The legal showdown to halt the mega project in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) that allegedly will encroach on the Taman Rimba Kiara (TRK) park is slated to be heard by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on 13 December 2017.
An anonymous TTDI resident revealed that Judge Datuk Wira Kamaludin Md has heard the intervention submitted by the respondents on 15 November.
They comprise Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP) and developer Memang Perkasa, where Malton holds a 51 percent stake. Sundaram RA, who is a representative of one of two longhouse residents’ associations, was added as defendants as these people are beneficiaries of the project’s affordable housing component.
Previously, the High Court granted the leave application of TTDI residents to conduct a judicial review against DBKL and City Mayor Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz last August.
In particular, the residents are asking the court to invalidate the condition planning permission and development order given by City Hall to property developer Memang Perkasa last February and July respectively.
The upcoming project consists of eight blocks of 42- and 52-storey serviced apartments totalling 1,766 units and a 29-storey housing block with 350 affordable homes. Upon its completion, the area’s population density is expected to surge from only 74 persons per acre to 979 persons per acre. A six- to the eight-lane highway will also be built.
While TTDI residents’ lawyer Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi of Thomas Philip Advocates and Solicitors had asked for an interim stay order pending the scheduled hearing, the judge did not grant his request as the hearing is not too far off.
Nevertheless, Save Taman Rimba Kiara Group Lead Strategist and Coordinator Leon Koay thinks that the judge “expects nothing to happen” on the construction site before 13 December.
Previously, during a public dialogue session held at Bicara Rakyat @ TTDI on 3 November, Federal Territories (FT) Minister Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had claimed that the proposed large-scale project will not intrude into TRK.
Asked about the hearing’s possible outcome, Koay said the residents believe that the Kuala Lumpur High Court will judge the case impartially.
“We believe the court will consider all sides fairly. There are very serious issues raised by us pertaining to KL City planning and public servants’ stewardship of public land and green assets.”
“DBKL and the FT Ministry’s conduct regarding the proposed development raises serious questions that appear to contradict their stated commitment to protecting green spaces. We expect the judge will, of course, consider these issues deeply,” he said.
Meanwhile, TTDI resident found out that DBKL has issued another approval for the project for building a property sales gallery on the construction site.
“Memang Perkasa is now trying to use this latest approval as support for their argument that any stay order will affect their economic interests. This demonstrates continued ‘bad faith’ on the part of DBKL.”
“Contrary to the FT Minister’s assurances at Nov 3’s public dialogue, it appears that the parties involved are still trying to push the project ahead as quickly as possible,” added the residents.
Image sourced from FMT.
This article was edited by the editorial team of PropertyGuru. To contact them about this or other stories email editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my
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