RESIDENTS of Taman Bukit Indah and Happy Garden, Jalan Kelang Lama, submitted objections to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at its Jalan Raja Laut headquarters on Wednesday (April 29) against a proposed two-storey sports complex on a former sewage treatment plant (STP) site along Jalan Nyaman 9.
More than 250 objections have been filed so far, with more expected before the April 30 deadline.
Rule 3 of the Federal Territory (Planning) Rules 1982 allows the public to formally object to proposed developments during the planning stage before approval is granted.
The submission was made through the Happy Garden and Continental Park Residents Association (HGCPRA).
The proposal to build a sports complex on Lot 44432 has resurfaced after being previously rejected by DBKL for not complying with land-use zoning.
The site lies in the centre of a densely populated neighbourhood, surrounded by houses.
HGCPRA secretary Evelyne Low said the project does not align with the area’s residential zoning under the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040).
"The land is currently under the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office and is zoned for residential use.
"Any development for sports facilities would require DBKL to rezone it as private facilities," she said.
Low added that allowing the project to proceed would not only set a troubling precedent but also run counter to the government’s recent push to gazette more green lungs and promote a "sponge city" approach to urban planning.
Federal Territory MCA deputy chairman Tan Kok Eng said the remaining open plots from former STP sites must remain as green lungs as they are among the city’s last few green spaces.
"In a city that is getting denser and hotter by the day, we need more green lungs as they are a lifeline," he said, adding that these sites must be preserved for public use and not handed over for profit.
Resident Malini Devi echoed the concern, saying the implications could extend beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
"If this proposal goes through, it sets a dangerous precedent. It means any parcel of land in Kuala Lumpur can be changed at any time, regardless of what the local plan says.
"Today it is this site, tomorrow it could be somewhere else, even places like the iconic Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields, which the community has long cherished," she said.
Another resident, Grace Chin, said rezoning could open the door to future high-density development.
"If the zoning is changed, there is nothing to stop a condominium from being built later. We want this land to remain as open space.
"This neighbourhood is already congested and parking is a major issue," she said.
Resident S. Chandran said traffic and parking problems were already difficult to manage.
"Almost every night when I return from work, I have to squeeze through a narrow lane because of double-parked cars.
"Just imagine what will happen if this sports complex is built. There will be even less space, especially with outsiders coming in," he said.
Chandran added that residents would prefer a park instead.
"We do not agree with this project and will oppose it. What we need is a proper green space where residents can go for walks or jogs," she said.
When contacted, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said she had raised the matter with DBKL, which informed her that engagement sessions with residents would be held regarding the proposed development.
