BY BRENDA CH’NG

Where are the plans?: Wong (left) relating the problems faced by hawkers to (from right) Tan, Petaling Jaya Utara MCA division youth secretary Chan Kee Oi and deputy chairman Ch’ng Soo Chau.

PETALING Jaya Utara MCA division chairman Tan Gim Tuan has called on the state government and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to issue stop-work order against a development project in Section 17.

The project is bordered by Jalan 17/44, Jalan 17/27, Jalan 17/38 and Jalan 17/29.

Once completed, there will be serviced apartments and commercial units where the Sentosa Cinema once stood.

“How can the council approve this project, which comprises more than 400 units, go through in such a congested area.

“The roads here are narrow and will be choked with traffic,” he said.

Tan said the state should stop the project immediately and instruct the developers to draw up a new building plan, which should be limited to four storeys high.

He said many residents had complained about the project, saying it was causing problems such as traffic and noise pollution while also affecting the structure of their houses.

Traders and shopowners are suffering losses because of the traffic congestion and lack of parking, he said.

“I will be collecting signatures from residents who wish to call for this project to be stopped and reviewed,” he said, adding that the petition would then be submitted to the state and MBPJ.

Meanwhile, morning and night market traders in the area are still waiting to see the project plans for their new business space.

The developer had agreed to work with MBPJ to build a new complex for the Section 17 morning and night markets within the development.

At present, the 128 traders from the morning market and another 27 from the night market are temporarily placed along Jalan 17/29. The relocation took place last November.

The market complex is scheduled for completion at the end of next year while the serviced apartments and commercial units will be completed in 2018.

“We are still waiting for the plans MBPJ and the developer promised us but until now, we have not seen anything,” said night market hawker Wong Siew Lian.

She said the hawkers went to MBPJ last month to see if the plans were ready but they were given the runaround.

“The developer will tell us to talk to MBPJ and vice-versa. The construction is already going on; how can they not have the plans?” she asked.

She said traders and hawkers had resorted to parking their mobile stalls and equipment on the road where they trade daily.

“We were promised a proper space to keep our stalls but there is still no news on that,” she added.