By Yong Yew Wei, Chairman of Committee for Preserving Jalan Sultan
Members of Committee of Preserving Jalan Sultan and Jalan Bukit Bintang rebuke Azhar Abdul Hamid for making false statement to media yesterday that many landownders in Jalan Sultan and Jalan Inai have signed a simple memorandum to work out the terms for a mutual agreement.
The committee condemns Azhar for making false and misleading statement to the media as only a small number of landowners have agreed to the land acquisition but not the majority.
The minority land owners’ view do not reflect the majority’s stand.
As group of landowners who are affected by the acquisition, we plead with the government to hear our voice and re-route the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) track alignment away from Jalan Sultan and Jalan Bukit Bintang.
We are consistent in our stand. We have stated our view clearly in the memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Abdul Aziz on Nov 1.
The land acquisition issue has dragged on for more than two months; MRT Co earlier said there were no plans to acquire land but there were no promises that the land would be given back to land owners upon the completion of MRT. We are seeking an explanation from the company on this contradictory statement.
We urge MRT Co to hear our voice. A public hearing should be conducted immediately and MRT Co compelled to explain the construction in detail and answer landowners’ queries.
For the sake of transparency and respecting citizens’ right to information, MRT Co should disclose the social impact assessment report and technical feasibility study to the public.
CJMY
Jimmy Tan
