I GET anxious every time it’s my turn to move at the t-junction on Jalan PJU 1a/46, that connects Kelana Jaya, Ara Damansara and Subang, located between Symphony House Bhd and the RapidKL headquarters. Although it is obvious that priority has to be given to those turning from the main road, this is impossible since the other four directions need to wait for a ridiculous amount of time, and sometimes a little give and take could make the traffic even worse.

A few times last month, traffic police were seen directing traffic, but since then, they are no more in sight and the congestion goes on as usual. What is more worrying is that primary school children from SK PPR Lembah Subang who walk to and from school use the same road. Is the Petaling Jaya City Council waiting for a child to be hit before traffic lights are put up? Why can’t a bridge be built behind the school that connects to the PPR flats so that children can walk safely to and from there? I don’t have a child but I think this is public awareness. It is not hard to notice the poor system.

I just hope the needful can be done quickly. Please do something

Nurul Shuhadah

30th June 2010 – We launched a Signature Campaign to Against the New Development.

6th August 2010 – Ara Damansara Action Group came out with a formal presentation to MBPJ. Mr. Derek Fernandez, so call the “lawyer for residents” was present.

15th October 2010 – Ara Damansara Action Group submitted a proposal to MBPJ after the 2nd dialogue on what the residents want in order for the new development to continue.

6th November 2010 – MBPJ Councillor Tiew Way Keng chaired a meeting, Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah’s aide Peter Chong , private Secretary to YB R Sivarasa, who was also present at the hearings, said the hijacked land was a state government issue and he suggested that residents file a complaint with the Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat). Tiew said the applications for the projects would be tabled at the One-Stop Centre committee meeting on Nov 15.

22nd December 2010 – Another full board meeting held by MBPJ.  We were told by MBPJ internal sources that  OSC had approved the projects despite all the news and protests by the residents.

9th January 2011 – Since MBPJ had failed us. We sent a mail to YB Teresa Kok who in turn “pushed” us back to MBPJ Councillor Tiew Way Keng.

13th January 2011 – MBPJ organized another dialogue with the developer chaired by councillor, Mr. Derek Fernandez. MP YB Sivarasa also attended.

3rd March 2011 - It is confirmed that Borang C has been issued to developer with a plot ration of 1:3.9, YB Mohd Nasir is aware of it.

6th Match 2011 – I venged my frustration to PR.

13th March – A reply from Peter Chong, saying that “However some individuals in the Planning Dept  caused the Borang C to be issued.”

Dear Sir/Mdm,

Mr Julian Ng

1) It is more than a year Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim promised us that the ARA-Tropicana road issue will resolve and MBPJ is all out to help us resolve this issue. Why should I continue to trust the state government that promised me CHANGE but nothing CHANGED except the road goes worse by day?

2) Despite all the hard work of the Ara Damansara Action Group against the development of 2 mega projects in the township that clearly, something is wrong, the developers now received “Boarang C”, a full approval to the construction.

Bear in mind that Y.B Teressa Kok, Y.B Sivarasa & Y.B Nasir is aware of these events. May be they should change PR from Pakatan Rakyat to “Push Responsibility”.

I remember myself standing under the rain with my Dad at Pantai, listening to YB Anwar Ibrahim giving his talk about CHANGE. Having a government that listens to the people’s voice. I thought they will hear the rakyat. I guess I am wrong. They can do something but they choose not to, I wish MACC or SELCAT can do something.

I don’t know if I should still remain hopeful that Pakatan Rakyat is really for the Rakyat. Perhaps they are so busy with all the elections or politics that they have forgotten what they fought for. For power or for people?

Signing off,

Jef Ong (A very disappointed voter).

Disclaimer: I am writing as an individual, as an admin of the website, as a blogger and NOT representing the entire Ara Damansara.

For the benefit of those who were unable to be present in this morning’s meeting which was held in MBPJ, chaired by En Khairul (MBPJ Councillor for our area).  The following issues were brought up and observations made.

En Khairul started the meeting by laying out the purpose of the meeting was to find a compromised solution to the impasse on the proposed development submitted by Ara Greens developer, ie. HSB Sdn. Bhd.  Then En. Zain from MBPJ Planning department mentioned that the OSC (One Stop Centre) has already approved the proposed development but with conditions.  Mr Derek who was amongst the Councillors who sit in the OSC (but he claimed that he did not sit in that particular OSC meeting which has approved the development proposal) further elaborated that the OSC was guided by RTPJ2 which has specified a maximum plot ratio of 4.  He then requested that the developer consider the following request made by the residents of Ara Damansara.

