Save Kuala Lumpur (SKL) chairman Datuk M Ali (right) handing over copies of the memorandum to several Kuala Lumpur MPs and their representatives.
CONCERNED Kuala Lumpur residents are calling for greater scrutiny of the draft Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 (KLSP2040), saying it should not be gazetted prematurely.
Save Kuala Lumpur (SKL), a non-governmental organisation comprising some 30 residents' groups, said they were made to understand during a sustainable city conference on Feb 18 that the draft plan was currently with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for endorsement.
SKL chairman Datuk M Ali said KLSP2040 was not ready for gazettement as Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had yet to address the input and objections from stakeholders.
The structure plan is a blueprint that outlines the goals, development strategies and policies of Kuala Lumpur’s development for the next 20 years.
“The draft plan was published for public feedback in 2020. In July the same year, SKL participated in a hearing process and submitted more than 60 pages of input highlighting improvements to be made and factual omissions.
“We also made it clear that we wanted feedback on these suggestions and we do not know if they have been taken into consideration,” he said after submitting a memorandum to mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah at Menara DBKL in Jalan Raja Laut on Friday (March 10).
The group also submitted the memorandum to several Kuala Lumpur MPs who were present for a related meeting, including Tan Kok Wai (Cheras), Lim Lip Eng (Kepong), Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (Titiwangsa) and Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju).
Some of the input on the draft KLSP2040 included a lack of clear strategy to address the shortfall of open space and errors on existing land use.
“Another issue we pointed out was that DBKL claims there is insufficient undeveloped land to accommodate housing needs, but 2019 data from Napic (National Property Information Centre) shows that the planned supply of residential housing together with the property overhang would be sufficient, although not the appropriate type of housing.
“We also found that proposed locations of social and low-cost housing are not near transportation hubs and there is no masterplan for infrastructure and utilities,” Ali said.
SKL said there should be due process of consultation with residents and that KLSP2040 should address the input and many objections by stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Mahadi said that Anwar, as the minister-in-charge of federal territories, would be fully briefed on the matter before his endorsement is sought.
“We want to hasten the process as the KLSP2020 city plan has expired and we have new aspirations and principles in planning for the next 20 years,” he said, adding that he would be open to meeting SKL within the next two weeks.
