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MEDAN SELERA
TERMINAL BAS KLANG SENTRAL

Ramai yang tidak
menyedari kewujudan medan selera di Terminal Bas Klang
Sentral. Ia berada di tingkat atas, berhampiran escalator
(sebelah kiri) dan berdekatan dengan kaunter jualan tiket bas
(di sebelah kanan escalator). Sehingga kini, belum ramai
peniaga yang membuka gerai makan di medan selera ini. Jika
anda baru pertama kali datang ke terminal bas ini, anda
seolah-oleh macam tidak percaya, adakah benar tempat ini
merupakan medan selera kerana ianya lengang dan hanya dua atau
tiga orang sahaja yang makan di situ. Yang lain-lainnya adalah
pekerja gerai makan, yang kelihatan resah menunggu pelanggan
yang sangat kurang di situ.
Artikel
Arkib: Sepinggan Nasi Sehari...
TIDAK CUKUP... Papan tanda Medan Selera Klang Sentral
dikatakan terlalu kecil dan ditempatkan di kawasan tidak
strategik menyebabkan pengunjung tidak sedar
kewujudannya.
Oleh SITI
AIRUNNISA ALAUI - kota@utusan.com.my
KLANG 29 Jan.
- "Kalau sehari hanya sepinggan nasi ayam dan dua mangkuk
laksa sahaja dapat dijual, macam mana nak bayar sewa RM2,100
sebulan." Itulah antara luahan peniaga di
Medan Selera Terminal A Klang Sentral berikutan sambutan
dingin orang ramai terhadap medan selera itu. Walaupun
Terminal Bas Klang Sentral telah sebulan beroperasi, masalah
kekurangan pelanggan masih menjadi antara isu utama di
situ dan peniaga kini semakin bimbang tentang nasib mereka.
Masalah itu semakin meruncing apabila pihak pengurusan
terminal Klang Sentral itu tidak mengambil kira masalah
tersebut, sebaliknya mewajibkan peniaga membayar sewa sebanyak
RM70 sehari baru-baru Ini.
Sebelum ini,
Utusan Malaysia pernah melaporkan keluhan peniaga di Terminal
B , Klang Sentral yang turut menghadapi masalah yang sama
apabila tiada pelanggan yang mengunjungi gerai mereka akibat
kekurangan penumpang yang menaiki bas di perhentian bas itu.
Selain itu, peniaga terbabit turut mendakwa hanya
Terminal A sahaja menjadi tumpuan penumpang memandangkan
terminal tersebut menempatkan perkhidmatan bas ekspres
selain bas berhenti-henti turut mengambil penumpang di
terminal berkenaan. Bagaimanapun, sangkaan peniaga di
Terminal B ternyata meleset apabila peniaga di Terminal A
turut mengalami masalah yang sama apabila perniagaan mereka
juga umpama hidup segan mati tak mahu. Tinjauan Utusan
Malaysia ke lokasi terbabit mendapati medan selera
berkenaan memang tidak mendapat sambutan daripada
pengunjung.

Papan tanda sedia ada
nampaknya gagal menarik perhatian umum mengenai kewujudan
Medan Selera Klang Sentral
Walaupun medan
selera Klang Sentral disediakan dengan kerusi dan meja yang
selesa serta menyajikan pelbagal pilihan menu makanan, namun
ia sepi dan sunyi daripada kunjungan pelanggan. Terdapat 13
buah gerai yang disewakan kepada peniaga namun hanya enam buah
gerai sahaja yang beroperasi manakala selebihnya tidak
beroperasi kerana penyewanya tidak mahu menanggung
kerugian besar.
Keadaan
tersebut menambahkan lagi kesukaran peniaga yang beroperasi
untuk me-narik lebih ramai pengunjung ke medan selera
Klang Sentral ini. Ini adalah kerana pengunjung mendakwa tidak
banyak pilihan makanan di medan selera tersebut.
Tidak cukup itu sahaja, lokasi medan selera Klang Sentral
yang berada di tingkat satu bangunan terminal itu menyebabkan
banyak penumpang tidak mengetahui kewujudannya. Lebih
memburukkan keadaan terdapat beberapa gerai makan yang turut
ditempatkan di tingkat bawah dan berdekatan dengan pintu masuk
menyebabkan penumpang lebih tertumpu di gerai-gerai
berkenaan.
Selain itu,
kebanyakan kemudahan awam seperti tandas, kios dan surau juga
terletak di tingkat bawah menyebabkan pengunjung lebih
tertumpu di tingkat bawah sahaja. Peniaga mendakwa, pihak
pengurusan perlu prihatin terhadap masalah peniaga berkenaan
memandangkan mereka sering menanggung kerugian sejak gerai
mereka beroperasi sebulan lalu. Dakwa mereka lagi, sejak
menjalankan perniagaan di medan selera Klang Sentral ini,
pendapatan mereka hanya antara RM30 hingga RM50 sahaja sehari
berbanding dengan peniaga-peniaga di tingkat bawah yang
mencecah RM300 sehari.
Seorang
peniaga, Fatimah Saleh, 40, memberitahu, sekiranya keadaan
berkenaan berlarutan, pastinya peniaga di situ akan
rnengalami kerugian lebih besar. Katanya, sebahagian peniaga
pula memilih untuk tidak beroperasi sehingga semua
perkhidmatan bas berpindah ke perhentian bas berkenaan.
