RESIDENTS of Bukit Rahman Putra (BRP) in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, were stumped when contractors started work on the expansion of a service road, despite a judicial review having been scheduled for case management next week.

They said despite their objections to the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) and contractors, some of the trees in the neighbourhood were felled.

BRP representative Lam Kin Tong said they were caught unawares by the presence of the contractors and MPS personnel on the neighbourhood field on Tuesday as the matter was fixed for case management before the Shah Alam High Court on November 23.

He said the contractors had failed to show any work order to chop down the trees.

“We have already filed an application for judicial review, which is to be heard next week. We had also informed the contractors and MPS,” Lam told The Malaysian Insight.

“How can they do this? We were caught by surprise when they came with their ladders and chainsaws. This is an abuse of authority.”

He said the contractors had cut down three trees and pollard nine others.

The residents have been strongly opposing plans by a developer to widen Jalan BRP7/2 in their neighbourhood, which runs adjacent to a community football field, as it will will encroach on the green lung.

The road widening is to allow access to a new development site in their area.

Lam said the residents had informed an MPS officer on site that there is a judicial review pending in court.

“But the officer said they were not aware of it. We then contacted our lawyer, Joy Appukuttan, to address the matter.

“He then filed a certificate of urgency to have the matter heard the next day (Wednesday).”

Joy said after being told of the incident, he filed the certificate of urgency at the Shah Alam High Court for a hearing of the ex-parte application for leave for a judicial review against MPS.

“I also applied for a stay of MPS decision inter alia in respect of the decision to fell the trees and to construct a road,” he said.

“On Wednesday, the matter was heard via Zoom. The court allowed the application for leave and granted an interim stay pending the inter partes hearing of the stay application.

“Case management has been fixed for November 23.”

It was reported the road expansion will go ahead despite objections from the residents.

Traffic congestion

MPS president Yazid Sairi said the project has to go ahead as it will ease traffic congestion in the area.

“We are aware of the residents’ objections, but MPS must also take into account those who want the project because of the traffic situation,” he said after the council’s monthly board meeting in August.

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

Residents of BRP, Matang Pagar, Villa Putera, Villa Puteri, Amansari, Sri Indah, Sri Putra, and Kuang share usage of the field.

A petition was also signed by 537 residents and field users, which was submitted to the MPS president and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari in 2019. – November 17, 2023.