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SETAPAK (Sept 18): Members of the Desa Putra Condominium Resident Association (RA) expressed their concerns over the aggressive development surrounding their homes and are worried the high-density development will impair their living environment.

Completed in 2006, Desa Putra Condominium is a leasehold apartment development comprising 436 units across three 18 and 19-storey blocks. 

The property is located at Jalan Wangsa Perdana 3 in Wangsa Maju, right opposite the Sri Rampai LRT station.

Desa Putra Condominium RA chairman Abu Bakar Ariffin said Desa Putra Condominium is surrounded by a few high density developments including the 42-storey The Hamilton Wangsa Maju development (435 units) which is just 300m from Desa Putra Condominium and the Wangsa 9 Residency which is located around 700m away, comprising 565 units housed in three 48-storey blocks.

However, the recently-announced new commercial development which comprises 382 units of serviced apartment in a 46-storey block was the tipping point of the residents as the development site is located next to their apartment, within 100m from their home.

According to the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) project development notice board which was put up on Aug 15, the upcoming development will comprise 382 units of serviced apartments in a 46-storey block, including an 8-storey carpark.

The management committee of the Desa Putra Condominium RA had gathered 229 residents’ signatures (equivalent to 60% of the residents) and the protest letter was submitted to DBKL by hand on August 27.

Desa Putra Condominium RA chairman Abu Bakar Ariffin said in the letter, the association requested for assessment reports on environmental, traffic and societal impacts of the project as well as to fix a date for the RA representatives to meet with DBKL officers to voice their concerns.

According to him, as at today, DBKL did not reply to their letter and phone calls or provide any reports.

He noted that the tract has an estimated land size of 1.9 acres and is located right across the road to Sri Rampai LRT station.

It has been converted from residential land to commercial land title to allow for a higher plot ratio within the development.

“We are not protesting against development, but we need to know the future impact of this project as this area is already surrounded by lots of high-density development. The robust business activities nearby has also attracted [a] big crowd to this area, [hence] traffic congestion and lack of parking space have becoming a major issue to the residents,” he told the media in a press conference today.

Completed developments nearby including Seri Riana Residence, Wangsa 118 commercial project and Wangsa Walk Mall.

The RA deputy chairman Faudzain Ghazali said the developer of the project, Golden Quantum Acres Sdn Bhd, which is also the same developer that built Desa Putra Condominium, had approached them and a briefing about the project was held at end-August.

However, the residents are worried about their future living environment as the green lung area nearby has shrunk at a fast pace in recent years and some mudslides have occured during the construction of the new projects nearby.

One of the RA members, Ruzanna Mohamed, hoped DBKL will share the assessment reports with the association or reject the proposal until the Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 is gazetted.

Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who assisted Desa Putra Condominium RA to organise the press conference, said DBKL must act swiftly to release the assessment reports for the developments which was approved, in line with greater transparency and to allow the residents to object to developments in their neighbourhood.

He also urged Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad to unveil the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 as soon as possible.

“[By doing so] if the development is contrary to the Draft KL City Plan 2020, it must not be approved. If this has to be challenged, then the residents must be given their right to object effectively,” he said.

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