MRT Corp will cooperate in probe into Ampang Park acquisition

The Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) is prepared to cooperate with the authorities in a probe into any doubtful matters in the acquisition of the Ampang Park shopping complex.

"MRT Corp laud an investigation into the doubtful matters and we are prepared to give full cooperation to facilitate it," said MRT Corp Strategic Communication and Stakeholders Relation Director Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah.

He said this in a statement Thursday in response to the move taken by the Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia (Ikhlas) in urging the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the acquisition process of the shopping complex.

Elaborating, Najmuddin said the offer for the mutual existence agreement to not demolish the shopping centre required the consent of 100 per cent of the strata title owners.

"This requirement was not imposed by MRT Corp, but it is a law which must be complied with.

"The mutual existence agreement can avoid the acquisition of land under the Land Acquisition Act 1960. It also enables Ampang Park to be exempted from demolition," he said.

He said, however, the offer which had been made by MRT Corp in 2015 was rejected by 39 of the strata title owners.

On Jan 18, the Appeals Court in Putrajaya rejected the appeal submitted by the 39 strata title owners and tenants at Ampang Park on the land acquisition to make way for the Ampang Park MRT station. - Bernama