The rockfall in Taman Bukit Permai happened in November. — Filepics
Overdevelopment and environmental issues have dominated key concerns among folk in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, this year.
Alarmed by hillslope projects in their neighbourhoods, residents and stakeholders repeatedly voiced objections about the matter to elected representatives and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).
Development concerns
In May, land clearing in Taman Sering Ukay near Bukit Antarabangsa triggered fears that this could lead to landslides and floods.
The issue came to light in a StarMetro report on May 9 highlighting residents’ complaints and suspicions that a development was being planned in the area.
According to MPAJ, the works involved reclassifying slopes from Class 3 and 4 to Class 2 through cutting and stabilisation.
Slopes are classified by gradient: Class 1 (less than 15 degrees), Class 2 (less than 25), Class 3 (less than 35) and Class 4 (more than 35 degrees).
In a report dated May 14, MPAJ clarified that there was no development plan, nor had it received an application for such purpose.
The slope stabilisation works were in accordance with Public Works Department (JKR) guidelines, MPAJ explained.
In October, MPAJ found itself responding to reports claiming that land around Zoo Negara in Hulu Kelang had been rezoned from recreational to commercial use.
It was reported that two plots had been sold to a private company.
The issue came to light after several civil society groups said, on Oct 15, that the plots designated for recreational use in the draft MPAJ Local Plan 2035 had been changed to commercial use in the gazetted plan.
MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari had said that the local plan, comprising three volumes, must be read together.
He said checks showed that no changes had been made to the zoning type of plots around Zoo Negara, either before or after gazettement.
MPAJ is drafting guidelines for riverside trades as these businesses are unregulated.
He further said the civil society groups might have referred to Volume One, which lacked complete details.
Hasrolnizam clarified that the plots were privately owned by Malaysian Zoological Society and could be sold without restriction.
However, he stressed that any development on the land would still have to comply with zoning regulations in the local plan.
He added that MPAJ had not received any development applications for the area to date.
Responding to concerns over potential landslides, Hasrolnizam said all development proposals in hilly areas must first be reviewed by Selangor’s technical committee on environmentally sensitive area development before consideration by MPAJ.
Earlier, the civil society groups had urged state authorities to intervene in the land sale, stressing that additional development in the area could further disrupt the local environment and wildlife.
Land-related issues continue to weigh on residents already living in environmentally sensitive areas.
Proactive move
Following a major landslide in Taman Melawati last year and a rockfall incident at Taman Bukit Permai last month, MPAJ stepped up efforts to prevent similar incidents by integrating advanced technology with regular on-ground inspections.
The local council is actively monitoring more than 370 vulnerable sites using tools such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) mapping and early warning systems.
Hasrolnizam said the aim was to prevent disasters through a combination of technology, planning and consistent field monitoring.
He added that the local authority’s approach prioritised long-term prevention over reactive measures.
Introduced in 2009, LiDAR mapping enables MPAJ to identify and categorise slopes into three risk levels – high, medium and low – allowing for more targeted intervention.
Hasrolnizam said repair and stabilisation works had been ongoing since 2010, particularly on government land.
For private properties, he said notices and advisories were issued to owners to ensure slopes were maintained in line with safety standards.
MPAJ carried out an audit of roadside traders in the Ampang Jaya municipality.
He added that MPAJ also carried out supporting measures such as removing high-risk trees, improving drainage systems and conducting routine inspections.
On Nov 3, a rockfall at Mutiara Court Apartment in Taman Bukit Permai damaged six vehicles.
No injuries were reported.
Riverside regulation
In June, StarMetro published a series of reports highlighting concerns over increasing commercialisation along Sungai Kemensah in Hulu Kelang.
The reports revealed that food operators, chalets and other businesses were operating close to or in some cases within the river.
Experts warned that unregulated activities by the riverside and in a hilly terrain could introduce new risks to an already delicate environment.
Environmentalists also cautioned that such activities could alter water flow, accelerate riverbank erosion and increase flood risks while threatening biodiversity.
MPAJ said none of the 70 businesses operating in Kampung Kemensah were licensed.
Nevertheless, the council has long-term plans to regulate and legalise these businesses through a whitelisting programme.
It expects to complete a draft guideline by mid-2026 to regulate riverside recreational and commercial activities.
This is part of MPAJ’s effort to formalise management within the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark (GHLGp).
Hasrolnizam said guidelines would outline clear rules for activities near river reserves in areas such as Kampung Kemensah, Taman Melawati and Klang Gates, which are within the GHLGp.
He added that the draft, currently being prepared with several state agencies, would include provisions for environmental protection, safety standards and permissible business operations.
Still standing
Despite many attempts to demolish the remaining blocks of Highland Towers, the issue remains unresolved.
MPAJ’s latest bid to obtain approval from Ampang Magistrate’s Court to bring down the structures was unsuccessful.
The local council must now seek a High Court order to proceed, as the landowner Highland Properties Sdn Bhd has been wound up.
In the meantime, MPAJ has cleared overgrown vegetation at the site following complaints from nearby residents.
Last year, the municipal council initiated legal steps for the demolition process after receiving multiple complaints.
MPAJ issued a demolition notice to the property’s liquidators, with due process carried out in accordance with Sections 87, 88 and 89 of Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133).
Sections 87 and 88 relate to nuisances, while Section 89 provides for the demolition of buildings deemed unfit for habitation.
At the time, MPAJ said the demolition was estimated to cost RM6mil to RM7mil.
The Highland Towers tragedy occurred on Dec 11, 1993, when one of the three blocks collapsed, resulting in 48 fatalities.
The remaining towers were evacuated for safety reasons, leading to the area’s eventual abandonment.
Focus on petty traders
This year, MPAJ carried out a large-scale exercise to identify and register small traders, following concerns over the growing number of roadside and temporary set-ups.
The initiative aimed to streamline trader registration, regulate informal business activity and strengthen coordination within the expanding micro-enterprise sector.
The exercise resulted in 3,500 hawkers receiving temporary licences, with some roadside traders relocated to MyKiosk units.
MPAJ said the rising cost of living was a key factor driving traders to operate outside designated areas, alongside increasing demand for small business and hawker activities.
The local council emphasised that enforcement remained necessary for operators who failed to meet basic hygiene, cleanliness or safety standards.
Beyond issuing compounds under existing by-laws, MPAJ also issued conditions compliance notices, licence compliance notices and licence cancellation confirmation notices to non- compliant traders.
MPAJ said engagement with traders was ongoing, with communication conducted through annual briefings on licensing and micro-entrepreneurship, supported by regular updates from enforcement and field officers.
