Scenic spot: Visitors enjoying a view of the Kuala Lumpur skyline from Jalan Bukit Tunku. According to residents, people first started coming to the spot, which is now known as Bukit Tunku Viewpoint, since the end of 2019 — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
A lookout point in Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur has residents there distressed as the spot is drawing nighttime crowds, especially rowdy speedsters who come to exhibit their vehicles until the wee hours.
A 150-METRE stretch on Jalan Bukit Tunku, which offers a view of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, is attracting quite a crowd to the neighbourhood.
However, the rowdy behaviour of some who rev up the engines of their vehicles along that road late into the night have become a nuisance to residents.
They complain that the loud noise can sometimes be heard until 3am.
What’s worse, vehicles parked along the road that is only about 8m wide are obstructing traffic and causing congestion.
Danial Jamaludin, 33, a resident, said visitors would come and go from the evenings until wee hours of the morning.
“There is always some kind of activity at the lookout point, even past midnight.
“Some make a short stop, while others spend hours and even have meals there.
“It is a public space and they have a right to be there, but some are inconsiderate when it comes to preserving the peace in the housing area.
Vehicles lining both sides of Jalan Bukit Tunku, leave residents with only a narrow space to drive through. — Photos: IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
“Besides their loud exhausts and littering, they take up space when they park along both sides of the narrow road,” he lamented.
He said there were blind spots everywhere and speeding motorists were putting everyone at risk, especially since they would not be familiar with roads there.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said his house had been targeted by one of the motorists after he complained to a security guard about the loud noise they were making.
‘’The guard asked the visitors to stop revving their car engine and pointed at my house, suggesting I was the complainant.
‘One of the motorists in a white Volks-wagen then drove past and threw a firecracker into my house before speeding away,” he said, adding that he lodged a police report later.
‘’I also lodged a report with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Road Transport Department about these rowdy visitors, but the problem persists,” he said.
He also said that on some occasions, the police had asked the noisy visitors to leave the area, but some of them were members of car clubs and kept returning to the spot.
“Sometimes, they would show off their cars by revving up their engines,” he added.
He believed that these people would first scout the area to check for enforcement authorities before gathering at the spot.
Motorcyclists riding at high speed while revving their engines.
According to Bukit Tunku residents, visitors started gathering at the spot – now known as Bukit Tunku Viewpoint on Google Maps – at the end of 2019.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order beginning March 18, 2020 put a stop to visitors hanging out at the place, only for them to return at the end of last year.
Another resident, who also did not want to be named, said the situation has worsened since then.
‘’It is like a pesta (carnival) after midnight when large cars with loud exhausts gather there,” she said, adding that the loud music from their cars were disrupting residents’ sleep.
She suggested that a hoarding be erected to cover the view of the Kuala Lumpur skyline to stop people from gathering there.
StarMetro visited the site at 10pm on a public holiday and found cars parked on both sides of Jalan Bukit Tunku, leaving only a narrow space for vehicles to drive through.
The visitors were mainly young adults in cars who played music loud.
A drain along the road was also seen littered with food packaging, plastic bottles and paper cups.
Even a discarded whisky bottle box was found in the drain.
Food packaging, snacks and paper cups littering a drain along Jalan Bukit Tunku, believed to be thrown by visitors to the lookout point.
Resident Adeline Loh dreads using the road at night, especially on weekends when there are more visitors.
“Sharing the road with motorists who drive unnecessarily fast is frustrating.
“I am always worried they might cause an accident.
“Sometimes, there is enough room for only one car to pass through.
“I would rather take another route even if it is a longer way home,” said Loh, who lives at Sri Tunku Condominium.
Loh hopes visitors who gather at the lookout point will respect the fact that Bukit Tunku is a housing area and not a dedicated lookout point.
Mekz Choong, also a resident, said although the crowd at Jalan Bukit Tunku was no bother to her, there were too many revving motorbikes, superbikes and cars in the middle of the night in Bukit Tunku.
“More often than not, I come across vehicles that drive dangerously in the area at any time of the day.
“Drivers and bikers speed in the middle of the road, even around the corners.
“It is very dangerous, considering that many cyclists and joggers use the roads too.
“At night, tree branches from ageing trees are likely to fall onto the road and unsuspecting motorists could drive into it,” she warned.
When contacted, Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Beh Eng Lai said they had not received any complaints from Bukit Tunku residents regarding the matter.
At press time, DBKL was not available for comment.
