Dr. Nasir Hashim, the socialist wakil rakyat for Kota Damansara was puzzled as to how a project to build a hypermarket right in the middle of a residential area and school was approved by the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ).
After a brief meeting with the various Residents associations representing D'Villa, D'Villa Botany, Gugusan Dedap in Section 11 Kota Damansara, Dr. Nasir visited the construction site of the proposed Carrefour Hypermarket. The construction works were actively going on even at 10pm! The developer seemed to be rushing to finish the project.
The residents in the area have complained that the speed of works have doubled since the elections. "We can't sleep at night because they are doing piling works at midnight, how can this be, who has given them the approval?" questioned one of the resident, whose house is just barely 20m away from the construction site.
Dr. Nasir immediately requested an explanation from Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) has to how a mammoth Carrefour hypermarket could be allowed to be built within the vicinity of a residential area and public school. "Has the local council consulted the local residents on the proposed project? "Has there been a comprehensive study done on the traffic flow, parking, environmental implications before such a project is given the green light?", questioned Nasir in his letter dated 19th March, 2008.
The MBPJ's reply to Dr. Nasir later that week, revealed the pathetic attitude of the local council. MBPJ shamelessly claimed that it complied with the "Kaedah-kaedah Pengawalan Perancangan (Am) 1996" which requires the council to give notices to residents only within the radius of 66 feet of the project site! Thus only one house was within that radius! Further more that particular house was occupied by a developer.
MBPJ justifies that since, there was no objection received from this particular house owner, thus the council went ahead and approved the construction. What a farce ! The MBPJ which is supposed to be the model council to implement Local Agenda 21 has completely failed in its responsibility.
The statement from the MBPJ website itself states that the councils vision on LA21 as "...committed to solve the identified issues through greater public participation, consultation process and awareness in developing a safe, harmonious and healthy city within the sustainable environment" .
Dr. Nasir hit out at the local council which has made a mockery of the LA21 process. "Surely the whole community surrounding the project site will be affected by this hypermarket, how can MBPJ send notice to ONE house and forget the whole community?"
Dr. Nasir has shared a copy of the councils report with the residents. The residents were very angry as to how the MBPJ has given approval for the construction on the 24th September 2007, knowing fully well that the local plan for Kota Damansara under the Town and Country Planning Act would be tabled for public feedback on December, 2007. "Does this not tantamount to cheating the residents?" cried a house owner in the vicinity.
With the residents feed back, Dr. Nasir will pursue the matter, and insist that the MBPJ consult the residents and resolve the issue.
Sivarajan PSM Kota Damansara