PETALING Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has issued a stop-work order for an on-going hillslope condominium project at Damansara Perdana in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Its developer had also been asked to present a detailed slope strengthening and other safety measures in two weeks.
This was following complaints by residents of a terrace housing scheme, who said there were strong flow of water and mud during downpours.
The residents believed the mud and water flow came from the project behind their homes.
The new condominium project comprises three 26-storey blocks.
Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo, who made a site visit yesterday with MBPJ Engineering Department director Ahmad Roslan Hairudin and other representatives, said residents of Empire Residence had expressed concerns about the hillslope development, such as the stability of the retaining wall behind their houses.
“There are questions as to whether the slope is safe, as part of it is said to be classified as Class 3 and Class 4,” said Gobind.
Class 3 slopes can sometimes be developed but with strict restrictions, while no permanent building development is allowed on Class 4 slopes.
Gobind said his team had verified with MBPJ that the project developer had submitted the necessary applications and received the relevant approvals.
“I was told that MBPJ issued a stop-work order on the project after a meeting with Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Pua Pei Ling last week.
“The project developer and its consultants have been given two weeks to submit the reports and documents, including slope strengthening measures,” he added.
Gobind, who is also Digital Minister, said a meeting would be called between the stakeholders to hear experts’ views on the report.
“An immediate short-term measure is to clean up the construction area and cover exposed portions of the hillslope.
“Another measure would be to build a drainage system to channel the water flow,” he said.
Gobind also said the developer complied with MBPJ’s stop-work order and has halted works.
Empire Residence Joint Management Body secretary Simon Ng said residents were worried about uprooted trees falling from the hillslope and onto the road behind their homes.
“When we bought our properties, we were told that the development behind Empire Residence would be for low-rise houses,” said Ng, who took vacant possession of his home in 2020.
“However, during a meeting with MBPJ in 2023, we were told that the previous developer had folded and a new project would take place, which is for three blocks of 26-storey condominiums, with a total of 979 units.”
Ng said several residents, including him, filed for judicial review against MBPJ and the new developer last year to challenge the project.
He said Shah Alam High Court has set Aug 14 to hear the matter.
“We have commissioned our own independent study with professional surveyors using drones, who confirmed that over 60% of the hillslope is categorised as Class 3 and 4.
“Our neighbours at nearby condominium blocks in Damansara Perdana are also concerned about the slope safety and the traffic situation that the development will pose,” he said.
