MRT's right to demolish Jln Sultan buildings questioned

Save Jalan Sultan committee co-chairman Stanley Yeong today questioned the MRT's authority to demolish Plaza Warisan and the Ocean Uda building in Jalan Sultan.

At a press conference after a two-hour protest against their demolition, Yeong said the National Heritage Department (NHD) had declared them as heritage buildings.
As such, he contended, in order to demolish the buildings which are 80 to 90 years old, the MRT needed approval from the NHD.

"But the billboard erected by the MRT Corp (at the Old Klang Bus Station) does not display any approval code from the National Heritage Department. Do they have any approval to tear down the buildings?" he asked.

The billboard essentially informs the public about the demolition of the three buildings and states that the place will be redeveloped into Bukit Bintang MRT sub-station.

Demolition work has started at the Old Klang Bus Station since Thursday. It's unclear when the other two buildings will be knocked down.

Yeong said the committee will also query the NHD whether it had given the green light for their demolition.

He said the entire greater area of Jalan Sultan was alienated as heritage zone under the KL Draft Plan 2020, and by right old buildings should not be allowed to be torn down.

Commenting on the prime minister's recent announcement that shoplots in Jalan Sultan will be declared as national heritage, he said the Culture Ministry and the Tourism Ministry don't seem to be doing the right things.

"The PM did not keep track on the issue... and now the government does not seems to be keeping to its promise," he said.

Judy Tan, who owns a hotel in Jalan Sultan, is cynical over the government's intention of demolishing the three buildings.

She claimed the government had promised redevelopment of Plaza Warisan and Ocean Uda buildings when it acquired them from private owners 20 years ago.

"Once the buildings are torn down, half the cultural landscape in Jalan Sultan will be gone.

"We are deeply concerned whether our own buildings will be left untouched as promised," she said.

Meanwhile, when asked why the group has also included Klang Bus Station in their preservation list, Yeong said it was because they are for realignment of the entire MRT station and its tunnel.

"There is no reason to demolish (the bus stop). It can be preserved to offer added value to the MRT, with a bus service," he said.

He disagreed with the suggestion that the bus station had become an eyesore and pledged to preserve it.

When asked what the group would do if the government insisted on carrying out the demolition, he said more protests will be held.