KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no new housing project development in Taman Kelab Ukay, Bukit Antarabangsa for now, as the planning permission issued to develop the area expired on Oct 13, last year, says the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).
Its president Dr Ani Ahmad (pic) said that if the developer, Lembah Langat Development Sdn Bhd, wishes to proceed with the project, it will need to re-apply for planning permission, to allow all aspects of development in the hilly area to be studied.
"If the developer wants to continue the development, the company has to go through the same process all over again, among which it has to submit a development proposal to the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Technical Committee Meeting (JTPKSAS), and make a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report, approved by PlanMalaysia@Selangor.
"Only after the process is done and all the conditions are complied with, it (the development proposal) will be brought back to the MPAJ One-Stop Centre (OSC) meeting, for us to look at all aspects before granting approval, However, thus far, the developer has yet to reapply,” she said at a press conference, after chairing the MPAJ monthly meeting here today (Aug 29).
Ani was commenting on a report in a local newspaper yesterday, which highlighted the concern of the residents about the possibility of landslides and disasters if the housing project in the area is to go on as planned.
According to the report, the proposed development of the project includes the construction of 54 units of three-storey townhouses for the first phase; a three-storey apartment block totalling 84 units (phase two) and 29- and 37-storey apartment blocks - a total of 610 units (phases three and four respectively).
Ani said the development proposal had been approved by the JTPKSAS meeting on Sept 24, 2019, followed by the approval of the Social Impact Assessment Report (SIA) on Nov 5, 2019 and OSC approval on Dec 23, in the same year.
The planning permission approval was issued in 2020, covering a period of one year from Oct 14, 2020 to Oct 13, 2021, before it was extended for another year from Oct 14, 2021 to Oct 13, 2022.
However, until Oct 7, 2022, no development work has started on the site, even though the developer submitted a Notice of Commencement of Earthworks (Form B) to MPAJ, resulting in the approval issue expiring on Oct 13, 2022, said Ani.
"In fact, for any development to be implemented in any area, especially those involving sensitive areas such as slopes, MPAJ will not issue an approval on its own.
"On the contrary, it will be approved first by JTPKSAS, which is made up of various technical agencies, including the Slope Engineering Branch, Public Works Department; Department of Irrigation and Drainage and Department of Minerals and Geoscience, to look at all aspects, including the status of soil and rock in the area involved,” she said.
Meanwhile, in another development, Ani said MPAJ will use an integrated approval system, starting Oct 1, to screen any applications received.
This includes applications for the approval of premises business licences; approval of building renovation permits; expenses for maintenance costs in the Industrial Park Management Committee (IPMC) areas and the process of change of ownership of Forms I and J.
"The system is a centralised review system, which will increase MPAJ assessment tax collection, because through (the system), a review of tax arrears will be carried out before any application is approved.
"It will also be integrated with the existing MPAJ system, namely e-PBT and i-Comm, before the end of December,” she said. - Bernama