Jelasnya, pihak pengurusan medan selera Klang Sentral perlu
mencari alternatif agar medan selera tersebut mendapat
sambutan orang ramai. "Mengikut perjanjian, peniaga perlu
membayar sewa bermula 27 Januari lalu sebanyak RM2,100
sebulan, namun, kesemua peniaga tidak dapat menjelaskan sewa
berkenaan memandangkan mereka hanya memperoleh tidak sampai
RM50 sehari.
"Kami bukan
ingin menuding jari kepada pihak pengurusan, cuma kami
berharap pihak pengurusan dapat mencari alternatif untuk
memajukan medan selera Klang Sentral ini sebelum
peniaga-peniaga mengalami kerugian dan mengambil keputusan
untuk menutup gerai mereka," jelasnya. Fatimah menambah,
kebanyakan peniaga be rasa tertekan apabila perniagaan
mereka tidak mendapat sambutan kerana mereka telah
menghabiskan banyak modal untuk mengubah suai gerai dan bahan
jualan harian. Jelasnya, sebelum ini, pihak pengurusan
mendakwa hanya medan selera sahaja yang akan dibenarkan
menjual makanan namun setelah hampir sebulan stesen bas
berkenaan beroperasi, terdapat beberapa buah gerai makan yang
dibuka di tingkat bawah terminal bas ini.
Ujarnya,
keadaan tersebut menyebabkan peniaga berasa tertipu dan
berharap pihak pengurusan dapat bertanggungjawab ke atas
perkara berkenaan "Kami tidak dimaklumkan tentang kewujudan
gerai makan di tingkat bawah namun setelah gerai kami
beroperasi, barulah kami menyedari kewujudan gerai tersebut
yang turut menjadi punca mengapa perniagaan kami kurang
mendapat sambutan. "Seharusnya pihak pengurusan mengadakan
perbincangan dengan semua peniaga di terminal bas klang
sentral bagi menyelesaikan masalah tersebut dan bukannya hanya
menyelesaikannya secara perseorangan.
"Pihak
pengurusan juga perlu turun padang agar mereka dapat meninjau
keadaan pemiagaan kami sebelum mengarahkan kami membayar sewa
gerai tersebut," jelasnya,
Seorang lagi
peniaga yang ditemui, Mohammad Fahrozi Alias, 51, mengakui
bahawa dia hampir putus asa untuk meneruskan perniagaan di
terminal bas Klang Sentral kerana terpaksa menanggung kerugian
setiap hari. Jelasnya, sekiranya pihak pengurusan tidak
dapat membantu peniaga, tidak mustahil peniaga akan kerugian
dan tidak mampu untuk menjelaskan sewa
gerai.
TERMINAL BAS
KLANG SENTRAL TETAP BEROPERASI
Operasi
terminal bas Klang Sentral akan diteruskan hasil persetujuan
bersama semua pihak yang terbabit seperti yang diputuskan
dalam satu pertemuan hari ini. Dato Menteri Besar, Tan Sri
Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berkata operasi itu termasuklah yang
melibatkan perkhidmatan bas ekspres dan henti-henti dari
bandar ke bandar. Tetapi isu yang terpenting yang kita
kenalpasti ialah isu bas tempatan di mana terdapat lima
operator bas. Mereka bersetuju untuk duduk (berbincang)
bersama-sama Majlis Perbandaran Klang (MPK) bagi mencari jalan
bagaimana operasi perjalanan bas domestik yang terbaik dapat
dijalankan termasuk operasi di stesen bas lama” katanya dalam
sidang media tengah hari ini selepas mengadakan pertemuan
dengan wakil operator teksi, bas serta kumpulan peniaga kecil
yang sebelum ini menjalankan operasi di stesen bas lama di
bandar Klang. Abdul Khalid berkata stesen bas sebelum ini
tetap beroperasi sebagai tempat mengambil dan menurunkan
penumpang di kawasan bandar itu. Perjumpaan yang berlangsung
pagi tadi itu turut dihadiri Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun)
Sungai Pinang, Teng
Chang Khim
dan Ahli Parlimen Klang, Charles Santiago. Ahli Parlimen
Kapar, S.Manikavasagam yang sebelum ini menyuarakan bantahan
pemindahan stesen bas lama ke terminal baru itu tidak dapat
hadir kerana berada di luar negara. Abdul Khalid berkata
mesyuarat itu turut mendengar rintihan daripada peniaga yang
sebelum ini beroperasi di stesen bas lama berkenaan. MPK
bersetuju untuk berjumpa dengan mereka bagi mencari jalan
bagaimana memperbaiki lagi hasil
pendapatan
mereka yang kekurangan pelanggan. Kita cadangkan supaya MPK
mengurangkan sewa premis mereka kepada peniaga ini sehingga
operasi mereka bertambah baik,katanya memberitahu isu-isu yang
dibangkitkan semua pihak sebelum ini sudah dibincangkan secara
terbuka dalam mesyuarat itu. Dalam pada itu, Abdul Khalid
berkata butiran perjanjian konsesi pembinaan terminal yang
dimeterai pada 2006 itu akan dipamerkan di MPK kepada orang
ramai. Kita juga membenarkan Ahli Parlimen dan Adun untuk
mendapatkan salinan (perjanjian) tersebut, ujarnya. Tambahnya,
beliau, ahli-ahli majlis mesyuarat kerajaan negeri dan
ahli-ahli majlis MPK akan memantau isu berkenaan. Beliau
berharap isu-isu mengenai perjalanan operasi bas domestik itu
dapat diselesaikan sebelum akhir Februari depan. Katanya, ini
kerana operasi di terminal yang dibuka pada 27 Disember lalu
itu seharusnya dapat memberi manfaat dan keselesaan kepada
orang ramai yang menggunakan pengangkutan awam. Kita turut
diberi jaminan oleh operator teksi, bas dan peniaga yang
mereka akan bekerjasama dalam memastikan semuanya memperoleh
manfaat (hasil daripada pemindahan ini), katanya. NOOR ALLIA
KASSIM.
