By Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 — MRT Corporation today signed a Points of Agreement (POA) with Bungsar Hill Holdings Sdn Bhd, formalising negotiations over land acquisition for the construction of the Klang Valley MRT’s Pusat Bandaraya Damansara station near Help University.
Under the POA, MRT Corp agreed it would not acquire a parking lot in front of the university on Jalan Dungun and part of a nearby bus lay-by, as well as reduce the number of land plots it had originally planned to acquire for the project.
In return, MRT Corp said in a statement today, the landowner has agreed to develop the parking lot and hand over all spaces needed for the MRT’s Pusat Bandaraya Damansara station, including the construction of a ticketing area, 500 park and ride lots, bus and taxi lay-bys, OKU parking lots and drop-off bays.
“At the same time, the landowner will also allow MRT Corp to develop facilities on the bus lay-by land on Jalan Dungun for the MRT’s Semantan station,” the statement said.
MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid (picture) said today’s signing marks the project owner’s willingness and seriousness in working closely with all those impacted by the MRT’s construction.
“The POA signing was achieved quickly and smoothly as the parties involved saw the benefits of striking a deal that will work in favour of both sides.
“The successful signing of this POA marks a new formula for the owner of public infrastructure with the private sector and private landowners in achieving a win-win solution for everyone,” he said, thanking Bungsar Hills for the speedy negotiation.
Azhar, who is currently facing problems in his negotiations with Jalan Sultan landowners, said he hopes today’s signing would serve as an “example” to others and prove MRT Corp’s sincerity.
On Monday, Jalan Sultan landowners said they will resort to “physically” stopping construction of the MRT tunnel that proposes to cut beneath their properties if MRT Corp refuses to agree with their proposal to realign the Sungai Buloh - Kajang line.
Committee for the Preservation of Jalan Sultan chairman Stanley Yong said they would first stop Klang Bus Stand, UDA Ocean and Plaza Warisan from being demolished as the three buildings were the “gateway” to the historic street.