'Housing can be built on existing Bukit Kiara longhouse footprint if profit is not the agenda'

KUALA LUMPUR: Housing can be built on the existing Bukit Kiara longhouse footprint in Taman Tun Dr Ismail here if the agenda is not to make a profit, says Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.

"I have received outside opinions from other housing developers and it is absolutely possible to build housing within the longhouse footprint.

"Our agenda is to settle the housing (for the longhouse residents), thus we must go back to the spirit behind the initial project that was given approval," she said while commenting on the Taman Rimba Kiara development issue during a press conference at the Kepong police station after unveiling the newly repaired water pump system in one of the police quarters that had been faulty for more than a year.

A joint working committee (JWC), which comprises Yeoh as well as representatives from the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents' Association (TTDIRA), Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and the Federal Territories Ministry, was set up last November to resolve the issue.

The first meeting, held on Dec 17, 2018, saw all parties expressing their views and perspectives but could not come to a consensus on the scaled-down development proposal by the developer.

Yeoh added that the next meeting is likely to happen after Chinese New Year and representatives can expect a further scaled-down proposal for the project.

"No dates have been fixed for the meeting as we need to give ample time and notification to all representatives.

"We have requested the developer resubmit a further scaled down project limited to only the longhouse footprint and to not eat up the green space.

"The details need to be further discussed with the JWC where the residents are also represented," she said.

Yeoh reiterated that her agenda has always been providing housing for the longhouse residents as well as preserving Taman Rimba Kiara.

"We will never get back the green areas that we have given out and our aim is to preserve the green area as it is," she said.