Court allows residents to challenge Ipoh high-rise project approval

IPOH: The High Court here has granted residents of Permai Lake View Apartments and The Haven leave to challenge the planning approval for a nearby high-rise project issued by the Ipoh City Council.

The applicants' counsel Derek Fernandez said Justice Samsudin Hassan had also issued a stay order against all land clearing works carried out by MH Amanjaya Properties Sdn Bhd for a two-block 15-storey apartment project to be built on a 0.78ha site next to The Haven. 

The applicants, namely the Permai Lake View Apartments joint management committee, The Haven joint management committee, Superboom Projects Sdn Bhd, one General Tan Sri Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin and one Said Ahmad, named the Mayor and local council as respondents in the application filed on March 16. 

"The applicants are claiming that the approval given to the developer by the respondents on Aug 11 last year is improper as the land had been designated as an infrastructure and utility zone. 

"According to Section 18 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, residential and commercial development cannot be allowed once the land has been gazetted for such purposes," Fernandez told reporters at The Haven, Monday. 

He added that the applicants were concerned about the negative impact on the surrounding environment should the developer be allowed to carry on with the project.