Worries mount over Puchong hillslope project

Residents of neighbourhoods near Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve worry about landslide and flooding risks from the proposed large-scale development in Puchong. — Photos: FAIHAN GHANI and CHAN TAK KONG/The Star and filepic

PUCHONG residents are still seeking answers from Selangor government over a proposed development near Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, amid growing concerns over transparency and environmental risks.

Residents are questioning how land beside the forest became earmarked for development.

On Dec 16, 2025, the Selangor government revealed that 68.4ha had been degazetted from the forest reserve in 1926, meaning it had not been under permanent forest protection for 100 years.

Stakeholders say they have never been informed of the degazettement, subsequent ownership changes or any potential development plans.

Transaction under wraps

News about a large-scale residential project first surfaced through a social impact assessment (SIA) exercise on Nov 14, 2025, which many said was the first time they learned the land had been sold and earmarked for development.

Invitations were sent to residents in several areas including Bandar Kinrara 5B, Rimba Residence, Sierra Residency, Taman Puncak Kinrara, Bandar Kinrara 4, Saraka Apartment, D’Palma Apartment, Sri Penaga Apartment, Taman Wawasan 2 and 3, Desa Tanjung Apartment, Sri Cempaka Apartment, Bandar Puteri Puchong 9 and Aseana Puteri Condominium.

Preliminary documents shared during the SIA process showed that the site was located beside a Muslim cemetery, fronting SJK(C) Kheng Chee and stretching towards Sri Kesidang, Rimba Residence and Puncak Kinrara B apartments.

Residents worry about worsening traffic congestion in Puchong, including along main roads like LDP.

Early briefings suggested the development could include 16 plots with shoplots and 2,724 condominium units, including 1,091 Rumah Selangorku homes.

Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han later clarified that the proposal only involved a residential development.

He also said that the SIA was a preliminary requirement before any formal submission could be made, and that the earlier online focus group discussion (FGD) could not be accepted as part of the process.

A physical FGD would be needed to ensure transparent dialogue with affected parties, he added.

On Dec 2, Subang Jaya deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali reportedly said that Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) had not received planning application for the project.

He had noted that the land for the proposed development fell within a Class 3 slope area, which under Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) guidelines is defined as terrain with an incline of 25 to 35 degrees and subject to strict studies and evaluation, including geotechnical analysis.

Slopes classified as Class 4, more than 35 degrees, are prohibited for housing development under the same guidelines.

Poser over land dealings

Subang MP Wong Chen and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said they had written twice to the state government seeking a full chronology of land transactions involving the 68.4ha near Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve but had yet to receive a reply.

Ung: Residents told in 2008 the affected land would be regazetted.

In a joint statement on Jan 20, they said the Subang MP’s office first wrote to the Selangor Mentri Besar’s office on Dec 16 seeking details of the land’s history and ownership, followed by a reminder on Jan 6.

With no response, they conducted their own search through National Property Information Centre (Napic) and identified about 56.3ha out of the reported 68.4ha.

They said six lots totalling about 0.32ha were sold on Sept 21, 2012, by the Selangor State Secretary’s office to a private company for RM468,824, or RM13.80 per sq ft.

“Another lot measuring about 56.0ha was sold on Aug 5, 2019, to the same company by Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) for RM83.17mil, also at RM13.80 per sq ft.”

They said they were still trying to trace the remaining 12.1ha, but based on preliminary assumptions, estimated that the entire 68.4ha might have been sold at RM13.80 per sq ft, bringing the total transaction value to about RM102mil.

Buyback proposed

The MPs proposed that Selangor government consider buying back the land at its original selling price plus an annual compounded interest rate of 8%, which they estimated would place the current value at around RM193mil.

Vigness: Proposed development site sits on limestone terrain.

They also urged the state to engage openly with stakeholders.

“The message we want to emphasise is the need for active and transparent engagement to resolve this matter amicably and protect the environment,” they said.

