Some of the TTDI residents who are opposing the project.
A PROPOSED high-rise development near Rimba Kiara Park, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Kuala Lumpur has received mixed reactions from the public.
While most of the residents are against the project for fear that it would affect the recreational park, Bukit Kiara longhouse dwellers supported it as this meant that they would get affordable housing promised by the government in the early 1980s.
The project has a 29-storey block of affordable housing (350 units), and eight blocks of serviced apartments ranging from 42 to 54 storeys (1,766 units).
The project site is located on Lot PT 9244, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad next to Taman Awam Berskala Besar Bukit Kiara.
Vicky Chan, 74, a resident of TTDI for 34 years, said traffic could be a problem once the high-rise is up.
“We can see people double-parked here in TTDI. This showed that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) cannot manage the traffic congestion here.
“Can you imagine the number of vehicles in the area once the project is up?
“I am also worried that the park will be affected as I come here often to exercise,” she said.
Another resident, Nina Omar was shocked to hear that a high-rise development would be built near the park.
“I just bought a house in Kiara Green for retirement mainly because it is near the park.
“Now they are building this high-rise. This is unacceptable,” she said.
Two notices on the project were erected at the park and yesterday morning a group of concerned residents voiced their objections over it.
On the other hand, Sri Maha Mariamman Bukit Kiara Hindu temple president T. Arumugan said the longhouse residents were in favour of the project as they had waited 34 years for affordable housing.
“Two units will be allocated for each family. There are 100 families here.
“We have waited for this for so long. Now some families have their fourth generation staying in the longhouse.
“The temple will also remain untouched. We will move into the affordable houses once it is built,” he said, adding that the longhouses would later be demolished.
Rimba Kiara Park was initially a rubber estate and the workers who lived there before development took place in the 1980s were relocated to the longhouses.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was also present at the gathering yesterday, said that if the apartments were built on a 4.85ha land, it would be the tallest building in TTDI.
“I have spoken to the residents and Friends of Bukit Kiara, a non-governmental organisation, and they are against the project.
“TTDI Residents Association will meet with Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz about the matter,” he told reporters at the site.
“If the project is to help the longhouse residents get affordable housing, then one block of affordable housing is enough.
“There is no need for another eight blocks of serviced apartments,” he added.
A source from DBKL said the project would not affect the Rimba Kiara Park as it was a green lung in TTDI.
“The project will be built on the site of the longhouses as well as a vacant land bordering TTDI and the Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam (KGPA),” he said.
