KL residents’ leader: DBKL approving projects illegally

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 14): The head of the Selamatkan KL or Save KL (SKL) residents’ group has said that Kuala Lumpur City (DBKL) is approving development projects illegally.

According to a report by news portal The Malaysian Insight, Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said DBKL have committed two errors — altering development plans without going through the proper legal process and failing to approve the city’s local plan within a reasonable amount of time.

“They have approved altered development plans, like changing land status, and they have not approved the local plan according to the requirements of the law.

“They should have approved the local plan as soon as possible and not 10 years, which is what they are doing now,” said Aziz.

Aziz was speaking to The Malaysian Insight after SKL’s protest at the 9th World Urban Forum at the KLCC Convention Centre last the weekend.

Under the Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982, a broader structure plan and a more detailed local plan has to be drafted and gazetted under this act, Aziz explained.

“Under the law, you have to use these two plans to administer Kuala Lumpur.

“They have done the structure plan, which is just an outline of the development of the area. It’s just a framework. By law, as soon as possible, they should introduce the local plan, which will go into detail on every lot, plot ratios, and all that.

“The intent of the law is that administration of (development) planning should be based on the local plan,” he told the news portal.

The local plan dubbed the KL City Plan 2020 has not been gazetted since it was launched in 2008.

The SKL is a coalition of residents’ associations from Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Taman Desa which took legal action against DBKL over new development projects.

The Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association have endeavoured to prevent high-end condominiums from being built in the green lung of Taman Rimba Kiara.

Meanwhile, the Taman Desa residents are crying foul over the development of a high-rise condo very near the Tiara Faber Condominium.

Their plight was highlighted a few weeks ago when a crane collapsed at the development site, with parts of the machine falling into the car park of Tiara Faber Condominium.