Flat Taman Setapak Indah Jaya residents say the slip road along Jalan Semarak Api 4, which now sports red traffic cones and tape, is their main access road. — Photos: AZMAN GHANI/The Star
RESIDENTS of Flat Taman Setapak Indah Jaya and nearby communities are appealing against the possible closure of a slip road along Jalan Semarak Api 4 that they say will inconvenience them greatly.
The slip road, which connects to Jalan 3/50C and Jalan 2/50 in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, is the main access road for residents to get to their homes.
Residents fear its possible closure after noticing traffic cones and red-and-white tape placed along both sides of the slip road several weeks ago.
“This road was built some 20 years ago and it has been the main access road for the flats’ residents to get to Jalan Genting Klang,” said Chen Yew Wai, who owns a coffeeshop at the flats.
“Without this road, we will need to take a longer route to get to the main road.
“Recently, we learnt that the owner of the land, on which the slip road is located, intends to close the road.
“We hope that they will hold an engagement session with us before the closure,” said Chen, adding that the landowner was also a private developer.
SJK (C) Mun Yee Parent-Teacher Association chairman Steven Soh said some parents used the slip road to drop off their children at the school through its back gates.
“We have about 1,600 pupils; we estimate that 300 to 500 of them use the school’s back entrance,” he said.
“If the road is closed, all vehicle drop-offs will be directed to the main entrance and that will increase the traffic load on that side.
Lai (second from right) discussing the issue with stakeholders.
“Parents have been using the slip road for more than two decades and closing the road will cause a lot of inconvenience,” said Soh.
Kuala Lumpur advisory board member Andre Lai said the slip road sits on land that was sold to a private developer.
He said the land encompassed a large plot that included the flats, Genting Court condominium and some surrounding infrastructure.
“It also includes a parking lot located next to the flats, with Jalan Semarak Api 4 as the access road.
“Jalan Semarak Api 4 existed before the flats were built,” said Lai.
“The parking lot and Jalan Semarak Api 4 were originally designated for public amenities in the 1990s by the then developer who later went bankrupt.”
The land was later subdivided into several plots.
Jalan Semarak Api 4 and the parking lot were considered as one plot and sold to a new developer, he elaborated.
Lai said the new developer as landowner had the right to close off the slip road and the portion of Jalan Semarak Api 4 they own.
“However, if these roads have been classified as public roads, then Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Land Office must play a role in ensuring that these roads, or an alternative, are kept for public access.
“I will speak to the various parties involved, to come up with an amicable solution that benefits both flats residents and the landowner,” he said.
