The tearing up of the closed Jalan Tanjung in Petaling Jaya has angered some residents nearby. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
SEVERAL residents are questioning the destruction of a portion of Jalan Tanjung in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, which has been closed to traffic.
Pro-tem committee chairman Ravindra Kumar Rengasamy, representing 14 residents associations in the area, is calling on Selangor government to acquire the private land and gazette the road for public use.
“They have already put up barriers; there is no need to destroy the road too,” he said when met during a protest by about 100 residents at the site on Saturday.
Jalan Tanjung was permanently closed on July 25 following a court order.
The residents’ main point of contention is that the closure severely limits access for emergency services like the Damansara Fire and Rescue Department.
On Aug 7, StarMetro reported that the road was blocked with concrete barriers on July 25 following a Court of Appeal ruling on May 28 that it be closed permanently.
The issue first surfaced around 1999 when a neighbouring developer sought to reclaim its land.
The 800m stretch was a temporary road constructed in 1991, cutting across private land belonging to multiple parties.
At the time, all parties agreed it would be a temporary access route to reach Bandar Utama with ease while the area’s developer built a permanent alternative road.
However, the alternative road was never built, and Jalan Tanjung continued to serve the growing population for over 30 years.
For long-time residents, the closure is the latest chapter in a frustrating saga.
“We should be allowed to exit our area using Jalan Tanjung,” said financial consultant Wazir Ahmed, who grew up in TR1, Tropicana.
“I remember the last time it was a two-way road, then the road closed, then it reopened to allow one-way access.”
However, C. Tan, a resident of Bandar Utama, has a different view.
He said some residents’ argument that the proper route was longer compared to using the temporary short-cut of Jalan Tanjung, was selfish.
“The temporary Jalan Tanjung has been closed by Malaysian Highway Authority under a court order.
“This link should have been closed some 20 years ago when the authorised planned permanent access road was open.
“This shortcut caused massive congestion and since the closure, traffic has normalised.
“It is more rational and logical to come together with Bandar Utama residents to lobby for a bypass to be constructed for the long-term good of all concerned,” he said.
