The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Taman Nirwana folk say SOHO development will cause problems Posted: 17 Oct 2011 05:53 AM PDT FRUSTRATED over the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's (MPAJ) lack of concern over their objections to a development project in Taman Nirwana Phase 2, a group of residents in Ampang staged a peaceful protest yesterday morning. The protest, against a 'small office home office' (SOHO) development project comprised residents of Taman Nirwana Phase 1, 2 and 3, Taman Putra Sulaiman, Kampung Pandan South and Angsana Hilir and was led by the Taman Nirwana Phase 2 Residents Association. Association president Mohamad Suhaimi Ismail said residents were angry their views were not taken into account but instead, MPAJ had approved the development's planning and building plans. "MPAJ did not even call us in for objections hearing until residents in Kampung Pandan got wind of the project and protested in 2009. "The council later called residents in for the objections hearing and at the meeting, we raised our concerns about drainage and parking problems but we have not received any positive feedback from the council and now, we learn the development has been approved," he said. Mohamad Suhaimi said Taman Nirwana Phase 2 was already tightly congested with shops, houses and Kompleks Muhibah and could not take in a development project with two 16-storey blocks with four storeys dedicated for shoplots. "At present, drainage water from six housing areas channels into the monsoon drain at Taman Nirwana Phase 2 and when it rains very heavily, the monsoon drain overflows and floods the field nearby. "Extra households in the new development project will eventually cause the monsoon drain to overflow on a regular basis as the drain was not meant to handle so much volume of water from so many housing projects," Mohamad Suhaimi said. He said at a meeting in August at MPAJ's office, he was informed that building plans had yet to be approved but later, he received a letter from the council dated Oct 4, stating that building plans were given out on July 12. "It does not make sense why we were told that building plans were not approved when they were already approved. "We are not against development but MPAJ must take into account the social issues like the parking problems, congestion, drainage and flooding. "In fact, when we first bought our properties here, the original plan stated that there would be a low-rise development with shops, a fire station and cinema at the site of the development project," he said. The association's adviser M. Thomas said MPAJ had also promised to carry out a study on traffic flow on Jalan Nirwana 38, which was used by motorists from Kampung Pandan, Taman Cempaka, Taman Cahaya, Pandan Indah, Taman Dagang to Ampang Jaya, Jalan Ampang, Middle Ring Road II and Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (Duke) highway. "Jalan Nirwana 38 is a single carriage road and now, MPAJ has proposed for it to be a dual-carriageway to faciliate the development project. "By making it into a dual carriageway, residents living on Jalan Nirwana 38 will be greatly inconvenienced as they will have no space to park a second car or hold functions to erect a tent, if the road is widened," he said. Mohamad Suhaimi said the association would no longer deal with MPAJ but would send its official protest letter to the state government. Meanwhile, MPAJ public relations officer Norhayati Ahmad said based on Section 21 (8)(b) of Town and Country Planning Act 1976, MPAJ was not required to call an objections hearing because the distance of the project to the houses on Jalan Nirwana 38 was in accordance with the Act. "The developer had also carried out a traffic impact assessment which was given out to residents in a meeting on July 1," she said. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Posted: 17 Oct 2011 05:52 AM PDT SIXTY-ONE artistic minds came together for a common goal at The Star's Preserve Our Heritage — Jalan Sultan Mural event on Saturday. Donning plastic aprons and cotton gloves, the local artists braved the scorching heat from the sun to leave their colourful mark on the newly primed wall at Lot 49, Jalan Sultan in Kuala Lumpur. Be it subtle or bold, abstract or realistic, the message conveyed through their 25 inch x 25 inch murals were identical — to conserve the culturally and historically rich area. After almost five hours of painting tirelessly, the portraits of former Sultan of Selangor Sultan Abdul Samad, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, and poet and novelist A. Samad Said were among the images that now grace the pale yellow wall. The event was the highlight of the Preserve Our Heritage campaign that was started when news emerged that century-old buildings in Jalan Sultan might be acquired to make way for the MRT project. Kuala Lumpur Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail, who came to support the cause, said the artists were helping to enhance the facade of the Jalan Sultan area. He also said that the mural would help tourists identify with creative Malaysians and boost the image of the area. Ahmad Fuad said he was open to using the same method in other locations around Kuala Lumpur as a means to preserving old buildings. "If we can get the approval of the building owners, we can do it up to retain the buildings. "We have a colourful society and we should reflect that," he said. When asked if Kuala Lumpur stood a chance to have areas listed on the Unesco Heritage site list, Ahmad Fuad said he has not looked at the criteria just yet. "Penang was founded around the same time as Kuala Lumpur, so we have traditions as well. If we fit the criteria and specifications of Unesco, I think we can apply," he said. Star Publications (M) Bhd executive deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lee said The Star had always carried inspiring stories but writing stories was not enough. "We must be a part of the story and work with the community to be a part of the change process," he added. Lee also said that heritage was an intricate part of society and everything should be done to preserve history and culture. Meanwhile, Jalan Sultan traders were delighted with the decision by the government and MRT Corpo-ration to retain the buildings and not acquire the land. Lok Ann Hotel manager Steven Yong said the efforts to bring so many artists to make a statement on the dilapitated wall was an ideal way to preserve heritage. Building owner Chong Kah Fatt, 32, said efforts to honour and preserve the buildings in Jalan Sultan should have been done long ago. "This is a great idea to appeal and draw in young people. Most of my friends didn't know how this place started until all the publicity," he added. Khong Kim Lyew said his tailoring business has been around for three generations and his grandfather's name Kwong Fook Wing was synonymous with good tailored suits. Khong was happy to see so many faces joining forces during the event on Saturday to make a difference. "I am delighted to see so many people preserving our culture, the buildings and our heritage," he added. Related Stories: |
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