhd.
Amir, however, said that MRT Corp does not need UDA Holdings to redevelop BBP if it does not want to.
“We merely said that it would be a good opportunity to redevelop as it would help boost the status of businesses there,” he said.
Amir also gave MRT Corp’s assurance that “clear access” into BBP would still be available while preparatory work on the MRT commences on the frontage of the building.
“Proper pedestrian covers will also be built,” he said.
Amir stressed that MRT Corp also has no intention to buy over BBP, pointing out that the firm’s business was only in developing the MRT, Malaysia’s first mass rapid transit system and the most expensive infrastructure to date.
Some 200 traders inside the 1970s-built BBP have raised concerns over the fate of their businesses following media reports on alleged plans for the total demolition of the plaza to make way for work on the MRT.
A group of some 50 traders staged a protest outside BBP on Tuesday, lamenting to the media that they have been left out of the loop in negotiations between UDA, the Treasury and MRT Corp over future plans for the building.
The traders said they were happy to accept the integration of the MRT with BBP, noting that it would boost their businesses, but are worried over the possibility that the plaza would be redeveloped without any guarantee that they would be given lots in the new building.
But in an immediate response, UDA said it was equally in the dark over future plans for BBP, on whether the iconic mall located in the heart of the city’s busiest shopping districts would have to be demolished or whether it could be sold to the highest bidder.
Speaking to The Malaysian Insider yesterday, UDA chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed expressed his preference not to redevelop BBP.
He cited cost constraints as the reason, pointing out that it would cost at least RM500 million to rebuild BBP, which would in turn be translated into hefty rentals to the traders.
“And then there goes the Bumiputera agenda,” he pointed out.
The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that property conglomerate Tradewinds Corporation Bhd (TCB), which is majority-owned by tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, has proposed to acquire BBP and the adjoining Yayasan Selangor to facilitate the MRT work.
Syed Mokhtar also owns a major stake in the MMC-Gamuda joint venture, which is the project delivery partner and tunnel contractor for the 51km Sungai Buloh-Kajang line in the first phase of the MRT due for completion by 2017.
But the possible buyover of BBP leaves traders in an even tighter bind over whether they would be included in the tycoon’s redevelopment plans for BBP.
Another question on their minds is on compensation for their loss of business. UDA has already said that relocation would be near impossible for the traders as there are no suitable locations in the prime shopping district to place them.
But Amir told The Malaysian Insider that “by law”, the question of compensating the traders would lie in UDA’s hands if the Finance Ministry-owned agency signs the eviction notices.
“As for MRT, we are not in any position to compensate. We are building the line,” he said.
“But let UDA complete its talks with the government,” he added.