The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has clarified that a 60-storey development project within Bukit Damansara has yet to be approved, following a protest on Saturday, which included VIP residents.
In response, DBKL stressed that a decision will only be made after the project application undergoes the required process.
“DBKL is still in the process of reviewing this application… any final decision will only be made after a comprehensive engagement process and technical review have been completed,” it said in a statement yesterday.
On Oct 4, nearly 300 residents of Bukit Damansara, including former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, former CIMB CEO Nazir Razak, and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, gathered to oppose the redevelopment of the neglected Wisma Damansara building on Jalan Semantan.
The group claimed that the redevelopment would exacerbate traffic congestion and impact the environment.
“I want to ask DBKL directly, has a traffic study been done on Jalan Semantan to justify the plot ratio given to BRDB Developments Sdn Bhd? Has BRDB submitted a traffic impact report? How much more can this road take?” Khairy was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail.
“For comparison, the Petronas Twin Towers are 88 storeys. The new developments would be almost as tall. Can you imagine the pressure on Jalan Semantan, already a choke point for traffic?
“The last thing we want is for Jalan Semantan to become another KLCC. We did not move here to live in the city centre,” he added.
Protesters were seen holding placards which read “Save Bukit Damansara”, and “Say no to skyscrapers”, insisting that new developments would also destroy the area’s “suburban character.”
‘Monstrous’ development
Bukit Damansara Home Owners’ Association president Ahmad Sufian Abdul Majid also described the redevelopment project as “monstrous”, urging DBKL to revisit the development plans.
“If projects of this scale go ahead, Jalan Semantan will be choked with traffic the moment you drive out of your house. It’s simply unworkable,” he said.
Also seen at the protest were opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, human rights lawyer S Ambiga, and singer Sheila Majid.
Residents claimed that the project proposed a plot ratio of 1:9.6 for the redevelopment, which would exceed the 1:6 limit outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (KLLP) 2040, which had been gazetted on May 28.
In a separate statement, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh also echoed residents’ concerns, and confirmed that she had filed objections to DBKL on Aug 15, with a letter addressed to city mayor Maimunah Sharif.
“The proposed redevelopment does not comply with the local plan, which is a legally binding document. Planning decisions must be based on a full evaluation of the area’s character, infrastructure readiness, and long-term sustainability…
“Approving new projects without resolving existing challenges is simply irresponsible,” she said.
Yeoh also urged existing infrastructure to be upgraded before further development can be considered, stressing that traffic and water supply within the area had already been under heavy strain.
Strict compliance
Yesterday, the council confirmed that it received the application for a layout plan on the commercial development of three land lots totalling up to 7.98ha.
However, it clarified that the KLLP would require redevelopments to adhere to several criteria, including compliance with planning technical requirements, and the initiation of public views in accordance with Method 3, which is the notification for obtaining views.
DBKL also stressed that the developments would also be subject to compliance with technical requirements such as the traffic impact assessment, geotechnics, environmental impact assessment, and social impact assessment.
Further, the city hall stressed that redevelopment projects were also subject to compliance conditions submitted by technical agencies such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad, the Land and Mines Office, the Irrigation and Drainage Department, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Land Public Transport Agency, and the Malaysian Highway Authority.
“DBKL wishes to emphasise that every decision related to urban development is always based on existing policies and the gazetted development plan.
“DBKL is also committed to ensuring that every development carried out in Kuala Lumpur is done in an orderly and sustainable manner and does not affect the well-being of the local residents,” it added. - Mkini
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