BUKIT KAYU HITAM: More than 90 employees of Bukit Kayu Hitam Duty-Free Complex are still awaiting details about the mall's imminent closure from its management.
A worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they heard about the government's plan to acquire the land of the complex about a month ago. However, he said the management has yet to provide details on the closure date and their employment status.
"All we know is that this mall will be closed. We are still waiting for the management to shed more light on the closure date and other details.
"As for now, we are clearing all available stocks at discounted prices," he said.
Another employee expressed concern for senior workers who have been with the complex since it opened.
"The younger employees may have started looking for new jobs elsewhere, but the seniors will find it challenging to secure new positions at their age," she said.
A tenant who has been operating at the complex for the past 20 years said he was also waiting for more details from the management.
"We have heard rumours about the complex's closure in the past couple of months, but there has been no official announcement," he said.
"However, when the matter was reported by the media, we took it as an official decision.
"We are still waiting for a detailed announcement from the management, which will probably be made by the end of the year."
It was reported that Atlan Holdings Bhd's indirect subsidiary, Cergasjaya Sdn Bhd and Cergasjaya Properties Sdn Bhd (CPPA), received a notice for the compulsory acquisition of their land in Bukit Kayu Hitam for a road construction project.
Atlan holds Cergasjaya and CPPA through its 75.53 per cent-owned subsidiary, Duty Free International Ltd (DFI), which is listed on the Singapore Exchange.
In its filing with Singapore Exchange yesterday, DFI said the land was acquired by the Malaysian Home Ministry and is administered by the Kedah Director General of Lands and Mines Department.
to connect the Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security Complex to the CIQ Sadao facilities in Thailand.