"Save Ampang Hills" Nature Walk

What do the residents of Taman Zoo View, Bukit Antarabangsa, Taman Hillview, Ukay Heights, Taman TAR and Taman Melawati have in common? Their neigborhoods are under the threat of hillslope development which will drastically reduce the beautiful greenery of Ampang and Ulu Klang, as well as greatly increase the occurances of landslides in this already fragile network of hills.

Date: Saturday 3 Nov 2007
Time: Walk 7.30 am
End with breakfast 9.00am
Location: Entrance to Bukit Melawati, Tmn. Melawati

Theme: Save Ampang Hills - Protect our families & our homes

Activities:
1) A walk up Tmn. Melawati Hill followed by a bring-your-own-breakfast (potluck if you feel like sharing)
2) Launching of umbrella website – "Save Ampang Hills - Protect our families & our homes"

Neighbors

Yes, a family of wild boars was spotted in Ukay Heights yesterday evening. The Ampang forests and hills are simply amazing, home to thousands of wildlife. Sadly, the hills will have to make way if MAA and its property division gets their way. Just say no to...

New application, same destruction

Malaysian Assurance Alliance Bhd have resubmitted their plans to clear the hills of Ampang. The new notice of application signed by Awang Mustapha Bin Md Yunus (Pengarah Jabatan Perancang Bandar - MPAJ) is to develop 149 bungalow lots and 460 offices on one of the last remaining hills on Jalan Ulu Klang.

This is a never-ending battle, and the constant resubmissions by the developer and numerous public hearings with MPAJ seem to be designed to wear us down. But let's not give up. If the project goes as plan, it will forever changed the landscape, beauty and tranquility of Ampang and Ulu Klang.

Though the MPAJ signboards gives a deadline of the 5th September to submit our objections, some residents have received their notices on the 14th August, thus with a deadline of 4th September, given the 21 days. Consequently we are advised that all written objections should reach the MPAJ's Office by Thursday, 30th August 2007. For those who wish to use a sample letter, please write to saveukayhts@email.com for one. Please sign 2 copies, one for MPAJ, another to be kept for your own records once MPAJ stamps it.

Please submit your Objection Letter to MPAJ asap. They have given us very short notice. Please do not miss this chance! Act now!

Interesting link?

You know the recently refurbished Selangor Properties condo's in Ukay Heights now called Puncak Ukay and Bayu Ukay? They're developed and marketed by Maple Homes. Well, I went to the developer's website and was shocked to see the logo placed on the buildings at the top banner of the website (right above "Home" and "Products"). Mighty interesting, wouldn't you say?

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 .

New Application for Development in Ukay Heights

They're at it again.

Rather that wait for the outcome of the court hearing that was held on 17th December 2006, the developers of Lots 1680, 1681, 530 & 531 (Mukim Hulu Kelang) have put in a new Application for Development on the very same lots.

As before, only a handful of residents in Taman Hijau received the new notice, forwarded by MPAJ, probably a tactic to minimize the number of objections. But thankfully some residents have alerted neighbors of Panaromic Sklyine/Malaysian Allied Assurance's latest move.

Objections to the proposed development must reach MPAJ by Friday, 9th February 2007.

Reasons for the objection should include:

1. Insufficient notice (signboards, flyers, etc.) had been put up for the information of the residents of Ukay Heights, Taman Hijau, Taman TAR, Dataran Seri Ukay, Ampang Jaya and adjacent neighborhoods.

2. There was no EIA Report tabled for public viewing.

3. There was no certificated survey plan for the residents to study the nature of the project and its effects on the neighborhoods with more accurate information.

4. There was no assessment done as to the increase in traffic and carrying capabilities of the existing roads.

5. MPAJ has failed to draw up a Local Plan for Ampang Jaya that incorporates the feedback and views of ALL of its residents.

Please feel free to pepper your objections with references to other hillslope developments that have turned into tragedies (Highland Towers, Kampung Bukit Pasir Tinggi, etc.) and the Selangor Menteri Besar's directive to stop all hillside development particularly in the Ampang/Ulu Kelang area.

If you're concerned about your home, neighborhood and way of life, please take some action. The deadline for objections is 9th February. Get your neighbors to send in their objections, too.

SPECIAL THANKS to Dato Mustapha B Mahmud for keeping everyone informed.

Kampung Pasir: Aftermath

Victims, stop-work orders and probe.

Here we go again

Condolences to Kampung Pasir residents who lost family members and homes to yesterday's landslide.

After the search and rescue operation is over, after the finger-pointing at greedy developers, after the setting up of a taskforce to tackle landslide problems, after a promise to scrutinize all hillside development, where will we be 1 year from now?

