The Malaysian Insight

FOR 44 years, Ampang Park has been a second home to the 39 tenants and a hangout for their regular customers.

However, the Federal Court’s dismissal on Wednesday of the strata owners and tenants’s applications for leave to appeal against the High and Appeal Courts’ dismissal of a judicial review of the mall acquisition means that mall’s days are numbered.

Jason Kumar, 29 from Jason’s Men Shop is sad to have been forced out.

“It’s a sad thing; really, there is nothing more to say, I can’t help but feel disappointed in the way the authorities handled this,” he said, shaking his head.

His customers from all over the world share his sadness and have also come to use his tailoring services at the mall for one last time, he said.

“We will be moving to Trillion shopping mall; it will take time and effort to build up the shop all over again,” he said.

His father Pritam Ranai, 65, said that he did not expect this to happen to the family business.

“We used to be called Kings Men Shop back in 1973; it has been passed down from generation to generation. I didn’t expect this to happen during my son’s lifetime.

“If there is one thing you can do for us, tell our customers that it has been great serving them and we hope that we can tailor their clothes again soon,” he said, tearing up.

Haby & Wools owner Lee Chooi Ping, 53, said she was disappointed in the Malaysian judicial system for not protecting their rights, and is at a loss as to where she will move her home and business.

“We have been here since 1973 when the shopping mall opened. My grandfather bought this place and it has been passed down from generation to generation.

“I used to spend time with my grandfather here in the shop, my grandfather is gone now, and soon, there will be one thing less to remember him by.”

Lee said that although she could pick where to move her business as she had been approached by agents of various shopping mall, it would not be the same anywhere else.

“They (The agents) said I would need to open at 10am and close at 10pm if I were to rent their lots, I can’t do that. It is different now as one can no longer afford to buy the lot like back then.

The uncertainty over the future of the mall has robbed Lee of sleep for more than a month now. She had waited and hoped that the court would halt the acquisition and demolition of Ampang Park, and enable her to keep her sole income source.

“I’m going to miss this place,” she said, running her hand fondly over a table holding her merchandise.

 Muslimah fashion boutique owner, Norhalisa Anoar, 31, is saddened that the 1970s style architecture of the mall would be destroyed.

“Most of the shoppers here are in the older age group and they always reminisce about the good old days when Ampang Park was at its peak. 

“It is definitely heartbreaking as many sentimental memories will be destroyed along with the building,” says Norhalisa. 

The close-knitted bonds among the tenants who are of all races are also held dear by Norhalisa. 

She also believes that the items sold in the mall are rare and would be missed by the shoppers.

Traditional Malay clothing and accessories can be found the nooks and corners of the mall, which are unavailable elsewhere, says Norhalisa.

Norhalisa ran a booth in the mall for six years before she opened Arianna Rose boutique about a year ago. 

“I am not planning to move my store to other locations. I have regular customer and if Ampang Park is to be demolished, I would not know where to find a location as perfect as this,” says Norhalisa. 

Ampang Park is to be demolished to make way for the Ampang MRT station. The mall will be torn down for an underground walkway to be built.The station itself will be built next to where the mall now stands.

On January 8 last year, the strata owners and tenants of the mall filed a legal challenge to the acquisition of the mall by the federal government and MRT Corp.

The application was dismissed by the High Court on June 30 last year and again by the Appellate Court on January 18. With the dismissal by the Federal Court on Wednesdayt, the strata owners and tenants have exhausted all legal avenues to halt the acquisition. – June 3, 2017.