KUALA LUMPUR: Traders at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) market felt they have been left in the dark on what was to happen to the market once the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) construction begins around the area.
After finding out that the market was never affected in the project's final proposed alignment recently, traders are now questioning the need to redevelop the market – which authorities had earlier said would be transformed into a mixed development MRT hub.
"The final MRT alignment shows the station's location near a petrol kiosk away from the market. So, why the need to redevelop the market and make it a mixed development?" TTDI Market Traders Association advisor Ramli Ismail told a media conference yesterday.
The traders were responding to KL Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail's statement last week that traders need to temporarily relocate for a MRT hub to be built on the market's land.
Their claims were backed by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng (pic), who said in his numerous visits to MRT's public viewing booths, had never noticed the market being affected in the alignment.
"The mayor is only taking the word of part of the community which agree with redeveloping the market, but the traders are still against it," said Lim.
The traders were unhappy that they were not consulted on the market's fate, despite promises by Ahmad Fuad and Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin that traders would be engaged before any decision was made.
Meanwhile, a meeting has been scheduled between the traders and City Hall next week.
The traders are hoping to get a final word if the market will remain or redeveloped once the MRT project kicks off.
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