MRT : Alternative route looked at to save KL heritage buildings

PETALING JAYA: An alternative mass rapid transit (MRT) route proposal is being seriously considered to safeguard the heritage buildings along Jalan Sultan, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

“The MRT project needs a huge piece of land that does not interfere with buildings, thus, the new alternative route proposal fits the bill,” he told reporters after receiving the proposal from Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat on Thursday.

Nazri said the alternative route would go along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock and there would be no need to tear down any historic building.

The route would go all the way to Jalan Petaling and Jalan Pudu before going back to Bukit Bintang where it was originally linked.

Apart from that, MRT trains needed a smooth and gentle turning which Jalan Sultan was lacking, he said.
“Some of the buildings in Jalan Sultan are over 100 years old and if we tear them down, we are tearing down history,” said Nazri.

Nazri also stressed that the property owners were not anti-development, they were merely against tearing down historical buildings.