Hill of concern

Upset over proposal: Fazil (centre) and residents association representatives at the site of the proposed development. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star

A PROPOSED development on a hillslope in Ampang Jaya, Selangor has residents in the immediate surrounding areas worried.

Those staying at Kemensah Villa, Desa Ku 2, Kemensah Residency, Kemensah Mewah and Pesona Villa fear for their safety if the proposed project is given the green light.Kemensah Residents Committee (KRC) chairman Mohd Fazil Abdullah said the project should not be approved as they doubted the stability of the slope.

Fazil, who has lived in the area for over 20 years, said the land was originally earmarked for development 10 years ago.

“It was the same developer and we objected to it then because we were told there would be no more development in the area when we moved here decades ago.

“To make matters worse, we learnt that the density was increased from eight units per acre to 80 units per acre, ” said Fazil.

The planned development is expected to have 219 condominium units and 55 affordable units under Rumah Selangorku.

KRC is representing 30 residential areas in the vicinity in opposing the project.

“All of us want this project stopped, ” Fazil said in a phone interview.

The residents held a press conference on the anniversary of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide, which happened on Dec 6,2008, to underline their concerns.

Representatives from the five most affected residential areas in Kemensah Heights also lodged reports at the Taman Melawati police station on Dec 8.

Orang Besar Daerah Gombak Tan Sri Wan Mahmood Pa’wan Teh, who was a pioneer in the development of Kemensah Heights, said only low-density development should be allowed in the area.

“The land here can only accommodate eight units per acre, not 80 units.

“The roads and hilly slopes are not suitable for high-density buildings, ” he said.

Fazil said the residents would approach Housing and Local Government Ministry to review the developer’s application.

“Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) should verify the information submitted by the developer’s consultants.”

He said a proposed retaining wall adjacent to Pesona Villa would compromise the stability of the slope.Residents are also concerned that a rise in the number of people and vehicles will strain existing infrastructure.

“We expect the new project will result in having additional 1,300 residents and 1,500 vehicles in the approximately 1.38ha area.

“The road leading to the proposed development site is winding and quite narrow, ranging from 4.6m to 7.6m wide.”

He added that any proposed developments in the area should be low-to-medium density similar to what had been practised all this while in the surrounding areas, as the roads might not be suitable for expansion.

Fazil said many residents living in the area were retirees who chose to live there because of its low density and peaceful surroundings.

“We have already seen cracks appearing on buildings when there was a sewerage project, so everyone here is worried about what will happen if heavy construction takes place in the area.”

Residents were also unhappy that a noticeboard placed on the perimeter of the area, which was seen by chance by a resident jogging past the area, did not contain an objection period initially.

“However, when residents were invited to MPAJ, we saw a photo of the same noticeboard with dates written on it, ” Fazil said.

When contacted, a spokesperson of the developer said the company did not wish to comment.

MPAJ responds

In a statement, MPAJ said all applications submitted to the council for approval were based on reports prepared by consultants appointed by developers.

“The transparency and accountability of the report is the responsibility of the consultants in line with their professional ethics, ” said the council.

It said that nevertheless, MPAJ would study all geotechnical and terrain mapping reports submitted.

“To further ensure the site is safe, MPAJ will seek the views of the Minerals and Geoscience Department while approval is given by the Selangor Technical Committee on Environmentally Sensitive Areas (JTKSAS).”

“The developer has taken the initiative to forward the proposed application to be reviewed by JTKSAS even though the site does not have the criteria to require such a review, ” MPAJ added.

On the matter of development density, the council stated that the planned number of units was in line with the MPAJ Local Plan 2020 (Amendment 2) for the land in question as well as Rumah Selangorku development guidelines laid out by the Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS).

“Based on the gazetted local plan, the density of the area is 60 units per acre.

“Based on the fact that the developer is also building Rumah Selangorku homes, LPHS has approved an increase in density to 120 units per acre.

“However, the developer has decided on 80 units per acre for this area.

“This project has not been approved at the MPAJ Secretariat for Local Development Services level yet.”

MPAJ clarified that the noticeboard placed around the perimeter of the area was to notify residents on the objection period for a project that has not yet been approved.

“The council requires objection notices to be erected before any application to develop is made.

“Because the land was not developed based on the earlier approved development order, the noticeboard is to inform that the old development order is being amended and the developer will need to submit a new one.

“There is no amendment to the project, only an amendment to the procedure, ” MPAJ’s statement explained, adding that no complaints of manipulation had been received by the council.