SUBANG RIA - COMMENTS

Submit Plan and Let the People Decide…Again

Subang Ria Park was used as a selling point when Subang Jaya was initially developed.  Residents were promised access to the park and enjoyment of the facilities there.  Over the years, facilities have diminished and residents have observed the deteriorating condition of the Park.
 
In July 2007 the Public Hearing at Holiday Villa did overwhelmingly emphasise that the Park is to remain a Park and compliance with the "Syarat-Syarat" of the Land Use stated in the Land Title be observed.  Following this Sime withdrew their proposal and all was quiet. 
 
Hence it was interesting to read in the Papers that Sime has new plans for the Park.  The dedicated road as shown in the layout plan for the new proposal is to cater for traffic  of  the 180 units of resort condominium villas,  70 units of studio apartments and future development near the Medical Centre area ... which will eventually lead into Jalan Kewajipan ... a road that is already chocker-block even during non-peak period.
 
There was mention made in the Newspaper Report today that:
1.    The State and Local Government have given the go ahead for this new proposal.  We at MPSJ have yet to receive any official application of this new plan.  Hence it is next to impossible for an approval to have been given.  The matter was not discussed at any of the Full Board Meetings this past year.
 
2.  A Traffic Impact Assessment was conducted ... am not sure who conducted this Assessment ... to my knowledge MPSJ has not received a report on this.
 
3.    At the recent Public Hearing for Subang Jaya Draft Local Plan held on 22nd June 2009, YB Ronnie Liu commented that the State Govt would allow a small part of the Park for development.  What was not mentioned by the Press is the fact that in the MPSJ Draft Local Plan ...Subang  Ria  Park is to be preserved as a  Park with no other development.  The residents in the submissions of the objections commended MPSJ for  this  and also  reiterated that the Park should remain a Park.  Sadly this was not reported by the Press.
 
This mid-day I received a call from a Sime Darby Staff inviting me and the Jawatankuasa Penduduk (JKP Zon 1) to a luncheon meeting to seek the views of the Penduduk on this new proposal.  I was told that YB Hannah Yeoh and some MPSJ Officers will also be invited.  I clearly stated to the Sime Darby Officer that I will only meet at MPSJ Premises.  It has been my policy as Ahli Majlis to ensure that meetings with Developers only take place in MPSJ in the presence of all parties concerned.  I cross-checked with one of the MPSJ Officers and was told that he too received a phone call from Sime Darby.
 
The Penduduk had spoken in 2007.  Any new proposal by Sime should go through the proper process of submission to the Local Authority and a Public Hearing will be convened accordingly.  What is fundamental is any change in land use will need to be brought to the attention of the affected parties ... and in the case of Subang Ria Park ... it will be the Penduduk of Subang Jaya ... Sime promised the Penduduk a Park when properties in Subang Jaya was sold to the purchasers.
 
 
Theresa Ratnam Thong
Ahli Majlis MPSJ 

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Don’t Object for the Sake of Objecting

I have been a resident of Subang Jaya since 1985 and have seen it grow from a simple housing area into a self-contained city. I have seen progress and I think most of us would agree that progress always comes with change – change that not all Subang Jaya residents will like.
But I am quite sure the majority here enjoy what we have now. For this, we have to thank Sime UEP for its good planning and vision.
The land in question was purchased from the State Government by Sime UEP who then developed it into a pretty nice park with jogging tracks and other recreational activities like fishing. Most residents who use the park enjoy the facilities and still do.
We have a park now. We have had the same park a quarter century ago. I feel Sime UEP has fulfilled their obligations of providing a park for residents for that duration. They have absorbed the maintenance cost for our use. Have we appreciated that gesture and thanked them for it?
Proposals to develop part of the park have been shelved because of objections from certain quarters. The new plan proposed by Sime Darby Property has kept the “old Subang Ria” which all of us have been using “occasionally”, untouched.
The only change we will see is a facelift with lots of amenities for a park of the future, which our children and grandchildren can enjoy. Only a small percentage is being proposed for residential development. The density proposed is very normal and the access road does not affect the road leading to Wangsa Baiduri, SS12 or SS15.
Let’s not object for the sake of objecting. We have seen and heard of lots of objections before on other projects as well. However when the amenities are ready, most use it without further objections.
Alan Yip- SS18
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Proper Sustainable Park Please

From a glance Sime Darby seems to want to upgrade the park into a more sustainable one. If that's the case, it certainly would be nice to see a properly planned park. Then again, it's always talk, talk, talk but when the time comes, there's a slight problem and they have to change or convert this and that. Like the famous saying goes, walk the talk. I noticed Malaysians can talk but they don't mean them most of the time. Planning is very good but maintaining? Can it be very good also?

Ramlah-USJ2

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Who is Our Representative?

I have been reading the news on Subang Ria Park in the papers lately and how the Subang Jaya Residents Association claims to represent the residents of Subang Jaya from SS12 to SS19.
Its representatives claim that they speak on the residents behalf and said they had the mandate of the residents to say “NO” on the issue of Subang Ria Park.
Who is SJRA claiming to represent? From some recent fact finding efforts, I found out that SJRA has no more than just 100 members registered with them since they received their registration as an organization several months ago.
Subang Jaya, from SS12-SS19 itself has more than 45,000 residents. Their membership is 0.0022% of the total number of people staying in the area they claim to represent.
Unlike our Subang Jaya State Assemblyman Hannah Yeoh who was elected by the people to represent them, SJRA is merely an organization that appears to claim to be elected by the people. A mere 100 members or more surely does not augur well for them to continue claiming so.
We have to move away from just making claims and lots of noise to get attention. As a resident, I feel the SJRA should put their heads back on their shoulders to mediate and find a solution. Go back to the negotiating table if you have to but please stop claiming to represent everyone.

Non-SJRA Member – Subang Jaya
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Not “Buying” Park Idea

"It is indeed sneaky on the part of SDP for not high-lighting their intention to reserve a 2.9 acre piece of land for the future development of SDMC. If it had not been pointed out I would have missed it and thought perhaps SDP is genuine this time in offering a "win win".

How can we now trust them to fulfill their promises to modernise the existing Subang Ria Park after they have got what they wanted. To those early residents who bought houses in Subang Jaya, you will remember that Subang Ria Park was used or insinuated as part of the development, to entice buyers.

Another area SDP did not high-light is the fact that the so called remaining area to be surrendered to MPSJ are actually not usable land. Quite a big area is located right under the electrical power cables and therefore is a health hazard. I cannot imagine a park that has a road running by the park be called a park. People go to a park to enjoy fellowship with family and friends free of noise and air pollutions. No matter what SDP promises, to put up green barriers, it will still not work.  Then there is the danger of people having to cross the busy road to get to the park.

Actually looking at the proposal, what is left of the area are 2 big lakes and the only land left would be the jogging track. Two years ago at a public hearing held at Holiday Villa on 15th July 2007, I raised my objections for any developments whatsoever, I today say the same."
 
Regards
Tony

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Return Park to Residents
There is no question of a new beginning. The land title says recreation so it must stay as recreation. It is only a new beginning if Sime Darby Property reinstalls the boats, the train rides, the Ferris wheel , the go kart as was present in the 80's. Furthermore Subang Jaya’s infrastructure cannot take any load of people, vehicles, building, demand on water, electricity, parking needs and other recreational needs of the huge community. All the roads are congested all day long. There is no parking available in SS12, Wangsa Baiduri, SS15, SS14 etc. As stated by Sime Darby Property the land was given for recreation so if there is any request to do anything else, the land must be surrendered back.
 
A.S. Gill, Subang Jaya Residents Association chairman