Bangsar residents want freeze on Jalan Maarof development

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 16): Bukit Bandaraya Residents’ Association (RA) wants the authorities to freeze all developments on Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Association president Datuk M Ali said any proposed developments must be put on hold until the KL Draft City Plan 2020 (KLDCP) was gazetted.

“I was informed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall last month that the Federal Territories Ministry had cleared the KLDCP and it would be gazetted in February, 2016. Until then all developments must stop,” he said.

Ali’s remarks came in response to a proposed development on Jalan Maarof, opposite the Petronas station. A check by The Malaysian Insider found that the City Hall had erected a noticeboard in accordance with Rule 5 at the proposed site.

Rule 5 forms part of City Hall’s approval process for a development order. The noticeboard states that the developer is planning to build a five-storey office block with a single level basement car park. The noticeboard also indicates a change of land use from residential to commercial.

Ali said that the RA has repeatedly raised the issue of commercialisation of Jalan Maarof with City Hall.

“Former mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Phesal Talib said that single storey units can be converted to two-storey, two-storey to three and it stops there.

However, having a five storey lot is too high,” he said, adding he was also told by City Hall that there would be no linking of buildings, amalgamation or limited commercialisation.

“Why is City Hall facilitating this backdoor approach? It is misleading the residents here,” he said. -- The Malaysian Insider