Concession
Agreement for Klang Sentral
Bus Terminal
Selangor
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said this was decided
during the open discussion with stakeholders of the terminal
yesterday.He said it was also decided that the terminal would
continue to operate while the previous one located 6km away
would be turned into a passenger pick-up
point.
He said a
public hearing would be held to discuss the terminal’s
operational issues and to update the people.The relocation of
the terminal on Dec 27, as part of efforts to ease congestion
in Klang town, had been criticised by traders and transport
operators.
It also
resulted in Klang MP Charles Santiago and Kapar MP S.
Manikavasagam having a war of words with State Assembly
Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who is also Sungai Pinang state
assemblyman.
Khalid said
the council would help affected trader by reducing stall
rentals at the old terminal.He said executive councillors
would monitor the operations at the new and old terminals. The
council has been given until February to resolve outstanding
issues.
On the
allegation by Manikavasagam, who is in India now, that the
discussion was held without his presence, Khalid said: “We
have everybody else here. He is only a part of it.” he
said.
Teng said he
was satisfied with the open discussion while Santiago said
making the concession agreement public meant that
accountability and transparency were ensured and the right to
information upheld.
Asked if the
spat between him and Teng was over, he said the issue had
turned personal and he would lodge a complaint against Teng at
the DAP disciplinary committee soon.
Shift to
New Klang Terminal to Go Ahead
The Klang Municipal
Council (MPK) has decided to go ahead with the Dec 1 deadline
for all bus companies to move to the new bus terminal at Klang
Sentral in Jalan Meru despite objections from the public and
several municipal councillors.
The impending shift
from the current bus station in the heart of Klang town to the
new terminal was hotly debated for almost an hour as
councillors expressed concern that the relocation would cause
hardship to public transport users.
Councillor Wong Siah
Ping said the shift would cause a lot of confusion as most of
the residents were still not aware of the move and the new bus
routes.
She said even the
council itself could not provide the exact routes for all 21
companies operating in the municipality since only three bus
companies had submitted their new
routes.
According to Wong,
the planned bus stops at five locations in the town did not
have proper shelter and would cause serious problems if it
rained during the morning rush hour.
“The bus schedules
have not been properly publicised and I am afraid that all
this is going to cause havoc on the first day of
implementation,” she said.
“Many people could
end up turning up very late for work as a result of the
confusion,” she said.
According to
councillor L. Segaran, it takes about two hours for residents
from areas like Taman Sentosa to get to the new terminal and
45 minutes from Klang town.
He said there were
many people travelling from Klang to Kuala Lumpur to go to
work and to college and most would be delayed due to the need
to travel a long distance to the terminal.
Segaran said the
council should put off the shift to the new terminal until all
these issues were resolved as there was no need to hurry the
shift at a huge cost to the people.
Council president
Mislan Tugiu, however, said the matter had been thoroughly
discussed at the sub-committee level which also included
representatives from the police, Road Transport Department and
the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Unit.
He said all the
parties had agreed that the shift was the only way to solve
the increasing traffic congestion in the town centre and
people would get used to the changes after the initial
teething problems.
He said the shift had
already been put off three times before this and postponing it
again would seem to indicate that the board did not trust the
decision by councillors in sub-committee.
“We can overcome the
problem with the public by sending council staff, including
enforcement officers to hand out pamphlets on the shift as
well as the location of the five pick-up points around Klang
town,” he said.
Klang
Sentral stays, old bus station to be pick-up
point
Speaking to
reporters after meeting with stakeholders and relevant parties
affected by the moving of the North Klang bus station to the
central bus station in Meru, Abdul Khalid said the question of
ceasing operations at the new bus terminal does not arise as
the agreement had been signed.
"What we discussed
at the meeting was purely on how we can improve the bus and
transport operations so the public can enjoy smoother and more
efficient intercity transport services," he said.
Abdul Khalid said
the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) will iron out the plans and
details with the five bus operators servicing the town so that
the public can enjoy more efficient intercity bus services
through well coordinated pick-up points.
He also said the
concession agreement between the concessionaire NPO
Development Sdn Bhd and MPK will be made available for public
scrutiny at the MPK legal department while copies of the
concession agreement will be made available to
parliamentarians and state assemblymen."I will monitor the
situation and hope to resolve all the problems by the end of
February," Abdul Khalid said.
He said the MPK
has been given the task of coordinating and implementing the
changes."We are of course solving a previous problem, not a
current problem but I don’t want to use this as an excuse. Now
it is more important for us to solve the congestion problem in
Klang and look for the best methods to provide better services
for the public," he said.
