KUCHING: Pengurusan Harta Pelita Sdn Bhd (PHPSB) has denied a recent allegation made by a local English daily (not New Sarawak Tribune) that the company planned to evict tenants at Medan Selera Saujana Food Court in a month’s time.
The company’s Property Management Division senior manager Norman Putit in an exclusive interview with New Sarawak Tribune yesterday said, “Let us get the story right factually as the recent news report was misleading probably due to a misunderstanding. Actually, the matter is simple and straight-forward. It is to enable the management to renovate the building.”
He said that the old building needed to be restored so that it would be on par with its surroundings.
“The building (Saujana Food Court) looks very dull after more than 15 years and it just does not jive with what the government has under the Old Kuching Heritage initiative,” he said.
“It’s a win-win situation following today’s meeting with the tenants as they also desire to have the building renovated and spruced up and understand they have to vacate the building during the renovation period for safety reasons,” he added.
Norman also said that tenants at the meeting had requested that they be given an extension until August 31 instead of the standard eviction notice of a month according to the tenancy agreement.
“However, if there are any changes to the plan which is subject to relevant authority’s approval, PHPSB will engage and update them,” he said.
“Despite all this planning, their rental will continue until the said date as agreed by them. If the tenants have difficulties during the renovation period in finding suitable places for them to do business, PHPSB has also offered out of goodwill ‘Satok Walk’ as an alternative site for the food stall operators to continue with their business,” said Norman.
He revealed that the management would mediate for a reasonable rental as it came under different management entity.
“After the renovation, the building will indeed be more modern and more approachable to the general public as well as travellers alike.” he added.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Medan Selera Saujana Food Court tenants, Muhd Juhan, 61, said that there was nothing to fuss about.
“The management of PHPSB is very responsive and co-operative. It seems that a recent allegation quoting me and published was quite misleading,” he said.
“I did receive a call two weeks ago for an interview but told the interviewer that the matter should be re-examined as it is still in progress,” he explained.
Juhan also mentioned that he did not know that the interview was published.
“I would like to clear the air that the misleading allegation was mostly exaggerated by the local English daily and the matter has been resolved.
“On behalf of the nine tenants here, I give the thumbs-up to the management for its cooperation,” Juhan pointed out.
