THE Bukit Damansara Home Owners' Association town hall saw residents call on Kuala Lumpur City Hall to withdraw a construction permit for the renovation of a semi-detached house involving the addition of an extra floor, arguing that neighbouring residents had not been consulted on the proposed works.
It was the association's first town hall since its new president, Khairy Jamaluddin, was voted in early August.
Earlier in the evening, several residents voiced their dissatisfaction over City Hall's construction permit at the town hall held at Pusat Komuniti Bukit Damansara, themed "Your Voice Matters".
An estimated 400 residents attended the three-hour dialogue session.
Khairy moderated the town hall dialogue, while City Hall Planning Department town planner executive director Rosli Nordin and Brickfields deputy police chief Supt Ahmad Firdaus Mustafia Kamal were present to answer questions and offer practical solutions.
Resident A. Zakki, in his 40s, said residents are against the renovation as it alters the identity of the row of semi-detached houses within Bukit Damansara, while the building works had caused cracks to appear in immediate houses.
"Our signature campaign has 19 neighbours steadfastly against the project.
"Originally the semi-detached house was a double-storey and it was in harmony with the architectural design of other houses in the row. In December 2025, City Hall had given the approval to the owner to construct an additional floor that turns it into a three-storey building," he said.
"Several residents opposed. In January 2026, a stop-work order was issued, but about two months ago in June, the project was given approval. It is now about 10% into construction with pillars on its side," Zakki added.
Zakki added that the people are against the renovation and want City Hall to withdraw the construction permit with immediate effect.
Rosli said City Hall will take note of the issues faced by residents due to the renovation.
On traffic congestion that occurs from 7am to 7.30am and again from 2pm to 4pm in the immediate area outside SK Bukit Damansara and Stella Maris International School Damansara, Supt Ahmad Firdaus said the matter is being handled accordingly.
SK Bukit Damansara Parent-Teacher Association chairman Ameirul Azraie Mustadza told residents that the association repeatedly advises parents on dropping off and fetching their children without double-parking outside the school area.
"We had considered using Rela, but the association does not have the funds to support such a move. We had written to the traffic police and the policemen had responded," he said.
Ameirul added that the school would appreciate it if traffic police officers could provide daily monitoring instead of only on certain days.
Residents at the town hall also called on Air Selangor to conduct thorough inspections of the water pipeline network in Bukit Damansara following several pipe burst incidents in the neighbourhood.
An Air Selangor representative at the dialogue session said the company is aware of the pipe bursts and has plans to replace the aging pipeline network in Bukit Damansara.
Khairy said the town hall allows residents to directly voice local concerns and suggest practical solutions.
"It is an open forum that bridges the gap between community members and decision-makers. I will follow up to help fast-track problem resolution and find solutions to the residents' problems," he added.
