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Monday March 22, 2010

News of closure takeseveryone by surprise

Stories by BAVANI Mbavanim@thestar.com.my

ONE Bangsar’s impending closure took many city residents by surprisebut no one was more dismayed about the news than the tenantsthemselves.When news that the vibrant dining haven would soon be out of businessreached the ears of its tenants, many expressed shock and disbelief andsaid they were not aware of it.“I am in shock! Why would Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) want to closeus down?“This is not a rowdy place, in fact, it is very pleasant,” a tenant whodeclined to be named said.“To relocate now would mean more expenses for us. If I had known thatthis was going to be a short-term plan, I would not have invested so muchmoney here,” he added.Gurdharshan Singh, who owns Sagar, added that the tenants were still inthe dark over the details.“The owners say they are sorting things out and we are waiting for details.If there are problems, things can be discussed and thrashed out amicably.I’ve got functions booked up until end of the year and, if the news turnsout to be true, I have a lot to lose,” Gurdharshan said.When contacted, employees at Cungdinh Vietnam Restaurant andVincenzo Ristorante said they were in the dark over the news and werenot able to say anything.“We are concerned because our livelihoods are at stake and not knowingwhat is happening makes things worse,” an employee at Cungdinh said.Residents, however, had mixed feeling over the issue. Lucky Gardenresident Ramesh Nadarajah, who has been living in the area for 20 years,said the news came as a shock — but it was a pleasant shock.

Quick finish: One Bangsar has been in operation for five years but the leaseexpired in December.

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Page 1 of 3 News of closure takes everyone by surprise4/13/2010http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/22/central/5907069&sec=central

“I am happy to know that it’s finally over,” he said.“When I first moved in here, it was a nice and quiet place. When we heardthere were plans to turn an empty plot of land in front of our houses intobungalow lots, we were not happy, and when we were told they weregoing to build restaurants, it only made matters worse,” Ramesh said,adding that the residents protested against the plans.Leena Goh, who lives near Jalan Ara where One Bangsar is located, saidsome of the restaurants would transform into clubs at night and playmusic loudly.“Sometimes, their alarm systems would go off and it would get reallynoisy,” she said, adding that she was happy to know that the place wouldbe closing down soon.Bangsar Baru Residents Association chairman Datuk George Joseph saidthe RA had received many complaints about Jalan Ara’s commercialstatus and that it was the RA’s responsibility to channel the grouses to theright authority.“In a meeting with KL mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail on March 16,we were informed that the DBKL would not be renewing the five-year lease which ended in December,” he said, adding that it was a good moveby the mayor.Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association deputy chairman Mumtaz Ali wasalso happy with the mayor’s decision and said the RA was against anyform of commercialisation in Bangsar, a point agreed by Lucky GardenRA head Nordeen Salleh who said the decision by the Datuk Bandar notto renew the lease was welcomed.However, there are those who are not to happy about the fate of OneBangsar.“It’s a great place to hang out and it brings a vibrant atmosphere to theneighbourhood,” said a businessman who wished to remain anonymous.“If a business can be done responsibly, then what’s wrong with that?People enjoy the place and it brings value to Bangsar as a whole,” headded.One Bangsar opened its doors in December 2004 offering diners a choiceof indoor and al fresco dining with French, Thai, Japanese, North Indian,Italian, Vietnamese and Malaysian fusion cuisine.It sits on a 1.4ha area and consists of the Bangsar Seafood GardenRestaurant and eiht other restaurants. A whoin RM7mil was sent to

Short respite: The outlets will be given a grace period of six months before beingasked to move outScary situation: The employees of the restaurants are worried for their jobs

Page 2 of 3 News of closure takes everyone by surprise4/13/2010http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/22/central/5907069&sec=central