UDA Holdings awaiting Treasury decision on Tradewinds' participation to rebuild BB Plaza

KUALA LUMPUR (June 26): UDA Holdings Bhd is still awaiting the decision from the Finance Ministry on the application by Tradewinds (M) Bhd to participate in the Bukit Bintang Plaza shopping complex reconstruction.

Managing Director Ahmad Abu Bakar said UDA Holdings has received the formal application from Tradewinds and other companies also keen to part take in the project.

The shopping complex, the symbol of Bumiputera business centre in the city's golden triangle area, is expected to be demolished early next year.

"MRT Corp has given us time until year-end to vacate the building. Eviction notice will be issued to the tenants to move out," he told reporters after a dialogue with the tenants on Tuesday.

The dialogue, attended by about 200 traders doing business at the three-decade-old building, discussed the traders' fate after the complexg was demolished.

Last Tuesday, about 50 traders staged a protest outside the complex, claiming they were sidelined in the tripartite negotiations between the Finance Ministry, MRT Corp and UDA Holdings on the shopping complex's future.

Meanwhile, the tenants' representative, Hassan Saad, said they hoped UDA Holdings would defend their interests at the plaza.

"We want an assurance for the future of our business after the complex was demolished.

"We also hope after the complex has been redeveloped, we, as the pioneer tenants, will be given priority to occupy the new premises," he added. — Bernama