Recreational land in Cheras allegedly reclassified for development

PETALING JAYA (April 17): Some five acres of recreational land in Taman Cantik, Cheras, have allegedly been converted into development land just a day before Parliament was dissolved on April 7, reported The Malay Mail Online.

Cheras residents, along with their incumbent Member of Parliament Tan Kok Wai, demanded answers from Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor over the alleged reclassification of the land, located behind Cantik Apartment.

About 50 residents from Taman Cantik, Bukit Ria and Taman Pertama came to sign a petition against the land conversion.

Tan claimed that the residents only found out about the land status and plans for its development after seeing a notice near the apartment.

“He [Tengku Adnan] is using the excuse of providing affordable homes to the people to justify the land grab, but we know most houses sold are expensive and only a small fraction are reasonably priced.

“I want him and the Land Office to explain why the need to bulldoze such a move that was approved on March 12 before being published in the Federal Gazette without the knowledge of anyone,” Tan said.

He added that the gazette did not limit developments on the land to just affordable housing, and in fact allowed commercial and mixed development properties to be built as well.

Tan further claimed that Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur confirmed the notice’s authenticity and that the gazette was published on April 6.

Moreover, residents were unable to find additional copies of the development notice, he added.

“This notice was posted in a secluded area where not many pass through and no other copies were available. Why the secrecy?” he asked.

He argued that the project threatens to impair the quality of in the area as it will increase the likelihood of flooding and worsen traffic and pollution.

The MP had also set up a committee with representatives from each of the affected neighbourhoods to deliver the petition to the Lands and Mines Office (pictured) tomorrow.

“We have the right to demand what is best for us as stakeholders of the city and to live in an environment with basic amenities as we are all entitled to.

“We strongly oppose their intention to rob and dismantle our recreation hub for the sake of enriching private developers.”