RESIDENTS of Taman Sri Sinar, Segambut, are protesting against a housing project which is not only taking place too close to their homes but would also deprive them of a back lane access.
The 12 families whose houses are on Jalan 34D/38A are worried that the project for 31 units of three-storey terrace houses would damage the structure of their houses and affect their safety.
Taman Sri Sinar residents’ action committee coordinator Philip Yam, 49, said the residents found out about the project three years ago and have been contacting various authorities to find out the project’s layout plan and details but to no avail.
“We are requesting for a 3m buffer zone between our houses to serve as a back lane/emergency road and for proper drainage to be put in place,” he said.
Najri Mohamed Shaari, 57, another coordinator, said: “We want to know the size of the proposed construction site and its drainage system plans because the site is located on higher ground and there is a large monsoon drain behind our homes.
Not practical: The residents inspecting the area behind their homes that has been cleared for a housing project. “We are worried that without proper drainage, the water would flood our houses. There are also concerns that the piling work during the construction stage would affect our buildings.”
Yam said they had written to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Federal Territories Ministry and Housing and Local Government Ministry as well as contacted the developer but had yet to get any concrete answers to their requests.
“We have approached various Gerakan representatives and they have been helpful in highlighting our problems to the authorities,” he said.
“We only found out about the project through its development order that was issued in 2005. Construction work began two weeks ago despite there not being any signboards to notify residents about the project like who its developer, contractor and architect are.”
Yam added that the DBKL had issued a notice for the residents to demolish the illegal extensions and modifications the residents had done at the back of their houses.
Gerakan Federal Territories secretary Dr Wong Ruen Yuan said the DBKL should learn from its previous mistakes and ensure that an adequate back lane was constructed to prevent any untoward incidence, such as during fire emergencies.
“It is important to find the necessary solutions to address the problems. There should also be transparency in terms of providing the construction plan details.
“After three years of sending letters, it is only fair for the residents to have a discussion or dialogue with the DBKL and developer to get the answers they need.”
City Hall Advisory Board member Lim Si Pin said he hoped the DBKL and developer would have a meeting with the residents soon.
“I will also advise the DBKL to adhere to its policy to not have houses built back to back without having any emergency routes.
“The newly appointed advisory board members are scheduled to have their first meeting in early November, and I will raise the issue of this policy to the DBKL authorities and KL mayor then.
“The DBKL must pay close attention to the policy and make the residents’ safety a priority,” said Lim, who is also Gerakan Youth chief.
When contacted, a representative from the developer said they were not aware of the residents’ requests but would make an effort to attend any meeting held.
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