An aerial view of the project site where the six-storey HIV rehabilitation centre will be built. — AIMAN ARIFUDDIN/The Star
AFTER a four-year break, contractors are back clearing part of Robson Hill in Kuala Lumpur, a slope deemed at high risk of a landslide.
The landowner, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), had received a development order in February 2013 to build a six-storey HIV rehabilitation centre at the site but the project was brought to a halt following protests from nearby residents.
An independent surveyor had found the slope on Lot 106, Lorong Syed Putra Kiri, to be of more than 26° gradient, which was categorised as high risk for landslides (Class III — from 26° to 35°; and Class IV — more than 35°).
The then Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said a stop-work order was issued as the land-clearing work started before Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) gave the nod and there were some pending safety measures to be taken by the developer.
However, nothing happened until January, when machinery and excavators were seen clearing the site.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) executive director (Planning) Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd said Jakim had hired a new contractor after its previous one went bust.
“The approval and building plan are in force, so as long as there are no changes, the project can take off at any time.
“DBKL allows development on Class III and IV slopes provided there are engineering solutions,” he said.
He also said that since it was a government project, it did not require consultation with nearby residents.
Any projects classified as institutional or religious under the government, government agencies or registered welfare organisations were not bound by Rule 5, he said. Rule 5 is a provision that requires the mayor to refer to registered owners of the adjacent land, through advertisements in newspapers and exhibitions to invite objections to the application for development that involves the conversion of land use, zoning or increase in residential density.
Robson Hill residents, especially those from the Le Chateau II and Robson Heights condominiums are worried the project may destabilise the slope and jeopardise their safety.
This is because Robson Hill has a history of landslides, especially along Persiaran Endah and Jalan Robson. In 2012, the residents woke up to 18 landslides in the neighbourhood following a five-hour downpour the night before. DBKL built a retaining wall later that year to stabilise the slope.
Despite that, DBKL approved a high-density commercial development in 2013 along Jalan Robson but the project has been abandoned for unknown reasons.
Long-time Le Chateau II resident Richard Gardner said the six-storey rehabilitation centre would be considered a high-risk project for the slope.
“JKR was supposed to strengthen the slope but we do not know if anything had been done
“In 2013 alone, there were 21 landslides on that slope. A few sinkholes have appeared along Lorong Syed Putra Kiri in the past as well,” he added.
Kamnorsiah Abdul Karim, who also lives in Le Chateau II, said the two-lane Lorong Syed Putra Kiri was already exceeding capacity.
“There are three schools in the vicinity so there are school buses and vans as well as parents sending children to and from school.
“We are also concerned as to why such a rehabilitation centre is being built in the city centre. As much as we support the government for having such a facility, there is also the concern for the safety of the residents and schoolchildren,” she said.
Robson Heights condominium resident Kingston Oh said the construction was a big risk to the condominium and Thean Hou Temple.
“Hundreds of people live in Robson Heights and the temple also attracts a large crowd of tourists. Should a landslide happen, these two buildings, which are on higher ground, will be the first to come crashing down.
“DBKL has approved a high-risk development and put our lives on the line. We want to know the details of the plan and we demand a hearing,” he said.
In Selangor, only 20% of a Class III slope can be developed while there is a blanket ban for Class IV slopes.
The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry’s 2010 guideline on hill and slope development in Kuala Lumpur, meanwhile, says that Class III and IV slopes will be considered for development, provided it was low-rise and low-density. Residential, office, hotel, chalets and training institution devlopment are allowed for Class III slopes but only residential projects are allowed for Class IV.
However, in an interview with former DBKL Planning deputy director-general Datuk Mahadi Che Ngah in 2015, he said the terms low-rise and low-density were subjective.
Mahadi said DBKL had its own set of guidelines, which included the required factor of safety of 1.5 for man-made slopes and 1.3 for natural slopes under Class III and IV, which meant that the developer must build retaining walls, install soil nails or any other solution to achieve this rate of safety.
He said that as long as the safety requirements and traffic conditions were met, the project would be approved.
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