TTDI wet market to stay
The Taman Tun Dr Ismail’s (TTDI) three-storey market would remain and not be demolished.Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail confirmed this in a letter delivered to TTDI traders association chairwoman, Jenny Loo, yesterday.“The letter stated that the MRT station would be built at the current Caltex station which is already closed and the market will not be demolished.“The letter also stated that a meeting scheduled to be held today involving the TTDI residents and traders, DBKL and (the company that owns Mass Rapid Transit (MRTs) Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd has been called off,” Loo said when contacted.
However, no reason was given for the cancellation of the meeting.
DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng whose area also includes TTDI also confirmed receiving the letter.
In December last year, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had plans to demolish the 25-year-old market in favour of a condominium and later picked the same site for the MRT station.
The plan did go down well with residents and traders who demonstrated and opposed the plans in January.
Things only cooled down after Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister, Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, told the media that the plans were made by DBKL without consulting the public.
Raja Nong Chik also criticised the DBKL for its failure to consult the traders and patrons on the proposals.
Last Tuesday, TTDI traders expressed their dismay against Ahmad Fuad as he seemed enthusiastic in displacing the traders even though Raja Nong Chik was against it.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the TTDI resident association (TTDIRA) has a proposal to redevelop the market and is running a poll to gauge the sentiments of the residents.
“TTDIRA is proposing to have the current market redeveloped to include better and more modern facilities, more parking space and to be connected to the future MRT station with longer operating hours (which will benefit all market stallholders and residents alike).
“TTDIRA is not supporting a major redevelopment of the market to become a new office building or serviced residence. TTDIRA’s suggestion is for a bigger carpark space, an MRT station, a new and modern market, and limited commercial area leading to the MRT,” the resident association said in its website
The TTDIRA is making proposal because many of the facilities are either not functioning or is in a state of disrepair.
However, at the time of writing, a large majority are opposing the proposal.
Of the 1,704 who polled, a total of 1,266 voted against the proposal whereas only 426 are in favour.
A total of 12 people remained neutral. The polls can be accessed here. (http://ttdi-ra.com.my/news/poll-do-you-want-a-modern-market-in-ttdi/)
