TWO residents’ groups at a longhouse settlement that is at the heart of a fight over a high-rise condo development in Taman Tun Dr Ismail are at odds, with one slamming the other for backing the project.

Sivakumar Muniandy, secretary for the Bukit Kiara rumah panjang residents’ association said the other group, Penduduk perumahan awam Bukit Kiara, does not represent the views of the longhouse.

“We have 170 members now, there are about 500 people living in the longhouse in Taman Rimba Kiara.

“We are against the development because it would destroy the green lung of Taman Rimba Kiara and because there is no clear indication by City Hall (DBKL) as to what houses we will get when the project is completed.

“We also believe that if we were to move out from the longhouse when the development completes, our heritage would be lost,” Sivakumar said at a press conference today at the TTDI community hall.

He said rival group, Penduduk perumahan awam Bukit Kiara, led by V. Sunderam was in favour of the mammoth development comprising eight apartment blocks of some 2,000 units, of which 350 are to be allocated for the longhouse residents.

The longhouse settlers originated from 98 families who had worked on the Bukit Kiara rubber estate, which was bought over by the federal government.

The families were promised better homes after signing the master resettlement agreement (MRA) in 2015.

These families are members of the group supporting the project, led by Sunderam.

Sivakumar acknowledged that Sunderam’s group is recognised by DBKL as representatives of the Bukit Kiara longhouse as they were the first families who signed the MRA.

“The longhouse representation is limited to the first 98 families only via a card. The old people should not represent the whole longhouse, it is the younger generation that would take care of the old people.

“His group also only focuses on senior citizens, which should not be the case as the younger generation are the ones which will take over in the future.”

He also accused Sunderam of rejecting new membership applications, adding that the latter refused to meet him to discuss matters regarding their community.

Sivakumar also questioned the whereabouts and use of the money given by the project developer, Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd, to the longhouse for repair and maintenance work.

“Things like the RM700,000 given by the developer for repair and maintenance works to stakeholders of the longhouse – where is that money?

“We still have to fork out RM3,000 to RM4,000 to repair our houses, leaking roofs and on maintenance. There is no signs that the money was used for maintenance,” he said, adding that his RA group had obtained such information from court documents.

Sivakumar’s group and the Save Taman Rimba Kiara group of TTDI residents are against the project which will wipe out the suburb’s park and green lung.

On December 14, they faced a setback after the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed their application for a stay order against the project, on grounds of third party rights, namely that that the respondents, landowner Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd, would incur losses as they had invested large sums in the project.

Sunderam’s residents’ group was also listed as the fifth respondent.

At court that day, Sunderam told reporters that they were satisfied with the court’s decision.

“If they (TTDI residents’ association) take (another legal action) also, we feel we’ll get God’s help. If they (developer) carry on with the project, then (they will) carry on. What can they do?” he said.

Save Taman Rimba Kiara is expected to apply to the Court of Appeal for a stay on the high court’s dismissal. – December 16, 2017.