RESIDENTS in Bukit Rahman Putra (BRP) are up in arms over a proposal to expand a service road, which will encroach on a football field.

They are strongly opposing plans by a developer to widen a 6m road to 12m at Jalan BRP7/2, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, which runs adjacent to the field and whose widening will eat into the green space. 

The residents are urging the Selangor government and Selayang Municipal Council (SMC) to cancel the project as 40,000 residents in the vicinity will be affected. 

BRP resident representative Keng Pui Kang said at the end of January 2022, they were told by SMC member Ng Kok Chuan the project to build a new road between SMK BRP and the field on Jalan BRP 7/2 had been approved.

“We are objecting to the expansion of a road that will cut through this field, which will destroy it.

“We have been protesting since 2019 and want this plan to be scrapped because this is the only field in BRP.

“We want SMC to withdraw the approval (road expansion) and let the area remain a recreational land,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Keng said residents only found out in February this year that the field has been gazetted for recreational use. 

“When we went to SMC in April, the officers told us the land has yet to be gazetted in their system.

“We strongly object (to the encroachment) and want to protect the field from abuse because the land was gazetted in 2021.

“Why are housing developers allowed to destroy the only field in BRP, which is used by the elderly, youth and others for recreational activities?”

The football field encompasses basketball and sepak takraw courts, walkways and jogging tracks.

The field is used by residents of BRP, Matang Pagar, Villa Putera, Villa Puteri, Amansari, Sri Indah, Sri Putra, and Kuang.

Keng also questioned SMC’s move in allowing the service road expansion when the area has been gazetted for recreational use.

“The area was gazetted for recreational use and approved by the Shah Alam Land and Mines Office.

“From our observation, as many as 80 trees will be cut down for expansion work. 

“We urge SMC to direct the developer to build a new main access road for its housing scheme.”

He said a petition signed by 537 local residents and field users was submitted to the SMC president and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari in 2019.

Another BRP representative, Lam Kim Tong, said a protest will be held to stop the developer from stripping the recreational field.

“If the project goes ahead, issues such as road crashes could occur, affecting youngsters who frequent the field. The air will be polluted (car emissions), affecting senior citizens who want clean, healthy air.

“We have the right to protest because this is the only green lung in the area.”

The protest will be held on May 13 at 8am, centred on preserving the field.

Lam said the developer, Pencala Jaya Sdn Bhd, is building single- and double-storey houses, which will eventually number 6,000 units.

Ng said SMC had approved plans for the widening of the road before the housing projects began.

“I believe the road expansion was approved when they (the developer) applied for planning permission for phase 2 of their (housing) project.”

Ng said he will inform Paya Jeras assemblyman Khairuddin Othman to meet with the residents and clear the air.

“He can get the SMC planning and engineering department to give an explanation to the people,” he said. – May 4, 2023.