KUALA LUMPUR: A proposed hillside high-rise development project between Bukit Mas and Desa View Tower along Jalan Kolam Air in Taman Melawati has raised concern and disappointment among area residents.
They are shocked and upset upon discovering that the project, which was initially carried out in 2016 and later halted for three years, has been revived.
Avid cyclist, Omrin Kamarudin, 64, said he saw a signboard on the proposed project in the area which had been fenced off when he went cycling there two weeks ago.
“I immediately informed the head of the Taman Melawati Residents Association Kuala Lumpur, Azhari Abd Tahrim and he was also shocked. He rushed to the site immediately.
“It is sad to know that the project is to be carried out despite it being halted for three years.
“We thought it (project) would never go on.
“Nature and wildlife in the hills will be destroyed if the project is carried out.
“Traffic will be worse too. I urge the developer as well as the authorities to stop the project,” said Omrin, who has been living in Taman Melawati since 1990.
It is understood that the development project is being undertaken by a private firm called Gadang Land Sdn Bhd.
Dr Amy Anuradah, who has been living in Taman Melawati for 37 years, said there would be more dengue cases if the project was carried out.
Amy, who works at a hospital in the city, said they had received several reports on dengue cases in Taman Melawati, mainly resulting from construction sites.
“We would like to preserve whatever little forest we have as we know that (development projects) have a bad environmental effect.
“We should preserve our flora and fauna as this forest is the only untouched one in the Klang Valley,” said the 37-year-old.
Lim Soon Ann, a 51-year-old environmental enthusiast, said the habitat for some endangered animals in the hills would be forever destroyed if the project was carried out.
“How can they destroy this area to make way for a development project? It is not necessary.
“We saw a lot of endangered animals here such as woodpeckers, gibbons, tapir, wild goats, black panthers and silver leaf monkeys.
“They need their homes to stay and this forest is where they belong,” he said.
Azhari, meanwhile, said the developer should reconsider the project as residents would be “trapped” in their own area.
He also said there were landslides at some parts of the hill and it was best that the developer stopped the project.
“This project was initiated in 2016.
“We first discovered it when we went for a morning walk.
“We were shocked and since then we have lodged complaints with City Hall over the matter.
“The project was then suspended for three years but until two weeks ago, we found out that it is to be continued.
“We saw the exact signboard again at the site and we are taken aback.
“We want them to reconsider this. They may say they would scale it down, but we don’t need this kind of development in this residential area,” he said.
It is understood that the high-rise project has two blocks – 22 storeys and 21 storeys – with a total of 479 units.