He denied that
today's meeting was deliberately planned to exclude Kapar MP
S. Manikavasagam as the latter had alleged. The MP, who is now
in India to attend an Indian diaspora meeting, was at the
centre of the bus terminal issue and had quit as Selangor PKR
vice-chairman out of frustration with what he had claimed was
lack of support from his party officials.
"The exco met on
Wednesday and decided that it was best to resolve the issue
and come up with immediate solutions," Abdul Khalid
said.Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim, when met after
the meeting, said he was happy with the outcome and was
satisfied with the discussions.
He said there are
some technical details on the pick-up points at the old site
that need to be ironed out.Meanwhile, his party colleague and
Klang MP Charles Santiago, with whom Teng has been at logger
heads over the past weeks, said he was also happy that the
concession agreement would be open to the public. He said the
dispute between him and Teng would be resolved at the party
(DAP) level.
Why not
free shuttle service for Klang Sentral?
As an advocate for
mass-transit, I have been very disappointed by the latest
issue in public transport, namely the closure of the urban
Klang North Bus, Taxi and Express bus terminal and the
relocation of public transport services to the new Klang
Sentral terminal on Jalan Meru.
The Klang Municipal
Council and the state government seem to have ignored
long-standing public comments and complaints related to the
new terminal from the awarding of the concession, to the
location and design of the terminal to the poor information
given to public transport users and operators.
They seem determined
to proceed without paying any heed to the concerns of the
people. The relocation has now swelled into a giant political
issue and politicians and NGOs are taking sides.
Although I have given
feedback on the Klang Sentral project, through my work with
the group Transit, I do not wish to get involved in political
issues.
My only goal is to
improve public transport services and for that reason, Transit
has developed a comprehensive plan for the Klang area which we
are trying to share with the state government and the
people.
Unfortunately, it is
hard to separate politics from public transport. It seems it
is even harder to get the government to, at least, pay heed to
the concerns of the people and make an effort to resolve these
concerns.
I myself was
surprised to be told by one wakil rakyat (who is at
the centre of this controversy) that public consultation and
feedback were not necessary for this public transport
project.
That this kind of
attitude should prevail is a great disappointment and it shows
how much more needs to be accomplished in our
society.
There can be
solutions if everyone would take the time to work together and
consider the views of all stakeholders. For example, the Klang
Sentral concessionaire could have thoughtfully introduced a
free shuttle bus service to help passengers who now have to go
to the new terminal.
This would supplement
the local RapidKL bus service and help the bus operators and
the commuters as well.
But ad hoc solutions
are not an excuse for poor planning. Ultimately we must accept
that public transport services should not be relocated from
urban areas.
Instead, we should be
making more effort to make urban public transport more
convenient, friendly, and reliable. The only solution to
traffic congestion in Klang will be a public transport
solution.
The
Klang Sentral Terminal Issue: It is either Wrong or Not
Right
What is the
difference anyway?
Kapar Member of
Parliament (MP), S. Manikavasagam, created a lot of headlines
in the newspaper for the last few days of 2008. Among the
issues he claimed to be fighting for and threatened to quit
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) over them, ranges from the Klang
bus station - New Straits Times reported on 29th December 2008
as being the key issue, Indian community being marginalised
and the latest, the lack of fund allocation for him as an MP
which he told Sunday Star that it is his main
problem.
Nevertheless, we
shall only talk about the Klang bus station issue here. Others
probably at a later time…
Klang Sentral
Terminal is the new transport terminal for Klang that houses
both the bus and taxi terminals. It began operations on the
27th December 2008 after being postponed twice but this round
despite objections and complaints. The project started in
January 2007 when the state of Selangor was ruled by the
previous government of Barisan Nasional (BN). The Klang
Sentral project is actually part of a development project
which comprises of housing and shopping projects in Jalan
Meru. A quick check in Wikipedia revealed the whole
development project shall cost RM300 million while the
terminal itself cost RM12 million. The Star reported that the
terminal cost RM39 million.
The main objection
for the relocation of the bus station to Klang Sentral is
basically the location - Jalan Meru, which is 9km away from
the old bus station and said to be too far away from the town
centre and inconvenient.
The present
government of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is obviously in a dilemma
over the shifting issue. It was a problem not created by them
but rather inherited from the previous government. However, it
will be wrong for them to stay at the old Klang bus terminal
and also not right when they shift to the new Klang Sentral
Terminal.
If they stay at
the old Klang bus terminal:
- Klang Sentral
Terminal will join the white elephant list of projects like
many other bus terminal in other parts of the country.
- The government
of Selangor would have wasted the public fund as Klang
Municipal Council (MPK) will need to pay the developer, NPO
Development Sdn Bhd, a compensation of RM13 million (source:
Wikipedia)
- Congestion in
the town centre will continue and complaints about it will
definitely continue.
- Other
development in Klang Sentral area might not kick off as the
crowd is not there.
When they shift to
the new Klang Sentral:
- Commuters would
incur additional travelling cost and time going to the
terminal which is further.
- Additional
burden to the already congested Jalan Meru.
However, let us
not forget that Klang Sentral is a bigger development than
just a transport terminal but also comprises of housing and
shopping projects. Having said that, the prospect of improving
that area with better road to ease congestions and shorten the
travelling time to the town centre is brighter.
