Stand Down! « SJ Echo

Sunday, 3 January 2010

Stand Down!

The Ball is in MB Selangor's Court

Selangor Menteri Besar urged to strike out application to develop 9-Storey Commercial Tower in USJ6

RESIDENTS of USJ6 are taking the fight to strike out the proposed development on the Telekom utility land right to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s doorstep.
Frustrated and disappointed with the State Planning Committee’s indifferent attitude over the proposed controversial 9-storey commercial tower in USJ6, residents are now leaving the fate and sanctity of their neighbourhood in Khalid’s hands.
Khalid chairs the committee in his capacity as Menteri Besar.
Philip Soong, a 48-year-old spokesman for the residents, said residents were riled up by the SPC’s decision in pushing the matter to the Appeal Board, skipping and neglecting to adhere to Section 25(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172) which requires the revocation by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council to be confirmed by the SPC.
“Khalid has not done anything or decided on the matter after this matter was brought to him six months ago. Yes or No. Tell Us.”
“The ball is at your feet to decide. If we lose our fight, it will open the floodgates for all utility companies to start converting land alienated for utilities into commercial buildings,” Soong said.
“We were told that, under Section 25 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, no revocation or modification order can take effect until it has been confirmed by the State Planning Committee.

“This means that the matter is still hanging as there is no official confirmation by the state government,” he added.
ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh who was at the peaceful protest staged by residents at the site, did not mince her words.
“We are dissatisfied that the SPC has not confirmed the council’s rejection of the proposed project. The committee has put this whole matter into limbo.”
“They must endorse but they have not done so. We do not want any development here. Leave it as a utility reserve land,” she said to reporters.
Her sentiments were echoed by Tony Pua (MP For PJ Utara), Khalid Samad (MP for Shah Alam), Edward Lee (ADUN Bukit Gasing) and Dr Nasir Hashim (ADUN for Kota Damansara) who attended the protest.
Pua urged the State to look at the matter from a wider perspective.
“It is not just a local issue. It has wider implications. It will affect all utility land across the State if this project were to be allowed to proceed,” he said.
“The State Exco must be more transparent and make their decisions known. People deserve to know but in this case, no reasons have been made known to residents,” Lee said.
Tan Sri….the ball is in your court!!