Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) has denied allegations it misled Pinggir Zaaba residents in Taman Tun Dr Ismail over a plan to acquire their houses.

Chief executive officer Azhar Abdul Hamid said the residents were fully aware that negotiations for a buy-out were on a voluntary and goodwill basis.

He said MRT Corp did not have any basis to acquire the property but realised the residents’ request and tried to find a way like an option to buy out the houses.

“This is an intention, not a promise. A potential buy-out must be approved by the government. I have already told them during a meeting that we had one chance to bring a good working paper to the special compensation committee (SCC).

“But SCC had rejected the acquisition plan on the grounds that there was no legal requirement to do so as it will cause an unnecessary precedence in the future,” Azhar told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

It was reported that 25 property owners in Pinggir Zaaba had claimed their houses would be ‘unliveable’ due to the construction and future presence of an MRT line, 15 metres in front of the houses.

They alleged during a meeting that MRT Corp had verbally ‘promised’ to buy their houses, without any documented papers.

Azhar said residents were more than aware that SCC had the final say and various email communications were made to target a specific date of the SCC meeting.

“Both parties met several times to agree on the basis of valuation and other financial considerations that the residents demanded such as moving out costs and hardship costs.

“Residents wanted to be paid a premium for their houses, such as the valuation of the houses be made based on property value in Taman Zaaba, two streets away from Pinggir Zaaba,” he added.

To a question that the residents would take legal action against MRT Corp, Azhar said their lawyers were currently studying statements and representations made by the residents.

“A decision, and any further action on the matter will be made, once our lawyers have studied the statements.

“They should understand this is a national project, not a private project. Whatever reasons (which) may disrupt this project, we have to protect it and protect the government. If necessary, we will take some action,” he said.

Technical changes made to viaduct design

According to Azhar, being sensitive to the concerns of the residents, several technical changes were made to the design of the viaduct, especially where it passed in front of the houses.

The works would start next week and at the moment, MRT Corp is negotiating with the authorities on technical plans, including allowing access to the work area to be exclusive from Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), and not from the Pinggir Zaaba side, he said.

Azhar said usage of Pinggir Zaaba as a residential street would relatively be minimally changed, and access by emergency service vehicles such as fire and rescue should not be an issue.

“We have proposed to the residents to temporarily make Pinggir Zaaba a one-way street, towards Jalan Leong Yew Koh (subject to approval of the authorities).

“Trees that are cut to accommodate access to the work area will be replaced with semi-mature trees, once work at the site is completed,” he said.

- Bernama