The Sri Endah flats in Jalan 5/149B in Taman Sri Endah, Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, has 689 units. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
A PROPOSED redevelopment of 35-year-old walk-up flats on Jalan 5/149B in Taman Sri Endah, Sri Petaling in Kuala Lumpur, has not gone down well with residents there.
If the proposal gets majority support, residents can expect a 350% increase in the area’s population density.
Sri Endah flats residents say the new development will not only worsen traffic congestion but also add stress to the township’s ageing infrastructure.
They are also unhappy with the developer for not approaching them prior to seeking Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) approval on the development proposal.
“At the very least, we should have been informed about the matter first,’’ said Taman Sri Endah Management Corporation (Low Cost) chairman Mohd Mokhsin Junaaid.
“The offer by the developer is unfair and not beneficial to residents,” he said.
Built in 1988, the Sri Endah flats comprise seven blocks of five-storey walk-up units on 4.16ha leasehold land.
Each of the 689 units has individual titles, with 60 years left on its 99-year lease.
The proposal involves redevelopment of the old flats and each unit owner will get a brand new bigger unit once the project is completed.
“According to the prospectus, residents will get a unit in a 54-storey condominium but the (surrounding) land area will be reduced significantly from 4.16ha to 0.89ha.
“The remaining 3.27ha will be for 2,916 freehold units.
“We are going to lose 80% of our land area,’’ said Mohd Mokhsin.
Sri Endah Rukun Tetangga chairman Dzulkarnain Ariffin, who bought his unit for RM70,000 in the early 1990s, said he enjoyed living there as it had a large area for recreation.
“What makes this area unique is the green space.
“Sri Petaling is so developed and we have too many buildings as it is.
“This township is congested and we are not in favour of losing any more green space to any development no matter how nice it may turn out,’’ he said.
The management corporation had a briefing with residents on Sunday to discuss the proposed redevelopment project and what it would mean to the future of the area.
Sri Petaling Residents Association (SPRA) chairman Tan Tai Tong said, “Sri Petaling is already experiencing congestion issues and lack of parking space.
“With new developments coming up in the area, things are only going to get worse.
“The current infrastructure is already unable to cope and there is no room for the roads to be widened.”
Long-time resident Arun Raj said the additional 2,916 new units from the proposed development would further burden the infrastructure in the area.
“As it is, we are getting low- water pressure at Sri Endah flats.
“Who knows how things are going to be after the development is completed?” he said.
When contacted, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said she had a meeting with Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Seri Rosida Jaafar on May 8 about the proposed development and had expressed her objection to the proposed project.
“I made it clear that we are not against redevelopment, but just not here.
“It is a congested township and what they plan is not suitable.
“DBKL has already approved many high-density projects in the area without a proper traffic plan.
“The Cabinet has set up a committee to tackle congestion issues, which has become a major inconvenience and affects productivity, so why is DBKL going against that?” Kok queried.
StarMetro reached out to DBKL for comments but did not receive a response at press time.
The Sri Endah flats in Jalan 5/149B in Taman Sri Endah, Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, has 689 units. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Dzulkarnain says the large green space at the flats makes the area unique.
Mohd Mokhsin says the residents will lose 80% of the surrounding land area to the redevelopment.
Tan says the current infrastructure is already unable to cope with the population in the area.
