Tearing down of Ampang Park shopping centre under way

Workers tearing down the ceiling at Ampang Park shopping centre.

CONTRACTORS are in the middle of dismantling Ampang Park shopping centre after its closure on Dec 31 last year.

Workers were seen removing the ceiling and fixtures inside the empty shops.

The entire mall was bare and metal barricades were placed at the mall entrance.

The power supply was cut but a check by StarMetro found that there was still water supply in the building.

Several tenants were still doing last-minute packing and moving as well.

Princess Shoe and Handbag Centre Sdn Bhd owner Y.M. Yong said the contractors started clearing the area on Jan 2.

“The power supply was cut on Jan 1.

“But I have to clear the remainder stock from the shop,” she said.

Celeste and Edric director Kelly Chuah said their store was crowded with people on the last day on Dec 31, so they had to move out all their goods yesterday.

When asked, the tenants were unsure when the building would be torn down as they were only told to vacate their shops on Dec 31.

The shopping centre, which opened in 1973, will be demolished to make way for the construction of the Ampang Park Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station.

The process of land acquisition by the Government is still ongoing before the handover to MRT can take place.

When contacted, an MRT spokesman declined to comment on the matter. — By JAROD LIM