Thursday July 12, 2007
Residents all out to save hill
By FAZLEENA AZIZ
Photos by SAMUEL ONG and FAZLEENA AZIZ
TAMAN Melawati Hill in phase 3, a well-hidden recreational trail for many residents in and around Taman Melawati, will soon cease to exist as it would succumb to another proposed housing development project.
The steep hill area is a favourite spot for many residents, who enjoy their daily walks surrounded by greenery and a fantastic hill view in the early mornings and evenings.
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| Big plans: Hamdan looking at the lay-out given to residents by the MPAJ. |
According to Save Taman Melawati Hill Phase 3 Pro-tem committee chairman Major General (R) Datuk Wahid Anwar, the residents are trying to salvage what they can before an unfortunate incident occurs.
"We noticed people coming to survey the area, which is when we realised that something is going to take place. We formed a small committee and wrote a letter with 500 signatures to the Prime Minister?s Department, the Selangor Menteri Besar?s Office, the Housing and Local Government Ministry, assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Bujang's office, our MP, the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and Biro Pengaduan Awam Negara."
"We have received acknowledgment from the PM's Department, the MB's office and the ministry but no word has been received from the MPAJ, our MP and our assemblyman," he said.
He said that the MPAJ had a put up a notification board stating the development that would take place and they were given a deadline for a protest on June 8.
"We later sent a letter through a lawyer and the MPAJ responded by sending us a sketch of a mixed development lay-out, which doesn't show or say much."
"I have tried to see MPAJ president Mohammad Yacob but he seems to be busy all the time," he said.
Committee vice-president Hamdan Mohd Salleh said that about 165 semi-Ds and bungalow lots would be built.
"For them to build that many houses, they will have to clear everything, the slope is extreme and there is already a history of landslides. They just can't cut the trees or even develop the area, as we are not sure of the repercussions," he said.
A gathering was held recently to inform residents about the development and what they could do to help save the hill.
Some residents claim that existing developments had already caused the temperatures to rise and the rapid disappearance of the lush green scenery caused by this new development would add fuel to the fire.
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| Scenic: A view from the bottom of the hill. The vacant lot next to the house on the slope used to have two similar houses but these collapsed in the 80s. |
A resident, who declined to be named, said there was legislation pertaining to hillside developments but it seemed to have been overlooked in the current situation.
"We have lived here for many years and we enjoy our morning walks up the hill. If they keep chopping down everything and building houses here, I don't think people would want to live here anymore. Besides, we don't even know what they are going to do or how they are going to do it, it's all very vague," said the resident.
Datuk Yusof Haslam, whose house faces the main road to the hill, is worried about the development.
"I have lived here for 10 years and it is not easy to build houses on hills. There have been many landslides and if something happens, it will have effects on the people," he said.
"And once the development takes place, it would also pose a nuisance and a hazard when the lorries start coming in and out."
A hearing was held yesterday to allow residents to voice out their complaints and grouses to the MPAJ and the developers.
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| Peaceful: Residents enjoying a walk up the hill. |
Wahid said that at the hearing, the officials and developers only listened and acknowledged their complaints and did not respond or answer any questions.
"We will continue with our efforts, today is only the beginning and we were told that our protest will be presented to the One-Stop Centres (OSCs) for approval of the housing project.
"It seems that there is a long way to go before anything else happens but we hope that they realise the past history of this area before allowing a hillside housing development," he said.
MPAJ president Mohammad Yacob said they had acknowledged the protest and the next step was to bring it to the OSC, which was the procedure.
"We have not approved anything and, today, we let the residents tell us how they feel. We will bring their arguments to the meeting and only then decide on the outcome," he said.
"We have taken all aspects into consideration, we have the Environmental committee, consultants Kumpulan Ikram, the Town Planning Department and the Public Works Department (JKR) on board on this. We will have our meeting at the end of this month and, in about three months, we will decide on the proposed development," he said.
Mohammad said that if residents were still unhappy with the decision that would be made, they could still state their claim at the Appeals Committee and the MPAJ would comply to any further decision made.
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