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Taman Rimba Kiara controversy: 'green light after terms adhered to', says Mayor

THE major condominium project near Taman Rimba Kiara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) will be approved after all terms of development are adhered to, says Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz.

Speaking to the New Straits Times, Mhd Amin dismissed claims that his statements contradicted that of Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

The latter had recently said the mega project would go ahead, despite the residents’ threat to take legal action.

Mhd Amin’s comment on Tuesday saying that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had yet to approve the project was said to have contradicted the minister’s statement.

“There is no contradiction. I simply said the project had not obtained approval yet because it was still going through the Rule 5 process.

“But the project will be approved after all conditions are met,” he confirmed.

Rule 5 is a provision that requires feedback from eligible stakeholders.

He pointed out that it was the right of the landowner to develop the area as long as it stayed within his or her land.

“It’s private land. How can we tell them not to build anything there? It’s their right as land owners and we must allow them as long as they follow all the rules.

“Besides, this is also about relocating the longhouse residents there. They must be relocated.”

It was reported that the longhouse residents in TTDI, who were slated to receive one block of affordable housing in the project, that also included eight blocks of high-end service apartments, had refused to move and had rejected offers of PPR flats and public housing.

“I understand the woes, but it will not affect Taman Rimba Kiara. Once the development is done, you will see that the park will not be touched at all.”

In June 2016, DBKL had issued a notice on the proposed development on a portion of land that is situated within the 189ha Taman Rimba Kiara.

The proposed development involves the building of eight blocks of 42- and 52-storey high-end service apartments and a 29-storey affordable housing block.

The TTDI Residents’ Association (RA) at a town hall meeting last Sunday warned that it would take legal action to stop the project, claiming that it would overwhelm TTDI with at least 8,000 to 10,000 new residents.

The RA also said they discovered at a meeting with DBKL that the condominium project would involve extensive road constructions in the suburb, including expanding a road connecting to Penchala Link to a six-to-eight lane highway.

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