Residents unhappy with commercialisation of Bangsar Park

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10): Residents of Bangsar Park, Kuala Lumpur are questioning Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s decision to allow the commercialisation of their neighbourhood.

They want answers from City Hall on why residential houses being are allowed to be converted for commercial use.

Bangsar Park Residents Association committee member Andy Tan claimed that he was shocked to find that his neighbour on Lorong Maarof had converted his home into a beauty parlour a month ago.

“This is a residential area, how can City Hall allow the house to be converted into a commercial unit? “It is really disgusting to see this happening here,” he said.

Tan claimed that he and his immediate neighbours were not informed about this.

“There are other vacant houses here. What is to stop City Hall from giving owners the approval to convert their houses,” he said.

Tan said that their main concern was the safety and security of their homes and the surrounding neighbourhood.

“The gate to the beauty parlour is always open, day and night. It is so easy for anyone to walk in and jump over into my house.

“We are retirees staying here, why burden us? We should have peace of mind,” he said.

Tan was also concerned about a proposed development on an empty plot of land in front of his home.

“There is a signboard stating that a proposal was put in to tear down a single storey bungalow and build an international medical centre on the plot of land. The signboard also said that the plans were approved on Dec 14, 2015.

“How come the immediate residents who are living around the vicinity were not consulted?” he said, adding that he wanted Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz to look into their grouses.

Bangsar Park Residents Association president Nitesh Malani said that he had already raised the issue of the International Medical Centre with City Hall.

“I have received several complaints from the residents and have highlighted the issue to City Hall. They have said that they will look into it and get back to the association in two weeks.

“I will also be raising the issue of the beauty parlour with City Hall,” he said.

Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association president Datuk M Ali said that he did not want commercialisation to spread to his area like an infectious disease.

“We were told by City Hall that semi-commercialisation was only allowed along Jalan Maarof and not in the inner neighbourhoods. This is illegal and City Hall must take action,” he said. -- The Malaysian Insider

Interested in investing in a property in Bukit Bandaraya after reading this story? Click here.