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We welcome the Human Rights
Commissioners of Malaysia (Suhakam) visit to assess the real situation
of Medan Kidd bus terminal issue
Media Statement
by MKula Segaran
(Ipoh,
Friday): We
welcome the Human Rights Commissioners of Malaysia (Suhakam) visit to assess
the real situation of Medan Kidd bus terminal issue. Medan Kidd is the main
terminal for over 20 years accommodating people in and around Ipoh. The
station is viewed as the main caterer for transportation for nearly 300,000
people surrounding the Ipoh city.
It is not denied that it’s not the best .But is considered to be a source of
convenience for people in the lower income group. Recently the State
Government through the Datuk Bandar has issued an order to bus operators
that buses cannot pick or drop passengers at Medan Kidd.
LPKP (Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board) issued a directive that the Bus
operated to move to Medan Gopeng by 11October2004 or face cancellation of
their license. The LPKP was asked to issue this order which was done without
any consultation with the people who are affected. All decisions of the
government was to ensure that with the move to Medan Gopeng the new place
which has been a “white elephant” for years could suddenly be saved. Why
punish Medan Kidd people for the blunders of the “white elephant” planners.
The “white elephant” was built at over 10 million Ringgit by the State
Economic Corporation which was to be the Silvertage Galleria (Cultural
Centre). But the Cultural Centre did not take off but became a “white
elephant”. This building was also initially not built to accommodate as a
bus terminal. It was supposed to be craft centre with the State Government
subsidy owning it.
The Medan Kidd action committee has made representation to the government
and elected representatives. They have even come to the State Assembly of
Perak and Parliament. The matter was raised a number of times in Parliament.
But the Federal Government points the finger at the State Government who
actually wants the move of Medan Kidd to Medan Gopeng.
As early as 1999, the Perak State Government has proposed that the entire
bus terminal at Medan Kidd will be relocated to Bandar Meru Raya between the
year 2007 and 2008. This move to Meru Raya was welcomed by all quarters
including the petty traders and taxi drivers. Almost all bus operators also
paid a sum of RM 500 as an initial deposit payment to secure a counter at
Bandar Meru Raya.
The relocation was also not strategic as it doesn’t link with the other bus
route leaving Ipoh especially to Teluk Intan, Lumut and Kuala Kangsar. There
is no place for the taxis’ to operate here as well as there is no relocation
for the hundreds of petty traders. It is also badly relocated in a place
which is congested and is not strategic.
Worst still, a huge relocation which would affect the lives of the people in
Ipoh town as well as other parts of Perak at least need to get the
endorsement of public opinion of the people. A lot of people are against
this relocation and moreover this is a temporary bus station as eventually a
new bus station has been planned to be built in Meru raya.
Yesterday Suhakam Commission visited Medan Kidd area and this should have
given them a 1st hand information and impression of the situation. Suhakam
Commissioner Datuk Hamdan Adnan said about 200 people have been victimized
and have almost lost their income by the relocation. Shifting the bus
terminal to Medan Gopeng had also inconvenienced the public.
The commission among others said:-
"In implementing a development project, administrators must take into
account many aspects, including views of the people, to avoid victimization
and injustice,"
"Previously, the public only walk to the Medan Kidd Bus Terminal, but now
they have to take a taxi to Medan Gopeng.
"Some of the bus agents have also been
summoned by the Ipoh City Council,"
"If they have to take a taxi to Medan Gopeng, the taxi fare is sometimes
higher than the bus fare to Kuala Lumpur,"
What the State Government is doing will affect the livelihood of many
workers, small businesses and bus operators. It also affects the poorer
traveling public as it will cost them extra time and money to get to Medan
Gopeng. As the move to Medan Gopeng is only temporary why move now? Would
this new terminal serve the people better? The answer is no.
The bus terminal in Medan Kidd serves passengers well. It is opposite the
city bus terminal which connects to most parts of Ipoh and is thus easily
accessible to the poorer residents. The Medan Kidd is ideally sited for most
Ipoh residents.
Who are the few who really stand to gain from this move? Why should so many
be sacrificed to prop up another white elephant.
The commissioners were not able to meet the Menteri Besar and the Datuk
Bandar, the real decision makers who wants the bus terminal to move to Medan
Gopeng. We hope both this main players in this issue will be frank and able
to justify this matter publicly.
We urge Suhakam to hold an open public inquiry to gather the true and
independent views of the people before a recommendation is made on this
issue.
(22/10/2004)
* M.Kula Segaran
National Vice Chairman DAP Malaysia and MP for Ipoh Barat
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http://dapmalaysia.org