(Centre) Ben Liew with some residents from Taman Bukit Permai speaking after submitting a letter to MPAJ asking to cancel the project.
RESIDENTS in Taman Bukit Permai, Ampang, want the 42-storey condominium project in their hilly neighbourhood scrapped.
Teratai Gerakan public complaints bureau chief Ben Liew submitted a memorandum with more than 400 signatures to Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) president Abdul Hamid Hussain on Nov 30, urging the council to rescind the development order issued for the project.
“We received many complaints from the residents, who wanted their views to be considered by MPAJ.
“There is only one access road going in and out of Taman Bukit Permai, which is already densely populated.
“The residents are not convinced that the roads can take an increase in the volume of vehicles,” Liew spoke on behalf of the residents.
“The area also has very low water pressure and is often affected by water disruption.
“Another high-density project will make their water problem worse.
“Besides that, the area is prone to landslides.
“The most recent incident was on Nov 19, when a landslide occurred in Court Apartment about 3am, damaging three cars.
“The hill was part of MPAJ’s RM5mil slope-stabilising works.
“The residents claim they were not given a chance to object to this new condominium project, and want MPAJ to conduct a public hearing,” he added.
Liew said residents protested against the project in October but nothing came of it.
“It was learned that the development order was given in September last year and earthworks started early this year,” he said.
Taman Bukit Permai pro-tem objection committee chairman Leong Chun Yew, 33, said he managed to personally visit 430 houses in the past two weeks to gather signatures, to prove their objection to the project.
“Everyone I visited signed the petition.
“This shows that residents do not want the project to go ahead.
“We worry every time it rains, because soil and small rocks get flushed on to the roads.
“With a high-rise building coming up, we fear the piling work may destabilise the slopes further,” Leong added.
An MPAJ spokesman said the council called for public objections between Oct 10, 2014, and Nov 3, 2014.
“Only Intan Apartments management secretary objected to the project, citing concerns of heavy traffic, heavy vehicles and stability of buildings.
“Planning approval was given on Nov 12 the same year,” the spokesman said.
Commenting on another matter, Liew said his bureau received more than 80 enquiries about viral audio messages that advised people aged over 55 years old to withdraw all their money from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) by the end of the year.
“The audio message in Chinese cited an incident where the names of the nominees were deleted from the system, hence the next-of-kin of a deceased failed to obtain the money.
“It also said that the money would then go to the Government.
“An audio in English said that from next year onwards, EPF will only allow withdrawal by those aged 60 years and above.
“Both these messages are fake and caused unnecessary unrest among the people.
“I have informed EPF and advised them to issue a statement to clear the air,” he said.
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