For long-time residents, the controversy reopened unresolved issues dating back more than a decade.

Pusat Bandar Puchong Residents Association (RA) deputy chairman Awies Ung said this was the second time they had mobilised against development near the forest.

He recalled a protest on March 8, 2008, where residents were told the affected land would be regazetted, a promise they said was never fulfilled.

“After that, the issue disappeared from the radar and no clear explanation was ever given.”

Slope risks, blasting fears

Residents said their greatest concern now lay in the technical risks of developing a steep, forested hill above existing neighbourhoods.

Aseana Puteri Joint Manage-ment Body (JMB) chairman CS Chua said residents were alarmed after being informed during the SIA process that the project could involve up to 44 months of rock blasting in two phases.

“The blasting could stretch over more than three years, which is a major concern,” he said.

Sri Penaga Apartment Management Committee (MC) chairman Wong PI said the slope immediately below the earmarked hill was already highly vulnerable.

“The gradient is extremely steep. Extensive earthworks and prolonged blasting will weaken the soil and increase the risk of slope failure,” he said.

Wong also recalled that on Dec 2, 2022, landslides occurred in the vicinity of Sri Penaga and Saraka Apartment along Jalan Wawasan 4/12, and at Desa Tanjung Apartment along Persiaran Indera.

Saraka Apartment MC chairman Vigness Rao also had some concerns, as the site sat on limestone terrain prone to instability.

“The area faces risks such as landslides, sinkholes and flooding,” he said.

The MC, he said, had written to the Subang Jaya mayor raising concerns over slope safety, blasting risks, traffic impact and environmental consequences.

Their concerns were heightened when MBSJ, on Nov 17, issued a notice informing residents that it had appointed a contractor to carry out soil investigation works in high-risk slope areas including Saraka, D’Palma and Sri Penaga apartments, SK Pusat Bandar Puchong 2, Desa Tanjung Apartment and Jalan 16, Bukit Kuchai, with work scheduled to run from Nov 11, 2025, to Feb 2.

Traffic pressures

The proposed development could have a major impact on traffic in the area.

Wawasan 4 RA chairman Joseph Lim said congestion had already worsened following the opening of a road linking Persiaran Taman Perindustrian Kinrara to Jalan BK5B.

He said traffic snarls now occurred at least four days a week, especially after working hours.

StarMetro reported that the road link project was completed on Feb 14, 2024.

Lim said travel time from SetiaWalk Puchong to Wawasan 4 had increased from under three minutes before the road opened to as long as 20 minutes.

He said residents feared congestion would worsen if the proposed development went ahead, as more vehicles enter an already strained road network.

Vigness also raised traffic concerns in his Dec 9, 2025, letter to the Subang Jaya mayor, stating that main roads such as Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), Persiaran Bukit Jalil to Pusat Bandar Puchong Jaya and roads around Bandar Puteri already experienced congestion from morning to evening peak hours.

The letter said the project would rely mainly on Jalan Kinrara 5 and Jalan Wawasan 5/3, which were already congested in both directions, and warned that traffic would worsen, especially with nearby schools including SK Pusat Bandar Puchong 2 and SJK(C) Kheng Chee.

Wildlife encroachment

Lim said more than 100 signatures opposing the project had been collected from his Wawasan 4 neighbourhood alone.

He said other than traffic congestion and slope issues, residents were also worried about wild animal incursions involving monkeys, civets and pythons, which had increased over the past year.

“If the hill is disturbed and the forest is affected, we could also be looking at flooding issues downstream.”

Bandar Puteri Puchong 9 RA secretary Kathryn Wong said residents want a proper explanation from Selangor government on how the land changed hands and why residents were not informed earlier.

“Our long-term hope is for the forest to be fully protected and gazetted, so there is no more uncertainty or repeated threats of development.”

The developer and SIA consultant were contacted for comments but had not responded at press time.