Klang folk upset that bus terminal is being relocated
after all
THE relocation of the North Klang bus terminal from
Jalan Pos Baru to Jalan Meru on Dec 27 last year has resulted
in the phasing out of the royal town’s landmark that has been
around for almost 40 years.There has been a lot of protest
over the relocation to the RM12mil Klang Sentral bus station,
which is 9km from the town centre.
Contentious issue: The new Klang Sentral bus terminal
at Meru.
The main grouse is that commuters have to
pay higher fares for the bus and taxi rides.
For example, the fare to Kuala Selangor from the old
terminal was RM4 while the fare from Klang Sentral is
RM5.30.
Many Klang folk had envisaged that the terminal would
have gone in May, 2003, after a fire razed the three-storey
complex which also housed the Great Wall shopping centre.The
buses used the ground floor while the shopping complex
occupied the top two floors of the building located between
Jalan Pos Baru and Jalan Batu Tiga Lama.
The fact that the complex was declared unsafe after the
incident and the Klang Municipal Council’s subsequent decision
to demolish the building gave weight to speculation that the
bus terminal would be relocated to the then proposed site of
Klang Sentral.The council announced in Dec 2004 that a bus
terminal would be built at the proposed Klang Sentral project
site in Jalan Meru.
As I was based in The Star’s Klang bureau then,
I also experienced the ordeal that thousands of commuters went
through with makeshift bus stations in Klang town.I followed
developments in regard to the bus terminal very closely and
even covered the announcement by then council president Datuk
Mohd Sharif Yusof that the move to Klang Sentral would be
final.
At that time, there was talk that a new multi-storey
shopping complex would be built at the former site.The issue
was put to rest when Sharif’s successor Abdul Bakir Zin
announced in June 2006 that the bus terminal would remain at
the former site.
However, despite announcing that a modern bus complex
would be built soon after taking over from Sharif, Abdul Bakir
was instrumental in creating a bus terminal with an open
concept complete with green landscaping.
The reopening of the RM700,000 bus terminal in Jalan
Pos Baru in Sept 2006 gave new hope to the people, especially
the thousands of commuters and bus operators, that the
terminal would remain at the site.
In restrospect, however, it looked as though the
council had decided to relocate the terminal, especially when
it scaled down the rebuilding of the terminal from a modern
complex to one with just shades.
Perhaps the council wanted to buy time until the Klang
Sentral terminal was ready.But surely, Klang folk would have
expected the new state government to listen to stakeholders
such as commuters, bus operators, non-governmental
organisations and elected representatives before proceeding
with the relocation.
The million-dollar question that remains in the minds
of Klangites is:What will happen to the former site which was
the town’s centre? Will it be replaced by a muti-storey
shopping complex or is a hotel in the
pipeline?
Klang
Sentral Development
Introduction A BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer)
project that kicked started two (2) years plus ago and
situated as one of the new Klang town ship. Launched as
a commercial hub with new bus, express and taxi station of
Klang. It surrounded by Bandar Setio ECO Park Shah Alam,
Bandar Setia Alam by SP Setia Group, Aman Perdana by Mah Sing
Property Group and land bank areas that own by Sime
Group.
Location This is a new location, just in
front of Jalan Meru and a few major express ways that recently
developed by property developers and the Klang’s
authority. The concept is to create a new town ship that
added to the master development plan of Klang. As the
existing Klang town ship has reached a mature
level.
Soaring property prices around KL and PJ areas also
create a new segment of potential home buyers in this
area. Neighboring with SP Setia award winning Setia ECO
Park project, Aman Perdana project, new Tesco and Giant to be
side by side with Klang Sentral Station, this will have a big
impact on the commercial value of its shop offices.
It
is also surrounded by land bank from Sime group, waiting for
their master plan to be kicked off. Lastly, it is a bus,
express and taxi complex of Klang that are not many even in
the entire Klang Valley if exclude Puduraya and Sentral KL.
It will create a tremendous flow of population around
the area with multiple different income group level. In
term of location, it is like a time bomb just waiting to be
exploded.
Developer Titijaya group is a Klang based
property company. In term of its past, recent completed and
future projects, we would categorized them as an upcoming
major developer and they are able to deliver. They have many
listed on-going projects and future projects like Klang
Sentral Station, Tiara Square USJ12 Subang, Harbour Point
Klang, First Subang, Mutiara Point Klang, Tiaraville Subang,
Subang Park Homes, Taman Bukit Cheras and etc. With its
record, especially in Klang area, it can be as good as our
national top property developers given their strengths and it
niche play in Klang.
Special Again, it is a bus, taxi, express
station, it has retail shopping development in its new Sentral
Walk project, with a sizable total of shop offices, with Giant
retail store to be built within the next 18 months, Macdonald
drive through, Petrol stations, opposite less then 5 minutes
drive to Tesco building in progress. The specialty of this
project is tremendous amount of population flow. That is
it!
Against Well, we try to look into
different angles of this project, surrounding areas,
infrastructure. We may suggest that the draw back is there are
factories near the station. Though may not be a big impact but
will have certain amount of tracks crossing the areas with
noise and dust pollution.
