STAKEHOLDERS concerned about the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 3 Circle Line route in Ampang Jaya are urging the authorities to hold a dialogue session as many are in the dark over the proposed alignment running through the municipality.
They said that the public needed a proper avenue to discuss issues concerning the alignment with the project proponents before it was approved as it could affect their homes.
ALSO READ: Ampang Jaya residents question land issues, density in local plan
That was the main sentiment brought up during a public hearing session for the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Draft Local Plan 2035 (RT MPAJ) on Tuesday (Oct 4).
They pointed out that the draft plan did not detail other necessary information such as potential acquisition of homes and land to make way for the project.
In the case of the Taman Kencana neighbourhood, residents said that they were only made aware of the project running through their neighbourhood after receiving a notice from the land office on the possible acquisition of their houses.
Taman Kencana MRT3 action committee chairman Mohd Najib Mat Nor said some 118 landed houses, as well as four factories, could be acquired for the project.
“We were shocked when we received the notice in August as we did not even know our homes would be affected.
“We also found out that they plan to build the MRT Taman Kencana station here,” he said.
The RT MPAJ draft plans showed that seven MRT3 stations have been proposed to be built in Ampang Jaya, subject to changes.
Other respondents also brought up the suitability of some of the sites chosen for the MRT3 stations Ampang Jaya Rimba Collective coordinator Noina Baharuddin said that the Taman Hillview station for example was located in an area which did not have a large population catchment.
“The other station locations also are not clear in the draft plan,” she said.
Chairing the meeting was Selangor infrastructure and public amenities, agriculture modernisation and agro-based industry committee chairman Izham Hashim, who said that there would be many processes that needed to be followed before the project was approved.
“The developer will need to conduct traffic, social and environmental impact assessment studies and present it to the state.
“We will find the best and most sustainable solution.”
The hearing is the last scheduled for the 2,558 respondents who submitted feedback or objections on proposals within the draft plan.
It was previously reported that the changes in the draft plan included 91 proposals to rezone land status and increase land density.
