TAMAN Desa and Taman Tun Dr Ismail residents have slammed Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar for failing to take a stand on controversial development projects in the two suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.

“As the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, Noh Omar, as a matter of principle, should have made it clear whether he agreed with the proposed luxury development at Taman Rimba Kiara and Taman Desa.

“That would send a clear message to the local authorities nationwide.

“His non-committal response, like that of Ku Nan (Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor), is disappointing,” Save Taman Rimba Kiara committee member Khairudin Rahim told The Malaysian Insight.

Noh declined to answer yesterday when asked about the concerns of Taman Desa and TTDI residents, who have filed suits to challenge the development of high-end condominiums in their neighbourhoods.

He said approved luxury development projects would not be affected by the government’s freeze on residential projects with units priced above RM1 million in view of a property glut.

The Protect Taman Desa coalition, which is objecting to 13 residential projects in the already congested area, said Noh should have stood against such projects to safeguard the wellbeing of those living there.

“The primary issue in the controversial projects in Taman Desa is the wellbeing of a 40-year-old urban community, and the increment in population density and the sale of land designated for public amenities to private developers to build mega structures for profit. 

“The Protect Taman Desa Group is very disappointed that the very minister responsible for protecting and safeguarding the wellbeing of urban residents appear to be uninterested in the urban community of Taman Desa or has been placed in a difficult situation because another ministry or government agency has approved the controversial projects,” said the coalition in a statement to The Malaysian Insight.

“Regardless, Protect Taman Desa Group urges the minister to make a stand to do what is morally correct and to fulfil his duties and responsibilities as a minister.”

Khairudin said the Save Taman Rimba Kiara Committee would be holding a protest on Sunday to ramp up public support against  a luxury development project that would carve up almost half of the 10ha Taman Rimba Kiara.

He said City Hall did not carry out a public hearing before changing the zoning of the park and slashing its size by 48% to make way for the project.

The park was designated as “public open space” in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 and “city park” in the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020. 

However, nearly half of the land, a 4.85ha lot in Taman Rimba Kiara was sold to Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan.

The foundation is developing the project in a joint venture with developer Memang Perkasa.

The developers propose to build 2,000 high-end units in nine blocks of high-rise buildings plus one tower with 350 units for longhouse residents.

Khairudin said the residents were outraged that the land in the public park was sold without open tender and in the name of helping the 100 longhouse families.

“The right thing for the government to do is to preserve the park as it is and fulfil its promise to build homes for the 100 longhouse families. They have waited for 30 years,” said Khairudin.He said

Tengku Adnan promised to meet with TTDI residents after a townhall session on November 3 but never did do so.

Tengku Adnan declared in the townhall meeting that Taman Rimba Kiara would not be touched. – November 24, 2017.

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