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    09 May 2012| last updated at 07:39AM

    PUBLIC TRANSPORT: MRT only way for us to progress

    By A.C., Kuala Lumpur

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    THE My Rapid Transit is a hot-button issue ever since it was first announced by the government. I would like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who said in a recent radio interview, that there would be no realignment of the MRT line.

    I echo the prime minister's sentiments in saying that the MRT is not a choice but the only way forward to propel Kuala Lumpur to greater heights.

    Parties who are demanding a realignment of the MRT line running along Jalan Sultan allege that the construction of the MRT will ruin the century-old heritage buildings in Jalan Sultan and Jalan Petaling, and wipe Chinatown off the map.

    So where should the alignment go to? According to some, the line should be realigned to Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, as this will not affect the existing buildings and businesses in Chinatown.

    The government had considered many alternative alignments, including the Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock option, before approving the current line.

    The report clearly explains why the Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock option was not chosen, namely it would miss the integration point at the Pasar Seni Light Rail Transit station and the Merdeka Stadium/Stadium Negara development area.

    From my understanding, the approved alignment only requires three buildings on government land, namely the Klang Bus Stand, Plaza Warisan and the UDA Ocean building to be demolished to develop the Pasar Seni MRT station.

    The alternative alignment will require 29 buildings to be demolished for the proposed Pasar Seni and Puduraya stations.

    Doesn't this defeat the whole purpose of having an integrated and seamless public transport system to make our lives much easier?

    What is good for these groups of people is apparently not good for the rest of us, especially those living and working in the areas of the alternative alignment.

    It's about time that we get the MRT up and running if we want to progress and move with the times.

    Kuala Lumpur’s traffic is getting worse and only public transport will provide a long-term solution to it.

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