Taman Midah folk want City Hall to halt development on green lung

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 19): It looks like more Kuala Lumpur folk do not want huge developments coming up near their neighbourhoods.

Taman Midah, Cheras, residents want the authorities to halt a “massive” mixed-use development on a green lung in their area, The Malaysian Insight news portal reported today.

They have been complaining about plans for the development since last year and they now hope that a new administration in both Putrajaya and City Hall (DBKL) will now heed their cries for the project to be stopped.   

News reports have described the project as comprising two 50-storey office blocks on a 0.975ha land. There will be 1,319 apartment units and an eight-storey car park.

A look at the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 shows the area has been earmarked as an open space.

“This was a green open space with trees to filter the air so the residents are not affected by the dust, but it has been removed.

“Why has an open space been converted for development purposes,” an angry resident Jason Thiruchelvam told the news portal.

The retiree who has been living in the area for more than three decades wants Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad must look into their demands.

Thiruchelvam told The Malaysian Insight that the planned development was located a bit too close to the MMR2 exit link which is linked to the heavily used Jalan Cheras.

“This development will not have enough setback for its own slip road.

“If vehicles are going to enter the site, they will stop traffic on Jalan Cheras and cause massive congestion.

“And 800m away one of the largest shopping malls, ECO Cheras, is about to open by year-end and this will add to the congestion,” he explained.

“If at all they (City Hall) can’t stop the project, then another solution is to bring the density down.

“They must also give us a solution on how they are going to construct a slip road into the area,” he went on.

Cheras lawmaker Tan Kok Wai is also not at all happy about the plight of the residents.

He told The Malaysian Insight that the planned development was part of the “sins of the previous government” and situation came about because “they didn’t want to gazette the KL Draft City Plan 2020”.

“I want City Hall to come up with a solution on what is the best deal for the residents there.

“While there might be a possibility that the project will not be stopped, City Hall must come up with a solution for the people,” he said.

Taman Midah’s residents fight against over development in their area mirrors that of opposition by residents against the proposed high-rise project in Taman Rimba Kiara.

The development in the latter will comprise eight blocks of 42- and 52-storey high-end apartments and one 30-storey block of affordable housing.

In the latest development for Taman Rimba Kiara, Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said that owing to financial and legal implications, the condominium project there cannot simply be cancelled.

The proposed development, which Taman Tun Dr Ismail residents say encroaches on the park, is currently under discussion, and the government is seeking the best resolution for the matter.

And it was reported yesterday that Members of the Desa Putra Condominium Resident Association (RA) expressed their concerns over the aggressive development surrounding their homes and are worried the high-density development will impair their living environment.

Desa Putra Condominium RA chairman Abu Bakar Ariffin said Desa Putra Condominium is surrounded by a few high density developments including the 42-storey The Hamilton Wangsa Maju development (435 units) which is just 300m from Desa Putra Condominium and the Wangsa 9 Residency which is located around 700m away, comprising 565 units housed in three 48-storey blocks.

However, the recently-announced new commercial development which comprises 382 units of serviced apartment in a 46-storey block was the tipping point of the residents as the development site is located next to their apartment, within 100m from their home.

The management committee of the Desa Putra Condominium RA had gathered 229 residents’ signatures (equivalent to 60% of the residents) and the protest letter was submitted to DBKL by hand on Aug 27.