Businesses in the Sentul West area have been badly affected by the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) construction in Jalan Ipoh.
A business operator, who only wanted to be known as Mahesh, said his business had slowed down over the past few months due to the construction.
“The business pays my bills. The rental at the shopping mall is high, but since business has been very slow, I might be forced to close it down.”
Mahesh said the construction site had even blocked his signboard, making it hard for customers to see.
“How will I get new customers if they can’t even see the signboard?
“I have lodged a complaint with Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and MRT Corp Sdn Bhd, but there’s no feedback.
“It would help if they could compensate my losses.”
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In a statement, MRT Corp strategic communications and stakeholder relations director Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah said its contractor had put in place measures to ease the plight of business owners and residents.
“In building a public transport facility for the greater good of the people, any form of inconvenience caused is much regretted by MRT Corp and the contractor.
“While MRT Corp will try its best to minimise the impact of the construction, the company does not, however, compensate business loss.
“Instead, the contractor has put up banners stating ‘business is as usual’ despite the construction.”
Najmuddin said the contractor had been engaging stakeholders in the area on traffic diversions.
“MMC-Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd (the contractor) has been engaging property and business owners since mid-2016, and residents of Viva Residence since late last year.
“The purpose of the engagement is to brief the stakeholders on traffic diversions, which commenced early this year and ends in December 2021.
“The contractor has kept in touch with stakeholders via e-mails and phone calls.”
He said the construction was part of the underground section of the future MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line, the second MRT line in the Klang Valley.
“MRT Corp urges complaints to be directed to the MRT hotline at 1800-82-6868.”