THE planning application for a proposed business data centre in Section 9 in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, has been withdrawn by its consultant to reevaluate the site's development feasibility.
“The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) received a letter on July 28 from the project’s consultant, who was acting on behalf of the developer, regarding the withdrawal of the planning permission application that had been previously submitted,” said MBPJ’s Corporate Communications Unit.
“According to the consultant, the withdrawal was made to allow the developer to re-evaluate the feasibility of the site and its development components, so that they are more economical, sustainable and compatible with development in the surrounding area.
“The withdrawn application involved an application for the return and repossession of land (Permohonan Penyerahan Balik dan Pemberimilikan Semula Tanah) under Section 197 and Section 76 of the National Land Code 1965, which was submitted simultaneously with the planning permission for the proposed development of a business data centre,” the unit said in a statement to StarMetro on July 30.
According to MBPJ, the proposed development spanned 19 lots of private land and part of a government road reserve in Jalan Rimba Riang 9/6, Section 9, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya in Selangor. It would have two blocks of three-storey data centres.
Kota Damansara assemblyman Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim had also posted this message on his social media platforms on July 30: “The consultant has withdrawn the planning application for the data centre in Section 9, Kota Damansara. Thank you to all KD people.”
StarMetro previously reported that public outcry erupted against the controversial project after residents discovered a notice board with inaccurate reference numbers and contact details, alongside a tight one-week objection window.
In response, MBPJ issued a formal directive on July 15 ordering the developer to rectify the errors, effectively extending the feedback period to July 27.
The site is zoned for "business and services" and "transport" under the Petaling Jaya Local Plan 2.
The project is evaluated under PlanMalaysia’s 2024 guidelines, which require a 50m buffer zone from residential boundaries.
MBPJ clarified the project has not yet reached its One-Stop Centre (OSC) Unit for approval.
Gabungan Penduduk Kota Damansara, a coalition representing over 500 households in Section 9, Kota Damansara, formally objected to the development.
Residents raised concerns over noise pollution, 24-hour operations, environmental heat, high energy consumption near the Kota Damansara community forest, traffic hazards, and the potential alienation of government road reserves.
They urged authorities to retain the original plan for local shops rather than a data centre.
Local representatives, including Sungai Buloh MP Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, Izuan and MBPJ Zone 3 councillor Muhamad Shazwan Suhaimi, also submitted formal objections, citing non-conformity and a lack of early public engagement.