Conclusion In summary, Klang Sentral Station
is a project that may bring handsome returns in the coming 3
to 5 years. Give a low entry cost of investment and many
investors are in a wait and see attitude. This project we
expect between 50 - 100% capital growth return and potential
of 8-10% rental yield return. It will be a hidden jewel in
town and we recommend a buy on this property and hold for at
least three (3) years.
Klang Sentral: High Rental but Great
for Business
KLANG: Bus companies and commuters may not be
too happy with the relocation of the bus terminal to
Klang Sentral but traders have given it a vote of
confidence.
More than 90 per cent
of the shoplots and kiosks at the new terminal have been
snapped up despite the "high" rental.
Trader
Shamsul Kamar Abd Razak said even though the rent was
high and the terminal had been operating for only two
days, business was encouraging.
"The rent is at
RM3,000 for a convenience store and about RM2,000 for a
kiosk but I'm in this for the long term and I'm
confident business will pick up."
The new
terminal is air-conditioned and has a food court, surau
and closed- circuit TV system, among
others.
However, some
commuters were not happy with the move. They said the
new terminal was far from the town centre and government
offices.
Lim Boon Kig, 58, who was heading to
Banting said it took him 90 minutes to reach Klang
Sentral from his home in Sekinchan, instead of just 45
minutes previously.
"At the old terminal, there
would be several buses to Banting. I could just hop on
one without waiting.
"Here, not only is it
further, I have been waiting for 30 minutes and there is
not a single bus to Banting yet."
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ISSUES
Relocation of Klang bus terminal part of revamp
plans
The relocation of
the North Klang Bus Terminal to Jalan Meru, seven kilometres
from the city centre, is a necessary step to regulate traffic
in the often congested town.
MCPX
Klang Municipal
Council (MPK) information officer Norfiza Mahfiz said this
today in answer to the recent outcry by business operators and
consumer groups who claimed that they have lost more than half
of their daily income due to the relocation.“We can’t stay on
there for long. It is a bus stop not terminal,” said Norfiza
when contacted by Malaysiakini
today.According to her, it was a “phase by phase”
plan to revamp Klang by 2010 by lessening traffic congestion
and reducing vandalism and recurring flash floods in the
town.
The installation
of the new terminal came after the old bus terminal was
destroyed in a fire in 2004, which then resulted in areas
surrounding the bus stop being severely congested by
indiscriminately parked buses.
On Dec 27 last
year, the MPK had officiated the relocation to Klang Sentral,
the new terminal on Jalan Meru which was a
build-operate-transfer (BOT) project funded by private
developer NPO Development Sdn Bhd.
However, those who
have been making a living out of the old terminal have been
resisting the move, saying
the shift would not just result in a loss of income for them
but also be a burden to all those who have become accustomed
to the old bus station.
“This measure was
taken to lessen the traffic in the city centre as well as to
provide a wider network which would encompass the whole of
Klang,” said a statement which was published on the MPK
website.On the other hand, Norfiza, said only express buses
have been permanently moved to Klang Sentral. Other buses are
only to use the terminal as a lay-by and the old bus terminal
will now be used as a stop.
“Buses going to
Kuala Lumpur are still operating from the old terminal and
local buses pass by the old bus stop. People travelling
outstation, for instance, to Kuantan or Muar, are the ones who
would have to travel to Klang Sentral,” she said.
“Passengers can
take the buses from the five pick-up points which have been
made ready by the MPK around the city,” said Norfiza.“If the
buses and taxis follow the regulations set by the MPK,
everything will move smoothly.
“Plus it is a
matter of getting used to it. We do it all the time when we
have to use public transportation. If you don’t know where you
should take the bus that takes you Kuala Lumpur, all you have
to do is ask around,” she stated.
Moreover, she
added that the “move is still at an initial stage therefore,
as time goes by people will become used to it and businesses
will be looming once more”.
Norfiza also
addressed the concerns of consumers who had expressed
reservations regarding underground liquid petroleum gas pipes
(LPG) close to the new terminal, saying that the site has been
verified with the relevant authorities and its safety is
guaranteed. “We want to look forward now, we have to stop
looking backwards,” she stressed.
Passengers
Abandon Station
Nevertheless,
business operators stand by their resistance, alleging that
many regular passengers have abandoned the station, with some
switching to the bus terminal at Section 16, Shah Alam,
instead.
Restaurant owner C
Krishnan stated that businesses have also plunged by a
staggering 70 percent, and the station now operates as a mere
pick-up point.
“Klang Sentral bus
station is now like a ghost town,” exclaimed Krishnan, whose
restaurant is close to the old bus terminal.
“We are not
against the opening of the new bus station at Jalan Meru, but
why should the old station be closed down? It has been a vital
source of livelihood for numerous people, not to mention an
focal point for public transportation.”
The situation at
the new bus station is not any better either, said
Krishnan.
“Due to the lack
of parking spaces, some bus operators park their buses by the
roads instead, causing massive traffic jams and heightening
the risk of road accidents. In addition, they face rental
rates ten times higher than those at the old station,” he
said.
Bus operators and
traders at the Klang Sentral station have also been touched by
Kapar parliamentarian S Manivasagam’s efforts to personally
talk to the traders and operators regarding the
situation.
The MP has been
the central figure in a long feud over the issue and
resigned as
Selangor PKR deputy liaison chairperson on Dec 31, citing
disappointment over the failure of Selangor Pakatan Rakyat
leaders to meet the needs of the people.
