A GROUP of Subang Jaya residents staged a protest today against a proposed development of hotel suites as part of an expansion to the existing Grand Dorsett Hotel in SS 12.
Residents said they objected to the new development after finding out that the units were being sold as serviced apartments to the public.
They said it would worsen traffic along Jalan SS12/1.
Jalan SS12/1 is a cul-de-sac studded with a hospital, hotels, businesses and homes.
Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng (middle, in white blouse), who was with residents, said the developer, Mayland Valiant Sdn Bhd, had in 2007 applied to develop the land beside the Subang Jaya Medical Centre for apartments.
However, it was rejected as it did not meet car park requirements.
A second application for service apartments was also rejected in 2008 due to traffic concerns.
In 2010, however, the developer applied to develop hotel suites, which would require fewer parking bays and had less traffic impact.
Ng said in 2012, residents realised that developer was selling the hotel suites as service apartments.
The proposed development along Jalan SS 12/1, was for two blocks of 17-storey hotel suites with 1,989 units, one-storey of recreational space with swimming pool, a one-storey mechanical-and-electrical basement, a one-storey basement car park, and a five-storey car park.
The case was brought to court as the developer had sold units service apartments without proper permit by the council.
The council won, but the developer successfully appealed against the decision.
On Nov 7, the Federal Court dismissed MPSJ’s application for leave to appeal against the developer, which means residents may see 1,989 service apartments or hotel suites built on the land.
Ng said traffic in the area needed a lot of improvement and having service apartments would worsen traffic severely.
“This will impact not only the lives of the existing residents but also the lives of the people who will be living in the service apartments,” she said.
Ng appealed to the developer to reconsider its development plans.
“I ask whether the developer would do the right thing. The right thing is that the development cannot proceed for (the sake of) the welfare of the people around here and those that might be living in those serviced apartments.”
“Morally and ethically, there is no way that this will be a livable area if the development were to continue,” she said.
Ng said she will sit with MPSJ for a briefing on the outcome of the court decision and consult with lawyers to see what the actual practical applications were.
SS18 Rukun Tetangga chairman Dr Hamidah Merican said she was following the case and that the high court decision was a "bummer".
“I think beyond commercial reasons, there is a moral and ethical obligation on the part of developers when they are developing in residential areas.
"As a long-time and active resident, I am definitely not happy with the decision and we urge all parties to relook the decision and work with residents to give us a better quality life here.”
Dr Hamidah said that traffic conditions along the road as it was now was notorious on normal days and worsened when it rained.
“I have relatives living in Wangsa Baiduri, and it is a daily rant of how miserable it is to come out and during peak hours."
She said insufficient parking in Wangsa Baiduri led people to park on the roadside and a similar situation would happen along Jalan SS12/1 should the development proceed.
“As it is, we know, there won’t be enough parking, so the roads are going to be used again. So we are asking the developer to use its moral and ethical compass in this development.
"As residents, we object to more apartments. Enough is enough.”
When contacted, the developer said it would issue a statement at a later date.
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