Fong: new skyscraper to hold up traffic at schools area

Bukit Bintang Member of Parliament Fong Kui Lun is worried that the new 100-storey building proposed by the Prime Minister in the budget 2011 will become nothing but a big hindrance to the traffic flow along Jalan Hang Jebat.

He said the Warisan Merdeka, proposed to be built near to Stadium Merdeka , will create traffic woes to the neighbourhood that houses five schools and various places of worship.

“Let’s assume there are 100 people working on every floor of the tower, and half of them drive to work. There will be 5000 more cars moving in and out from the area,” he said during a press conference today morning.

“The traffic nightmare is unimaginable,” he added.

Fong (archive)

Komunitikini understands that the two-lane Jalan Hang Jebat is relatively tranquil except during the peak hours before school and after school.

Motorists who fetch their children were reported as saying that the crowded traffic can cost them up to half an hour just for 800m distance in Jalan Hang Jebat.

Warisan Merdeka RM5 billion, Dubai Tower RM4.5 billion

Fong urged the government to conduct a traffic assessment study and consider the socio-environmental impact of the project before granting a go blindly.

He also questioned the legitimacy of allocating RM5 billion for the building, since the construction cost of the 162-storey Dubai Tower was just RM4.5 billion.

“I doubt there might be a waste of public funds during the process,” he said.

He called on the government to withdraw the plan and instead utilize the funds to cultivate talents or support small and medium industries.

His remark was echoed by Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who said no positive impact could be foreseen by erecting a new tallest building in Malaysia.

“In fact, none of the great cities in the world is noted for its skyscrapers,” he said.

“KL might even turn into a city of concrete monsters if this kind of practice persists,” he added.

Tan urged the authority to emulate other renowned cities in investing in public security, transportations, public facilities, environment conservation and socio-cultural values to make KL a more livable city.