• An access point into the proposed development from Taman Perindustrian Jaya through Jalan PJU 1A/7, as the current empty land belongs to the state government.
• That the layout be amended so that it is more estatically pleasing to the residents, wherby the higher blocks be placed further away from the residential area.  He suggested that a 45 deg. angle be adopted with the lower building placed along Jalan PJU 1A/20 and the higher blocks placed along Sg. Kayu Ara.

Derek further mentioned that the residents has alledged that the land where the proposed development is located, was originally designated as “recreational centre”.  Both MBPJ planning department and the State Planning Department denied having any knowledge on this matter.

The next OSC meeting will be on 19-01-11 and HSB has been told to revert to MBPJ on the suggestions and comments made during today’s meeting.

Regards,
cplim

This evening at about 6pm, I heard a familiar sound, and soon after, the fogging vehicle slowly rolled through my neighbourhood of Embun (PJU 1A/24′s).  Thankfully, I mos-netted my entire house just recently.  I can’t bear the vicious mosquito population anymore.

At a meeting with our local ADUN back in August where at he invited our wish-list, I do remember requesting for our drains to be opened and cleared.  It hasn’t happened yet, so the mosquitoes engage in a feeding frenzy from dusk to dawn every day.  Will MBPJ act now to remove the drain covers and clear all our drains of debris?

Thank you the group who represented Ara Damansara and for getting the press and political representatives involved!

RESIDENTS of Ara Damansara in Petaling Jaya are protesting against a proposed multi-storey development in their area.

The project in Jalan PJU1A/20 consists of two 11-storey and 13-storey commercial buildings, two levels of retail space, three 14-storey service apartments and three floors of basement parking.

About 15 residents and 10 representatives from developer Villamas Sdn Bhd attended a public hearing recently at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) headquarters in Jalan Yong Shook Lin.

Councillor Tiew Way Keng chaired the meeting and among those who attended were Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah and Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim.

MBPJ town planning department technical assistant Kamariah Yahya said the council received the application on May 11.

“A notice was put up in June to inform residents of the development but we did not receive any formal objections. However, we received a letter in July with more than 400 signatures objecting to the project,” she said.

The concerns highlighted by the residents were traffic congestion; the safety of having a high-density project near a petrol station and in close proximity of the Subang airport; the risk of abandonment like the Platinum condominium project; and the increased risk of flooding in the neighbourhood.

Kamariah said the plans submitted by the developer did not comply to certain guidelines like the 25% instead of the required 30% of space allocated for landscape; the number of parking lots was short by 57; and the plot ratio was above the allowable 1:4 (land area to built-up area).

The project’s architect Dr Tan Loke Mun said the project was built above the river level and was not at risk of flooding.

He also said the development did not encroach onto any river or drain reserve.

The developer’s traffic consultant then went on to brief residents and the officers on the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) study done on the area.

Residents were not satisfied with the report because it only concentrated on the roads around the development but did not look at the traffic dispersal in and out of Ara Damansara and did not take into account the other developments that were coming up in the area.

Villamas managing director Gan Teck Seong also presented a portfolio of the company to assure residents that they were committed to completing the project.

Since the project is near the river, Sivarasa asked if the building design was strong enough and why there were no reports from the Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS).

Tan said they had complied to the 20ft setback required by the JPS.

Resident C.P. Lim was also allowed to present the residents’ views and why they were against a high-density development.

Sivarasa reminded the developers that even though the Petaling Jaya Draft Plan 2 (RTPJ2) allowed for a plot ratio of 1:4 , the plan has not been gazetted.

“You also have to see the reality of the situation and how much you can build by looking at the area as a whole. As it is, your current plans don’t even comply.

“Twenty years ago, developers built two- to four-storey shoplots and made a profit. Why is it now that developers have to build multi-storey buildings to make money?” asked Sivarasa.

It was decided at the meeting that the developer would be given two weeks to submit a fresh application that complied with the guidelines and residents should be provided with information like the TIA and building plans so that they could study the proposal.

Tiew tentatively fixed Sept 20 for a second hearing on the project.

Please don’t use the new road coz a very big, deep hole has been dug this afternoon. I guess to prevent residents in Ara Damansara and NZX from using it.

It is very dangerous especially to motorcyclists coz that stretch is not lit up sometimes.
We gotta unite to make the authorities or whoever is responsible for developing that road to complete it.

Day/Date: Friday, 6th August

Time: 4pm

Venue: MBPJ Bilik Mesyuarat Bunga Mawar

We need representatives to attend, at least one per enclave so that we are well represented.  Kindly confirm your attendance by leaving your name and number with Encik Murad of Kedai Kopi Ara so that some coordination will be possible.