PLAZA Rakyat purchasers are hoping that the Perikatan Nasional government will revive the mixed development project that has been abandoned for more than two decades in the heart of the capital city. 

They urged Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa to look into their plight, adding that it was only fair that the authorities proceeded with the plan to revive the project.

“Whoever that takes over Putrajaya should look into the abandoned development. We hope the new government can get the job done,” Plaza Rakyat pro tem committee spokesman Ng Pang Wah told The Malaysian Insight.

In November, then FT minister Khalid Abdul Samad said the project, located in Jalan Pudu, would be built by a new developer, with the development order to be released after certain sums owed to City Hall (DBKL) were settled.

The lot owners said it has been a long journey and they hoped to see some progress this time around as many have tried and failed to revive the project in the past.

Ng said they hoped Annuar will have time to look into this matter, which has not been resolved by the previous administrations for many years.

“Previous governments tried to address the issue and revive the project but to no avail.

“We hope that Perikatan will prioritise this project as we have been waiting for many years.”

He also hoped that the new government will prove more efficient and trustworthy in solving the problem.

Ng said the buyers are seeking a meeting with Annuar to discuss the matter.

It was reported in May 2019, that Guangzhou Xu Zhuo Enterprise Management Co Ltd proposed to buy a 43% stake in project developer Profit Consortium Sdn Bhd.

The China-based firm reportedly expected to pay off an outstanding debt to DBKL and recommence work on the project.

Plaza Rakyat is a mixed development comprising a 79-storey office tower, 46-storey condominium block, 24-storey hotel and seven-storey shopping centre.

The project in Jalan Pudu was abandoned in 1998, following the 1997 Asian financial crisis. – June 21, 2020.