KL residents concerned over ‘major’ project next to Federal Hill

Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association’s adviser Mumtaz Ali says this has resulted in several PWD bungalows being demolished or abandoned.

The purported “major development” taking place within the grounds of the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: A residents association has urged the federal territories minister to look into a “major” development project taking place within a government health complex at the foot of Federal Hill here.

Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association adviser Mumtaz Ali said the development, at the National Institute of Health (NIH) property along the Jalan Bangsar/Jalan Rakyat intersection, had led to several Public Works Department (PWD) bungalows having been demolished or abandoned.

Mumtaz said when the premises was being boarded up, residents had thought it was for maintenance purposes.

“However, lately we noticed that heavy work is in progress quietly at the foot of Federal Hill.

“We have yet to see any signboard being displayed on the nature of the works, but we suspect a major development is shaping up on the quiet,” he said, adding that the work had commenced under the former administration.

Mumtaz said in the interest of good governance and transparency, the residents association was seeking a clarification from the health minister, the federal territories minister and the KL mayor on what was happening to the institute.

Referrring to the existing DBKL Structure Plan, the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan (DKLCP) 2020 and the National Physical Plan Malaysia, Mumtaz said that “institutional land” could not be changed for any other purpose other than what it was originally meant for.

“If there is any plan for land use change, have the necessary processes and procedures been observed?

“From our enquiries, we have learned that there has not been any public hearing called or held on the matter,” he said.

The land in question was acquired by SP Setia Bhd in a land swap in return for building a replacement facility for the NIH in the developer’s township in Setia Alam.

The land was obtained through a privatisation agreement in 2012 involving a swap of the parcel with the government in exchange for: i) the planning and development of a health research facility complex known as “Kompleks Institut Penyelidikan Kesihatan Bersepadu” in Setia Alam; ii) the transfer of a piece of freehold land in Setia Alam of approximately 41.5 acres for the “Kompleks Institut Penyelidikan Kesihatan Bersepadu”; and iii) construction of a clinic to be known as Klinik Bangsar and 24 apartments on the land.

The Edge had, in March reported that SP Setia Bhd had entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Mekar Gemilang Sdn Bhd to acquire the remaining 50% stake in Setia Federal Hill for RM431.89 million cash.

Setia Federal Hill’s core asset is the two parcels of leasehold land near Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, totalling about 51.57 acres (20.87ha).

FMT has reached out to FT Minister Khalid Samad and Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad and is awaiting their responses.

Mumtaz, meanwhile, also sought clarification as to what was happening in Bukit Nanas in the city centre, where the greenery was being cleared.

“Let us not wipe out whatever little green is left in Kuala Lumpur due to the poor planning of the former administration,” he said. - FMT