“We felt that he
was the only one who understood how we were affected by the
relocation of the bus station,” said Krishnan.
“He was the only
one who lent his hand to us, and we are deeply thankful for
that. The other politicians, like Teng Chang Khim (Selangor
state assembly speaker and Sungai Pinang assemblyperson), have
been pro-developer since the beginning.
“Manikavasagam and
Charles Santiago (Klang MP) had never been invited to a single
meeting regarding the development of the new station, so we do
not blame them for not being able to take greater action in
protesting the relocation”, added Krishnan.
Saharuddin Mat
Nor, who heads a taxi association, lamented that operators of
hired taxis have been unable to compete against operators of
metered taxis at the new station.
According to
Saharuddin, operators of metered taxis have been dominating
one of the main terminals and charging rates similar to those
of hired taxis.
He also expressed
hope that the Klang Municipal Council would monitor the new
station to ensure that all taxi operators have an equal
advantage in soliciting customers.
The action
committee against the relocation had sent a memorandum to the
MPK with suggestions to make the new station at Jalan Meru a
regional bus station instead.
The committee also
said that they would consider taking legal action against the
council if it fails to alleviate the situation.
Open
Discussion On Klang Sentral Bus Terminal
SHAH ALAM:
Selangor will host an open discussion involving parties with
complaints and issues surrounding the Klang Central bus
station during the Selangor Economic Council (MTES) meeting
tomorrow. Speaking to reporters after the state executive
council meeting yesterday, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid
Ibrahim observed that there is much confusion over the issue
because the parties involved, including the state assemblymen
and MP for the area, have failed to understand the history and
workings behind the building of the bus terminal. “I will make
the 30-year concession agreement available to the parties at
this meeting so they can see things as they are for
themselves, take part in the discussions and vent their
frustrations and grouses,” he said.
Those who will be
involved in the discussion include traders, transport
operators, the MP and state assemblymen in the area, members
of a special shifting committee in the Klang Municipal Council
(MPK), the terminal developer, NPO Development Sdn Bhd, and
the operator, Nadi Corp Sdn Bhd, which was appointed by the
developer. Abdul Khalid said: “The state had asked the MPK to
resolve the issues surrounding the bus terminal. However, the
grouses and complaints have continued to come in. Thus,
we have decided to hold this open discussion for the parties
affected.” Over the last few weeks, a row had erupted among
Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim, Kapar assemblyman
S. Manikavasagam and Klang MP Charles Santiago, with
accusations hurled and apologies sought from each other.
Asked if this was
a sign of a crack in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition in the
state, Abdul Khalid said: “These people come from a reformist
group,which has its own idealism, and they will fi ght tooth
and nail to uphold what they think is best for the people, and
they will continue to fi ght. “In my years of experience in
management, it is quite common to have one party stepping on
another but, in the end, the issue is not that, the issue is
how to make things work. “Can you imagine partners in the
Barisan Nasional kissing each other all the time?”
On the issue of
the 17 Kemas kindergarten buildings given notice to hand over
their keys to the local authorities, Abdul Khalid said: “The
buildings belong to the state. We are the owners and as the
owners, we have asked the local authorities to maintain the
buildings and allow them to be used for welfare and social
purposes by the public and not just by one party. “Can you
imagine we, as the owners, not holding the keys to our own
property?” “We have asked the local authorities to manage
these building as they are non-political and can let out the
buildings to be used for social gatherings and events, even by
Umno if they want to, as long as they return the key so that
others can use the facility.” Previously, only Umno could use
the facilities and the public had problems gaining access to
them although they were paid for by taxpayer’s money, he said.
He said the locks would be changed
Meeting
on Klang bus terminal on 9 Jan
SHAH ALAM, 9 Jan
2009: The Selangor government will hold an open discussion
with everyone involved in the issue on the relocation of the
public transport terminal from the Klang town to the Klang
Sentral Bus Terminal in Meru which has drawn much criticism
from various parties.
Selangor Menteri
Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said among those who would
attend the meeting on 9 Jan were representatives of traders
and public transport operators, and the member of parliament
and state assemblyperson of the constituency
concerned.
Also expected to
attend are members of the relocation special committee of the
Klang Municipal Council (MPK), Klang Sentral Bus Terminal
operators, NPO Development Sdn Bhd and Nadi Corp Sdn Bhd, the
operator appointed by the developers.
"Earlier, the state
government had ordered the MPK to resolve the problems that
cropped up, however, there is still much dissatisfaction.
Thus, the state government decided to hold the open discussion
among everyone involved on Friday.
"The idea of the bus
station is to ease the congestion but the construction of the
new bus terminal has affected many people. That's why we want
to know how serious it is, as well as to improve the situation
and resolve the main problem, that is, the traffic congestion
in Klang," he said at a media conference after the State
Executive Council (Exco) meeting, here this
afternoon.
Asked whether the
solution would include the termination of operations at the
Klang Sentral Bus Terminal, Abdul Khalid said: "We cannot
terminate the operation as there are requests from both
parties, request for the old bus station and for the new bus
terminal. That's why we have to listen to both parties." —
Bernama
Klang Sentral: Terminal change irks many
KLANG: Klang Sentral is a spanking new RM300
million terminal. It should be the pride of Klang but it
has so divided this royal town that it has even shaken
up the state government.
