Sports complex to remain, says MBPJ

Untouchable: Lee (left) and Gabrial explaining that the local plan verified and endorsed by the Selangor Town and Country Planning Board (JPBD) and MBPJ clearly classifies the land zoned as ‘recreational/open space’.

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) rejected an application to develop the PKNS Sports Complex and field in Kelana Jaya in January as the request was incomplete, said its One Stop Centre (OSC) committee.

Committee member Cynthia Gabriel said the Selangor State Development Corporation’s (PKNS) most recent attempt to develop the land was made through an online application in January but it did not meet the requirements.

The application was for a proposed joint venture between PKNS and Bayu Melati Sdn Bhd to redevelop the area into a mixed commercial development.

In a joint press conference at the MBPJ headquarters along Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya yesterday, Gabriel and other city councillors and OSC members Lee Suet Sen and Tang Fuie Koh said PKNS did not get back to them by the April 14 deadline for complete submission despite several reminders from OSC and no new application had been made.

They also pointed out that MBPJ as the local authority was the sole body with the jurisdiction to issue a Development Order (DO).

Lee said PKNS did not have the power to legislate nor change the status of the land.

“They are bound to abide by legal procedures,” said Lee.

Gabriel revealed that the proposal by PKNS comprised three phases.

The proposed developments included a sports complex equipped with carparks and a football field on the building’s rooftop, office towers and a shopping mall, among others.

Lee and Gabriel pointed out that the local plan verified and endorsed by the Selangor Town and Country Planning Board (JPBD) and MBPJ clearly stated that the land was zoned as “recreational/open space”.

Under Section 18 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, development projects must abide by the local plan. Gabriel added that no joint venture agreement between PKNS and Bayu Melati for the development had been made available to them yet.

They said they wanted to assure Petaling Jaya residents that any commercial development on the recreational land must first go through a process of rezoning and involve an amendment to the local plan.

“Without this, no development application shall be approved by the OSC committee,” said Lee.