KUALA LUMPUR: Fifteen out of a total of 49 companies have won their bid to run retail spaces at the 19 elevated stations along the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line.



The successful bidders such as Chatime, Watsons and 7-Eleven, were chosen based on the rental rate they were willing to pay above the reserve prices, financial status of their companies and their business plans.



MRT Corp director of commercial and land management Datuk Haris Fadzilah Hassan said on Thursday the company ensured that retail spaces are awarded to the best businesses, to allow MRT Corp to get best returns.



“One of the factors is to ensure that the brands working with MRT Corp are strong brands that would be able to cater to the fast paced mobility and urban lifestyle of the commuters in the Klang Valley,” he said.



In reference to the Bumiputera agenda which aims to empower the bumiputra community, MRT Corp had initially targeted at least 30% of the retail space units to be awarded to bumiputra entrepreneurs.



“We exceeded this target with 18 units of retail space or 44% of the total would be run by bumiputra entrepreneurs. On top of that, I am also happy to share that one of these bumiputra outlets will be operated by a company that is owned and run by the disabled, with the assistance of MARA,” Haris remarked.



The next round of retail space bid will be opening soon for the underground MRT stations. MRT Corp also plans to expand the Retail Experience at the MRT Stations by utilising available spaces to include kiosks and push carts.





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