After almost two months
of objections, most of the stage and express bus
companies and taxi operators from the Klang Utara Bus
Terminal in Jalan Pos Baharu and the Lorong Kepayang
Terminal have moved their operations to the
newly-completed Klang Sentral Terminal in Jalan Meru,
but the furore has not died down.
A few bus
companies continue to operate at the old terminals,
prompting Klang Municipal Council president Mislan Tugiu
to warn of stern action.
Kapar member of
parliament S. Manikavasagam has threatened to quit Parti
Keadilan Rakyat with the terminal being a key issue.
Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago, Selangor
State Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim and even Menteri
Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim have been dragged
into the controversy.
With the buses and taxis
gone, the 250 traders at the Klang Utara Bus Terminal
claim they are now staring at
bankruptcy.
Trader C.
Krishnan said: "We will lose 80 per cent of our income
and most of us will go bankrupt within three
years."
The local council decided to shift
operations as the new terminal, located 10km from the
town centre, would ease traffic congestion. The New
Straits Times found operations at Klang Sentral were
running smoothly.
One of the bus companies
operating at the old terminal, Wawasan Sutera Travel
& Tour, urged the council to open a lane for buses
to pick up and drop off passengers.
Its
operations manager, M. Logesvaran, said bus firms should
be given more time to move to Klang Sentral to avoid
huge losses.
"The rental at the new terminal is
10 times more than what we are paying now. My company
will also lose a lot of time travelling as it will take
us almost 40 minutes to reach Klang Sentral."
A
bus operator said companies were being charged RM900
rental per month for a counter at the new terminal,
compared with just RM150 at the old terminal. Buses are
charged RM10 per entry, from RM2 previously.
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Relocation of Klang Utara bus terminal
delayed
THE relocation of the
Klang Utara bus terminal, which was scheduled for Dec 1, has
been delayed to Dec 13.
Klang municipal
councillor Razali Hassan said the new Klang Sentral terminal
in Meru could not operate yet due to some construction issues
at the terminal.
He said during a
check at the new terminal recently with few other councillors
and department heads of the Klang Municipal Council (MPK),
they discovered that the developer had failed to adhere to
some specifications.
”Infrastructure in
the building such as signboards, cabling and wiring are not
completed yet.”We have given the developer two weeks to do so
and the relocation is rescheduled to Dec 13,” he
said.
In a statement by the
MPK, the council apologised to the public for the
inconvenience caused by the delay.There will be several points
in Klang town to pick and drop off passengers after the Klang
Utara bus terminal shifts to Meru.
The council said all
the relocation would continue despite protest from certain
parties.The state government anno-unced earlier that the
operation of the Klang Utara bus station would be relocated to
the new terminal in Jalan Meru as part of township’s
development plan and efforts to ease traffic congestion in the
town.
All bus and taxi
operators would be operating from the new RM300mil terminal,
about 6km from the current site.The Klang Utara terminal and
the express bus and taxi terminals in Lorong Kepayang will
cease operation.
Simmering
tension remain among Pakatan leaders over Klang Sentral
SHAH ALAM, Jan 9-
An open discussion on the Klang Sentral bus terminal was
concluded with applause from all sides, today, but simmering
tension remain between state Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
leaders.
The issue had
sparked a very public spat involving Kapar Mp S.Manikavasagam,
Klang MP Charles Santiago, Sungai Pinang Assemblyman Teng
Chang Khim and the state leadership.
In order to ease
tensions, the state had invited all parties, affected by the
bus terminal relocation from Jalan Pos Baru, in the middle of
Klang to the outskirt, in Jalan Meru, to express their grouses
at the State Economic Council (MTES) meeting.
Manikavasagam, who
is currently attending the Indian diaspora meeting in Chennai,
India, had alleged the meeting was held deliberately in his
absence.
However Menteri
Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim denied this and added the
decision to hold the meeting was made collectively at the
state executive council meeting, last Wednesday.
He said
Manikavasagam, was just one of many people involved in the
issue.
"What's more
important is that those directly affected; such as traders,
consumers, bus and taxi operators, had to have a chance to air
their views.
Santiago said
Manikavasagam was wrong in his assertions that the meeting was
timed to exclude him.
"There's no doubt
that Manikavasagam has done a lot to highlight the issue but
the meeting was too important to wait for everyone to
attend."
He describe the
meeting as a win-win situation for all involved because the
Klang Municipal Council
(MPK) will now
have a public consultation on the matter while the
concession agreement had been made public.
Santiago said a
decision was also made for all stake holders, to sit down
together to find solutions to all problems related to the
relocation, by the end of February.
"The meeting gave
an opportunity for the people of Klang to determine what
is good for their town."
On his dispute
with Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim, Santiago said although
they are from the same party it does not mean they had to
agree on everything.
Santiago said Teng
had crossed the line by alleging, during the course of the
dispute, that he had been "bought over" and he would be
referring the Selangor legislative speaker to DAP's
disciplinary committee.
Teng, who also
attended the meeting, said Santiago was entitled to do so as a
party member.
Despite the
tension, ordinary Klang folks who are directly affected by the
relocation were the clear winners, today.
Klang Consumer
Association president A.Devadass commended the Menteri Besar
for holding the open discussion and listening to the grouses
of the people.
"He was completely
down to earth and we thank him."
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