Residents listening to a briefing on the sale of the police reserve land at a press conference in Taman Desa Community Hall. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
MORE than 1,000 Taman Desa residents in Kuala Lumpur have signed a petition opposing the sale of police reserve land to a company.
They want the 0.35ha plot along Jalan 3/109F reinstated as police reserve land.
Taman Desa Residents Association (TDRA) chairman Wong Chan Choy said the plot is classified as police reserve land in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2020 and the draft Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040).
“Currently, Taman Desa and its surrounding neighbourhoods are under the jurisdiction of the police station along the Third Mile of Old Klang Road and a police beat at Taman Danau Desa.
“According to a census in 2020, there are more than 35,000 residents in Taman Desa.
“With six more condominium projects underway, we expect the population to swell to 70,000 within five years.
“With that, Taman Desa deserves its own police station,” he said during a press conference held at Taman Desa Community Hall.
Wong said the group would continue collecting more signatures for the petition, which could be submitted to the authorities early next week.
“We have more than 20 condominium management corporations supporting our cause.
“We will also write to the Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) regarding the matter.”
Wong says Taman Desa deserves its own police station.
The issue first came to light after Seputeh MP Teresa Kok questioned the land deal in a Facebook post last December.
In the post, she said she learnt that the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Executive Committee (JKTWPKL) had decided to sell the land during a consultative discussion with the Kuala Lumpur mayor and Kuala Lumpur MPs.
The decision had been made by JKTWPKL following a meeting in June last year.
She also said the police and Home Ministry had opposed the sale, as they had planned to build the Brickfields Police Station there.
Currently, the Brickfields Police Station is operating out of a rented private building.
The land in question, Lot 54780, is now vacant.
It once housed a food court that has since been demolished.
TDRA treasurer Koh Swee Hyong said the land was ideal for a much-needed police station and unsuitable for residences.
“There is a condominium next to the land.
“Erecting another high-rise building would only worsen traffic congestion,” he said.
Datuk Chang Kim Loong, whose relative lives in Taman Desa, questioned the land deal when there were plans to develop a police station on the site.
“As far as I know, the land is owned by JKTWPKL while Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) manages it.
“I urge TDRA to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).”
