KUALA LUMPUR: A proposed 37-storey high-rise apartments hilltop apartment project in Taman Kelab Ukay, Bukit Antarabangsa, Ampang, has left residents feeling uneasy, fearing potential disasters in the landslide-prone area.
The residents who were are already spooked by the 2020 landslide in Jalan Taman Kelab Ukay 4 and the deadly 2008 landslide deadly in Taman Bukit Mewah, both located about 1km away — fear the removal of trees and other greenery could put houses downhill at risk of soil erosion, especially during the rainy season.
They claimed the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had yet to disclose whether a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) or Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) have been done for the project.
It is understood MPAJ issued a blanket approval to developer Lembah Langat Development Bhd on Dec 23, 2019, to develop three projects in four phases.
The projects include 54 units of three-storey townhouses and a one-block three-storey apartment building with 84 units and double-storey parking.
The development includes a one-block 29-storey apartment building with 336 units and eight-storey parking and a one-block 37-storey apartment building with 274 units.
The project site is in Taman Kelab Ukay, beside the Ukay Club Villas.
A resident, who declined to be named, claimed that in MPAJ's 2035 Draft Local Plan, some slopes in the proposed development area were listed as Environmentally Sensitive Areas and classified as "dangerous" and "moderate risk".
Environmentally Sensitive Areas are defined as areas that are sensitive to any activity or development. They need to be preserved for their heritage value, and the risk of acute disasters due to land use must be minimised.
The New Straits Times sighted a letter issued by MPAJ to Ukay Club Villas residents, signed by its Urban Planning Department director Zuraina Said, stating that the proposed development contained 66 per cent of Class 1 and 2 slopes and 44 per cent of Class 3 and 4 slopes.
Class 1 slopes have angles of less than 15 degrees, Class 2 slopes have angles of 15 to 25 degrees, Class 3 slopes have angles of 25 to 35 degrees, and Class 4 slopes have angles of more than 35 degrees.
In 2009, the cabinet, under the Hillside and Highland Areas Development Planning Guidelines, banned development on slopes that are more than 35 degrees.
The rules also banned projects on slopes with angles of 15 to 35 degrees that display signs of erosion, land instability or are laden with sensitive geological material.
Development applications, the guidelines said, must come with a technical report by a registered engineer.
Zuraina's letter said the project approval was supported by the Selangor Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Committee in a meeting on Sept 24, 2019.
The approval was subject to conditions, including submitting treatment methods for civil and geotechnical structures, an environmental management plan report and complying with rules set by technical departments, such as PLANMalaysia@Selangor and the Mineral and Geoscience Department.
A Ukay Club Villas Residents Association member said the proximity of the proposed development was worrying for residents due to previous landslides.
"We are worried the development can lead to soil erosion and landslides during the clearing and construction periods.
"There is only one access road to our property. Any landslide leading to the closure of this road will make our homes inaccessible," he said.
Taman Kelab Ukay residents claimed that the 54-unit townhouse projects at the foot of a slope in Taman Kelab Ukay 7 and at the back of several houses in Taman Kelab Ukay 1 lacked a buffer zone.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, questioned why the Taman Kelab Ukay Residents Association was not invited to SIA meetings, despite resident being directly affected by the project.
He claimed that other resident associations, such as those for Andaman Ukay, Taman Ukay Bistari and Taman Sering Ukay, were invited.
A resident who attended one such meeting at the DePalma Hotel in 2019 claimed that MPAJ had agreed to declare the meeting null and void after learning that Taman Kelab Ukay residents were not present.
The resident claimed it was revealed during the meeting that the TIA had expired that year, thus the meeting was voided.
"As residents weren't invited, MPAJ said the programme would be a platform to share information and local problems. They will call for another session with Taman Kelab Ukay residents.
"On the TIA report, the meeting was told it had expired as it is only valid for two years. I asked for the meeting minutes and they agreed to release it after the meeting. But we have yet to receive them."
Resident Rosely Shamsudin said residents were shocked earlier this year when they learnt that the project had been approved.
"We were waiting for updates
as the developer and MPAJ said they would conduct another SIA.
"We were taken aback when we heard that the project had gone through."
Rosely said he, representing some 40 Taman Kelab Ukay Residents, lodged a police report last week on the project approval.
Earlier this month, residents erected banners and signed petitions calling for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to stop the development.
They have reached out to Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Mohd Kamri Kamaruddin, then a candidate in the Selangor state election, to voice their woes.
Residents claimed that an MPAJ representative had visited the project site with the developer and told residents that a new SIA would be conducted before the project begins.
NST has reached out to MPAJ for comments, but has not received a response at press time.