On Bukit Bintang, 5-month-old ice-cream bar faces demolition for MRT project
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Popular Turkish ice-cream brand Mado could see its flagship store here razed tomorrow, five months after it opened, to make way for the massive Klang Valley rail project despite having filed for a court order to stop the demolition.
The shop received an eviction notice from the federal territory land administrator on August 1, saying it was illegally located on federal land, which has been earmarked for the 51km-long Klang Valley Massive Rail Transit (MRT) project stretching from Sungai Buloh to Kajang.
“The threat of the eviction notice is most disturbing to Mado and its staff which numbers about 50 persons and with the coming Raya, puts everyone in limbo,” said Probhat Malakar, who is chief executive of Mado Asia, the local franchise of Turkey’s leading ice-cream brand.
He was referring to the upcoming Muslim celebration of Aidilfitri, which falls on August 19.
Probhat said Mado had leased the land from the Selangor Foundation, better known by its Malay name, Yayasan Selangor, for only five months before receiving a notice of eviction last June 15.
The notice gave the store a month to vacate its premises, he said, adding that the foundation was in violation of the lease agreement.
“The agreement provides for a three-month termination notice,” Probhat said.
He said the company has filed for an ex-parte injunction against Yayasan Selangor and that the case was set to be heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on August 28.
Probhat said the company did not intend to stop the MRT project but wanted the relevant groups — Yayasan Selangor, City Hall and MRT Corporation — to be aware of their situation.
“We ask to be treated with respect and clarity to ensure all parties are amicable about the outcome without the threats and high-handed manner presently taken to manage our situation,” he said.
