Gov't has backed off from Chinatown land acquisition

Amidst tremendous pressure from the Chinese community and intervention by the MCA, the government has backtracked from its decision to acquire the land around Jalan Sultan for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) mega project.

MCA president Chua Soi Lek said it follows a meeting he had earlier this afternoon with Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairperson Syed Hamid Albar at the commission's office in Kuala Lumpur.

According to Chua, the compromise will see the government acquiring only the strata title for the property 100 feet below ground required for the MRT tunnel, while the building and land above ground will remain in the current owners' hands.

Full story: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/173894

Camera: Hazlan Zakaria

Editing: Tan Jiun Wuu