Don’t jump the gun on TTDI market issue, says Ahmad Fuad

Ahmad Fuad: ‘I have no idea who is creating these stories that the market will be demolished’

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/2/28/central/10814849&sec=central (By BAVANI M and S. PUSPADEVI, 28/2/2012)
Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail has urged Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) market traders not to speculate on the redevelopment plans as nothing has been finalised yet. “How can there be when there is not even a letter of intent or an offer letter?’’ Ahmad Fuad asked. “We were asked by the Govern-ment to study the proposal to develop the market,’’ he said.
The mayor said he was unhappy to read media reports quoting him as saying that the market would be demolished as it was obstructing the MRT line. “I have no idea who is creating these stories that the market will be demolished and that I want to take away the traders’ licences,’’ Ahmad Fuad said.
The mayor explained that any privatisation project involved an in-depth study on the plan, design and social impact. “Only after that we will meet the stakeholders with all the necessary information. But in this case, we are still studying the proposal and we have not made any decisions,’’ he said. He added that it was a normal process for the Government to revive developed areas to unlock its value but that the whole process required a lot of looking into.
It was reported in StarMetro on Feb 27 that the TTDI market traders were concerned whether their licences would be renewed since Fuad had called off a meeting with the TTDI Market Traders Association (MTA) on Monday without stating any reasons. The letter from the mayor also mentioned that the MRT station would be built at the TTDI Caltex station, according to its original plan. The matter was further aggravated when the TTDI Residents Association (RA) told MTA chairman Jenny Loo that traders would be at the losing end if they did not agree to the proposed redevelopment plan and that DBKL had every right to ask the traders to leave since the market belonged to the City Hall.
Loo was asked to say yes to the plan but she refused stating that the traders had not given their consent and would prefer to view the proposed redevelopment plan first.
The TTDI RA had sent an e-mail to the residents asking them to give their votes on the modernisation plan of the market.
Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had in early January confirmed that City Hall had received an application to redevelop the market land but no decision had been made on the proposal. Nong Chik had said the stakeholders would be included in future discussions and their views on the development of the site would be taken into consideration.