Some 20 residents' groups, comprising Rukun Tetangga and residents’ associations in Petaling Jaya, say they are in solidarity with the 19 councillors who walked out during the May 30 Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) full board meeting.
The group said, in a statement Monday (June 5), that the state government has, without public consultation, amended the definitions that impacted the calculation of plot ratios throughout Selangor.
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The statement also said residents depended on their local councillors to ensure that developments were approved according to the local knowledge, needs and limitations.
“This is especially true in the older parts of Petaling Jaya where we have seen small and narrow roads with limited infrastructure being put under immense pressure by the approval of disproportionately large developments.
“Those who ultimately pay the price on a daily basis are the residents.
“More than any other award the city has won, we are very proud that Petaling Jaya has a large number of local councillors who genuinely represent their communities and are willing to stand up for residents to ensure that procedures are duly followed, and that the checks and balances in the system are upheld,” said a spokesman representing the group.
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The group is disappointed that the live recording of the council’s full board meeting that was uploaded on the internet for public viewing was removed.
“If there was nothing wrong with the process, why remove the video?
“It should be reinstated so that residents have the right to view it and make up their own minds. We stand in solidarity with the 19 councillors who stood up for PJ residents and call for MBPJ to ensure that all procedures are duly followed in processing applications,” the spokesman added.
The 20 groups consists of Bandar Utama 3 Residents' Association, Damansara Utama House Owners and Residents' Association, Friends Of Taman Aman Petaling Jaya, Gasing Indah Residents' Association, Petaling Jaya, Kawasan Rukun Tetangga 17A Petaling Jaya, Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Gasing Indah, Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Seksyen 6, Kawasan Rukun Tetangga SS24 Taman Megah Fasa 2, Maxwell Towers Management Corporation, MYPJ Persatuan Penduduk Petaling Jaya, Oriental Hearts and Mind Institute, Perbadanan Pengurusan Meridian Townhouse (SS23/12), Persatuan Penduduk Bukit Gasing 5/66 Selangor, Persatuan Penduduk Jalan 5/46 Taman Gasing Indah Fasa 4, Persatuan Penduduk Seksyen 11 Petaling Jaya, Persatuan Penduduk Seksyen 22 Petaling Jaya, Petaling Garden Residents' Association, Residents' Association Section 5 Petaling Jaya, Persatuan Penduduk Seksyen 10, and Persatuan Penduduk Taman Megah Petaling Jaya Selangor.
ALSO READ: Removal of walkout video shows lack of transparency ()
It was reported earlier that 19 out of 24 councillors walked out of the recent full board meeting on Tuesday (May 30) in a show of disapproval over the mayor's statement that the councillors were not decision-makers during a One-Stop Centre discussion but were only there to give input on the social and political aspects.
The meeting was subsequently called off due to the lack of quorum.
In a joint statement issued later, the 19 councillors said they walked out to keep MBPJ from committing legal errors that may set a precedent, and to take care of the citizens' interests.
The disagreement stemmed from approval for a development project in Lorong Sultan.
On June 2, a cordial closed-door meeting was held involving Petaling Jaya councillors, the mayor and a member of the Selangor exco at City Council (MBPJ) headquarters over the walkout during its full board meeting on May 30.
According to a statement from Selangor local government, public transportation and new village development committee chairman Ng Sze Han, who attended the meeting, the parties came together on June 2 to discuss the issues involved and clear up any misunderstandings.
