MPAJ to hear objections on March 5

It's next Monday.

I haven't received an invitation by MPAJ but according to today's The Sun:


" The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) will hold the objection hearing for the proposed development known as Dataran Ukay, in Ukay Heights, Hulu Kelang on March 5.

In a statement today responding to reports of residents protesting against the project, MPAJ public relations officer Norhayati Ahmad said: "Residents have been given an opportunity to voice their objections over the proposed hillside development by writing in to MPAJ."

She said MPAJ had received a planning permission application from Malaysian Assurance Alliance Bhd (MAA), whose subsidiary Panorama Skyline Sdn Bhd plans to build 164 bungalow units and a 10-storey building - comprising 410 shop and office lots with a two-storey basement parking - on a 25ha plot.

MPAJ had sent public objection notices to residents on Jan 22 and 23, who had up to Feb 11 and Feb 12, respectively to send in their written objections.

"Those who have written in can attend the objection hearing on March 5," she said.

All objections raised will be brought to the MPAJ planning and building plans department committee meeting in March.

MPAJ will inform the residents who have objected of the committee's decision, Norhayati said.

"If residents are dissatisfied with the committee's decision, they can then bring it up to the Appeals Board under the Selangor Town and Country Planning Department, which acts as a tribunal for cases pertaining to development," she said. "


That last line worries me. Has the committee already made a decision?

UPDATED The meeting is set for 9am at the MPAJ Auditorium, Level 5, Menara MPAJ, Jln Pandan Indah. Don't forget to bring the original MPAJ ‘invitation’ letter and/or a copy of the objection letter you signed earlier with the ‘MPAJ received stamp’.

We're living next to a State Park!

It's official, the Selangor State Park is a reality! 91,441-hectares of forests, stretching from the Selangor side of Fraser's Hill, down to Ulu Yam, behind the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge, all the way to Hulu Langat. That's bigger than tiny Singapore island. It's the second largest park in Peninsular Malaysia, after Taman Negara. Home to numerous flora and fauna. The source of most of the Klang Valley's water. It's all protected.

And it's right outside our doorsteps.

Proof again that the hardwork and persistance of Ampang residents does really pay off. Congratulations to all parties involved in this massive and important undertaking -- the Selangor government, Selangor town and country planning unit, Selangor forestry department, all the NGOs, scientists and legal advisors. And a special shout-out to TrEES, who's first office in Taman Melawati at the base of the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge, started this ball rolling in the first place.

Trail of landslides

Something from the archives, June 1, 2006.

Views on Landslides

Google "landslides", "ampang", "hulu klang" and you're bound to get an endless list of commentaries on the ever recurring man-made disasters in these areas. I found the ones on the Property Malaysia , Malaysian Bar Council and National House Buyers Association sites interesting.

Site of destruction

The hill slopes referred to as Lot 1680, 1681, 530 and 531 which Panaroma Skyline/MAA proposes to clear and level in order to build 152 bungalows, 520 shop lots, a 10 storey building and a two storey car park.

Can't decipher the bird's eye view of Ukay Heights? The southern border of the red box runs from the former Selangor Properties apartments -- now redeveloped and named Puncak Ukay and Bayu Ukay -- all the way to Taman Hijau. The apartment blocks on the right border of the proposed development are the Mutiara Heights apartments in Taman TAR. That's the Middle Ring Road (Jalan Ulu Klang) on the left border.

And just a few hundred metres north of the red box (not in picture) is Highland Towers.

Entrance to this new development will probably be from Jalan Ulu Klang, right before the SMART showroom and Honda service centre. But access roads during the period of construction would most probably cut through the Ukay Heights and Dataran Ukay neighborhoods. Expect a lot of lorries, dust, traffic and potholes all the way down to the Ampang Jaya/Ukay Heights turn-off on Jalan Kolam Air Lama.

(Google Earth photo from SaveUkayHts.wordpress.com)

Background on Ampang hillslope development, here and here .