MRT Corp denies plans to acquire Pinggir Zaaba houses

KUALA LUMPUR: 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 Datuk 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 grounds that there was no legal requirement to do so as it will cause unnecessary precedence in the future," Azhar told a press conference here.