A hillside residential development at the Bukit Wangsamas area in Bukit Dinding, Kuala Lumpur, has raised concerns among nearby residents.
Residents sound alarm over Bukit Dinding development being built on Class 3 slope
Ongoing construction of a hillside residential development in Bukit Dinding, Kuala Lumpur, has given rise to worry among neighbouring communities in Wangsa Maju and Setiawangsa.
Residents fear for their safety due to potential slope instability.
They are also bracing for a surge in traffic and noise pollution stemming from the two-phase project, each spanning between 1ha and 1.5ha.
More than 50 semi-detached homes are being built on the elevated Bukit Wangsamas area.
Friends of Bukit Dinding (FoBD), a local advocacy group dedicated to preserving the hill’s natural environment, convened a town hall meeting with the developer on April 12 to gain clarity on the project’s potential impact.
Its chairman Adrihazim Abdul Rashid said FoBD had been inundated with concerns from residents living adjacent to the development site.
Adrihazim: Neighbours worried about slope integrity.
He said neighbours were worried about the integrity of the slope, especially given the recent heavy rainfall in the area, and anticipate traffic congestion on the already narrow roads as well as increased noise levels.
“Bukit Dinding is environmentally sensitive and we want details such as the Environ-mental Impact Assessment (EIA),” he said.
In reply, a representative of the developer said the EIA was not required as the project was below 2ha, adding that they had already obtained approval from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
However, Adrihazim disputed the developer’s explanation, saying that the combined development area of Phases 1 and 2 exceeded this threshold.
FoBD vice-president Inci Anggie Narina Syafruddin said the slope was classified as Class 3 in Kuala Lumpur Structure Plans 2020 and 2040, which meant it was unsuitable for any development.
“Under existing laws, an EIA is required before development can take place on Class 3 slopes,” she said.
Among other concerns raised was the integrity of the retaining walls built on Bukit Dinding, based on StarMetro’s report titled “Slope project on Bukit Dinding, KL causing residents to worry” on Oct 19 last year.
Inci Anggie: Class 3 slopes unsuitable for development.
A spokesperson for the developer offered assurance that a consultant was hired to ensure the wall was built according to standards.
Meanwhile, residents also forwarded their concerns via group chat to Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who is also Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister.
In his reply, Nik Nazmi said checks by the Environment Department (DOE) found that earthworks started in 2004, before the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015 came into effect requiring parties undertaking developments at Class 3 slopes or higher to produce EIA reports.
He said this meant that the EIA requirement did not apply.
“DOE has inspected the site and instructed the developer to pay attention to soil erosion and waterflow.
“I will also liaise with DBKL and DOE to ensure continuous inspection and enforcement at the site,” Nik Nazmi said.
