Housing project at Taman Rimba Kiara is still pending approval, says KL mayor

KUALA LUMPUR (May 9): The housing development planned at Taman Rimba Kiara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) is still pending approval from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

KL mayor Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said he would have a meeting with residents of Taman Rimba before approving the development in accordance with provisions of Rule 5, Development Plan 1970 (Amendment 1994), Bernama reported.

"DBKL had offered units in public housing projects as compensation to the original inhabitants of the area but it was rejected because they refused to move out from there.

"The project will proceed as soon as it is approved. The development does not affect Rimba Kiara recreational area," Bernama reported him as saying at a blood donation programme at Menara DBKL, here today.

The proposed development involves the building of eight blocks of 42- and 52-storeys high-end serviced apartments (about 1,800 units), and a 29-storey affordable housing block (350 units), thus increasing the population density in the area from 74 persons per acre to 979.

It was reported yesterday that Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the housing project would go ahead as planned.

Meanwhile, the TTDI Residents’ Association plans to take legal action if the project is approved.

TTDI RA chairman Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar has also sent a letter to Tengku Adnan and Mohd Amin.

In the letter, Abdul Hafiz said all activities protesting the proposed development which began mid-2016 were initiated by the RA, the TTDI community and the public. There is no manipulation or influence by any unrelated party, let alone political parties, as alleged.

According to Abdul Hafiz, all parties including the FT Ministry and DBKL are fully aware that the land carved out for the proposed development is part of the open public space that is known as Taman Rimba Kiara. 

"In this respect, the transfer of ownership of that piece of land now known as Lot 9244 to Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan is doubtful and highly questionable. It is also not consistent with the zoning provisions designated as per Map 161 in the KL City Draft Plan 2020," he had stated.