The longhouse residents, who will get affordable housing from a mixed-use development in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), have splintered into two factions.
One is in favour of the high-density project that will allegedly encroach the Taman Rimba Kiara park, while the other group opts for an alternative settlement that will not lead to the green lung’s destruction.
Those in favour of the controversial project are members of the Pertubuhan Penduduk Perumahan Awam Bukit Kiara group, which consists of the older generation of settlers. The younger generation of settlers is part of Bukit Kiara Rumah Panjang Residents Association.
According to the first group’s Chairman Sunderam Vadiveloo, the master resettlement agreement they have obtained from landowner Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP), will result in members getting 100 affordable housing for free. They will also receive 100 units priced at RM175,000 apiece.
Notably, the project features a 29-storey affordable housing block with 350 units and six blocks of 42- and 52-storey luxury serviced apartments with 1,766 units. Overall, 2,116 homes will be built, increase the area’s population density from 74 persons per acre to 979 persons per acre.
Meanwhile, the other group supports an alternative plan crafted by architects who are helping the Save Taman Rimba Working Group. This consist of 104 townhouses with a combined value of RM15 million and this will not negatively impact the green lung.
“We believe the best way to preserve the community living that we currently enjoy is to implement the townhouse design, and we hope that it will come through,” said the group’s Secretary Sivakumar Muniandy.
Overall, the longhouse residents are estimated to number about 500 people. Originally, there were 98 families who were relocated to longhouses on a 4.4-acre site after Putrajaya bought the Bukit Kiara rubber estate. And this land parcel will also be used for the new development.
Furthermore, the second group claimed that the RM700,000 given by developer Memang Perkasa for repair works have mysteriously disappeared.
As such, it is asking the first group to explain where the money was used. This is because they still had to fork out between RM3,000 and RM4,000 to mend their dwellings.
“There are no signs that the money was used for maintenance,” said Sivakumar.
Sunderam countered that the money was given to a contractor appointed to carry out the repairs. The doors, roof and water tanks of some houses have already been repaired, while that for others are still being done.
Image sourced from Malay Mail.
This article was edited by the editorial team of PropertyGuru. To contact them about this or other stories email editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my
For the latest property news, trends, resources and expert opinions, visit our Property News section. Home buyers, sellers or property renters looking for Malaysian Properties, may like to visit the New Launches or Project Reviews page.
