Residents of Sri Petaling and I oppose the decision made by DBKL without consulting the residents.
Today I held a press conference at Sri Petaling to bring up the issue of DBKL’s decision to convert an allocated lot for hawkers, market and bus terminal – to a mixed development area.
This is strongly opposed by the residents there as the surroundings are already congested as it is. Currently this empty peace of land is being used as a parking space to ease the traffic congestion in this area (Jalan Radin Anum). I also learnt that DBKL awarded a company the rights to process the applications for licensing of traders here.
Back in 2003 DBKL gazetted this empty lot as a hawker & market centre and the bus terminal allocation was removed from the lot. Since September 2011 the RA learnt that DBKL had converted the lot into a mixed development area, even though the RA had applied for the land to be converted into a green lung as only 4% of the total Sri Petaling township is gazetted as green lung areas.
DBKL has offered a piece of land, that is behind the current Brickfields IPD, which is being used by the police department. The police have also applied to DBKL to convert that particular piece of land for the permanent usage of the police.
Mr. Tan Tai Tong is the Chairman of the Sri Petaling RA. The RA is totally against the idea of a mixed development project at this lot and they are starting a petition to gather support for their appeal to be heard by the DBKL authorities. They are also demanding that DBKL adheres to the master plan before 2003 for an allocation of a market, food court and a bus terminal in Sri Petaling. This empty lot should be a green lung and converted into a park as this is what the people want – as the residents are already facing a massive congestion issue in this area.
I will arrange for a meeting with the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur and the state planning division to resolve this issue that the residents are facing.
Mr Tan Tai Tong briefing me on the situation. (Behind me is the board that displays the number to call if anyone wishes to rent the space)
Mr Tan Tai Tong and me holding the press conference
The advertisement on a local Chinese paper promoting the 7000sq land