We've heard it all before. All the promises to stop hillside development. But it still goes on. There's no need to ask developers to comply to strict guidelines. Just stop all hillside development! Problem solved.

Environmental Pollution Hotline

Complaints pertaining to environmental pollution - that's open burning, raw sewage and toxic effluents flowing into river system, illegal forest clearing, etc. - can be made via a simple phone-call to the Department of Environment Office's HQ Control Room in Putrajaya. They're open 7.00 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. daily inclusive of weekends and public holidays.

Hunting Line : 03-88858200
Complaints Line: 03-88891972
Fax: 03-88891973/75
JASLINE :1-800-88-2727

Fire Department (they take Open Burning complaints, too): 8888-0336

MPAJ Aduan (Complaint) Website

Need mosquito fogging in your neighborhood? Clogged drains? Contruction work going on at night? Just click onto this website to put in your complaints, air your greivances, offer feedback, etc. and MPAJ will get onto it.

You'll have to register but it's worth it. Someone from MPAJ calls me within a day to look into my matters.

Council issues stop-work order in Ampang Jaya

from the Malay Mail

HARNY ABU KHAIR
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18

The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council has slapped a stop-work order on a hillslope housing project next to Jalan 2/3 in Ampang Jaya.

Its president, Ahmad Shafii Saidin, said the order was issued last week after the developer was found to have carried out slope stabilising work illegally.

"The developer did not seek the council’s approval," he said.

The council investigated the matter following complaints from residents.

Ahmad Shafii said the developer, in a meeting with the council, said they had obtained approval for the work from the Forestry Department.

"But they did not get our permission, thus it is illegal," he said.

He added that the council had asked the developer to submit its application for work.

"The council also instructed the developer to repair and strengthen the retention pond at the foot of the hill to prevent clogging and landslips," Ahmad Shafii said.

The developer had also been ordered to remove all the earth, dumped at the foot of the hill.

On the slope stabilising work, he said the council would also obtain feedback from Ikram Berhad, the Geo-science Department and Public Works Department before approving the developer’s application.

"If it is approved, the developer will have to do the work all over again according to Ikram’s specifications," he said, adding that the council would closely monitor the work.

Spot the Notice

notice
Originally uploaded by styro1.

You would be forgiven if you didn't respond to the MPAJ notice seeking comments (and objections) to the planned development next to Ukay Heights. Seriously, who would have spotted the MPAJ Notice board "visibly" placed on the busy Middle Ring Road (aka Jalan Ulu Kelang). I passed the Notice board for several months before I actually notcied it, and this only because I was consciously looking for it. When I finally found it, I had to carefully park my car along the busy road, and then try to get out of the car safely without getting run over by other speeding cars before I could read it. See if you can spot it. It's the small white box right above the boot of the Wira. And if you want to actually read it, scout along Jalan Ulu Kelang for it. Warning though, the deadline for comments to MPAJ has expired.

Residents to meet Developers

Dataran Ukay's RA Chairman and other residents of Ukay Heights and Taman Hijau will be meeting up with the two developers of the hillslope projects today. MPAJ officials will be present, too. Keep your fingers crossed that the hills remain untouched.

For more on this check out "Living in fear of landslides" at The Malay Mail. (still haven't figured how to post a link, sorry)

http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/MM/Wednesday/National/20050309113525/Article/index_html

Lots PT 1680, 1681, 532 and 531

Here's what's being planned for the other hillslope project in Ampang: 194 bungalow units, 410 shop units and 10-story office building. It's right next to Dataran Ukay, and will stretch from Jalan Ulu Klang into the hills of Ukay Heights.

With the recent expose of the Bukit Cerakah destruction, the MB of Selangor has announced yet another freeze on all development at environmentally sensitve areas. Look at all the erosion on the hills of Ampang; I'm pretty sure this counts as an environmentally senstive area. He's said that all local councils must get approval from the Public Works Institute (Ikram) and the Mineral and Geoscience Department before allowing development in hilly areas (full report at www.nst.com.my). I wonder if the project on Lots PT 1680, 1681, 532 and 531 did?

Please don't let the "freeze" on hill development comfort you. I'm sure many of you may recall similar calls in the past only to see the development resume once all the media hype has died away. Do not stop questioning our local council on the wanton development in our neighborhood, and keep on pressuring them for the need of a Local Plan.

Below is a letter pertaining to the Lots mentioned above. I urge fellow Ampang residents to copy, sign and send the objection letter as soon as possible. Time is against us.

