Ling: Sentul Raya project will be revived soon

30/11/2000 The Star By Izatun Shari

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sentul Raya commercial project, which was stalled by the economic downturn, will be revived as soon as possible, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik said yesterday.

He said the project which was previously developed by Taiping Consolidated Berhad would be taken over by new controlling shareholders, YTL Corp Bhd and KTM Berhad (KTMB).

"Many people have bought houses and condominiums built under the project. We (the Government) are quite concerned that it has been delayed for quite some time,'' he told reporters before chairing the post-Cabinet meeting at his ministry here.

"With the Cabinet decision today, the project will proceed as soon as possible.'' The project, was estimated at RM1.6bil when launched in 1995. It comprises 68 office shoplots, 375 'Sang Suria Golf View' condominiums and 750 'Villa Perhentian' condominiums.

It will also have golf courses and exhibition, leisure and entertainment centres. On the proposal to privatise KTMB, Dr Ling said: "The proposal is being reviewed. There is no final decision yet.

"We are looking at it to see if the whole thing (the proposed privatisation) is viable.'' The national railway company is at present being managed by a consortium Merak Unggul Sdn Bhd comprising Renong Berhad, Diversified Resources Bhd (DRB) and Bolton Properties Bhd which was set up in August, 1997.

On another matter, Dr Ling said several foreign ministers at the Asean Informal Summit had agreed on the route for the Singapore-Kunming rail link joining eight countries.

The countries are Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, China and Vietnam.