______________________________________________________________________

6 March 2005

Yang DiPetua
Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya
Menara MPAJ
Jln. Pandan Indah
55100 Kuala Lumpur.

Tuan,

RE: No Further Developments in Ampang Until Completion of Ampang Local Plan – Objection to Proposed Development of 194 Unit Bungalow lots, 410 Unit Shops, 10 Story Office Building with 2 floor Basement Car Park on Lots 1680, 530 and 531 Jln. Hulu Kelang, Mukim Hulu Kelang, Gombak.

We are writing over our concern regarding a proposed development scheme on several acres/hectares behind the Ukay Heights, Jalan Hulu Kelang residential areas. As a resident in Ampang, we are concerned over the large size of the project, the huge social and environmental impacts the project will likely have.

As we mentioned to your good self in our earlier letter, dated 8 January 2005, we object to any further developments in Ampang until the completion of the Ampang Local Plan.

The above mentioned development is of grave concern to us as it is on steep hill slopes which is very dangerous. There are a number of issues of particular concern including:

1. Was a social impact assessment carried out to determine how this development will affect the existing neighborhoods of Ukay Heights, Taman Tar, Ampang Jaya and Hulu Kelang ?

2. Was any assessment done as to the increase in traffic and carrying capabilities of the existing roads?

3. Was an environmental impact assessment done to ensure no negative impacts on the surrounding environment in terms of erosion risks, land slides, efforts to preserve the land in its natural topography and so on?

4. Information on the above points, as well as information such as a MODEL of the proposed development, the survey plan, proposed development report, earthwork plans, was not made available to all the affected residents for our comments and review.

We therefore object to this or any other development in the Ukay Heights/Taman TAR, Ampang Jaya, Hulu Kelang as well as other areas in Ampang, until MPAJ carry out a Local Plan that incorporates the feedback and views of ALL of its residents.

We anxiously await your urgent reply to this matter.


Regards,
Name:
Address:


Phone:

c.c.

Y.A.B. Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor
Pejabat Menteri Besar Selangor
Tingkat 21, Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
40000 Shah Alam

YB Dato’ Menteri
Kementerian Perumahan & Kerajaan Tempatan
Aras 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7, Pusat Bandar Damansara
50782 Kuala

First, Cahaya Seri Alam Agri Park. Next, Ampang hills?

Have you been following the expose by Utusan Malaysia (now covered by The Sun) regarding the blatant disregard property developers have shown towards the environment by levelling hills and clearing land around the Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agriculture Park? Yes, the Agricluture Park which is supposed to be a green lung for the Klang Valley. This all happenned despite a stop-work order by the Selangor state government. For a chronological rundown of events, go to http://www.jeffooi.com/

Dataran Ukay RA starts petition campaign

The Dataran Ukay Residents Association, who first alerted me about the proposed developments in Ukay Heights at a gathering at Kelab Darul Ehsan late last year, have distributed letters throughout the Ukay Heights area urging residents to send in their written objection to MPAJ.

The letter contains several important details, such as the actual lot number of one of the proposed projects as well as an indication of what kind of development it will be (200 condo units, 42 3-storey bungalows, 8 3-storey terraced houses, 41 3-storey townhouses and 41 4-6 storey shoplots).

There is also mention of the developer, Harta Villa Sdn Bhd.

The letter from the Residents Association advises that: -

"Your objections should mention:

1. That you have not been formally notified of the proposals and insist on proper notification.

2. That you strongly object to the creation of access to Lot 378 via Jalan Teberau 1, 2 & 3. And Lot 378 has extensive frontage to the Middle Ring Road and the developer should access the development directly and exclusively from the Middle Ring Road, which has the capacity to handle the traffic.

3. Developers need to invest the community and provide information. In this case:

- No proper plans (including elevation etc) of the revised development plan for the site appear to have been made public
- No traffic impact study has been done or at any rate made available.

4. Any other ground of objection you have - which could include that Lot 378 is high density multi-storey development (350 units!) of a very steep hill slope, with all which will entail massive earthworks and slope engineering work, again to the detriment of neighboring properties."

All objections should be signed and addressed, with your own name and address, to:

Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ)
Tingkat 11 Menara MPAJ
Jalan Pandan Utama, Pandan Indah
55100 Ampang
(ATTN: Pengarah, Town & Planning Dept., Encik Awang Mustapha bin Md Yunus)

I urge all concerned residents of Ampang to send in their objections, even if you've sent the one I posted earlier regarding the need of a local plan in Ampang.

The Dataran Ukay RA will be setting up an eGroup soon. I will post details when I get them.

(If you're a member of the Dataran Ukay RA, please post a comment with your contact details so we can work together for the protection of our neighborhood).