9 Storey Telekom Project at USJ 6

Wednesday (28/9/09)brought cheers to the residents of USJ 6 as MPSJ has decided to revoke the development order granting permission to Telekom Malaysia (TM) to build a 9 storey commercial building on land designated for public utilities.

The residents have battled with the authorities for more than a year to have the project scrapped. The vacant land is sited right among the residential houses.

The crux of the issue is that the land was originally designated for public utilities (telecommunication purposes) and along the way, the status was changed to commercial. How did the change happen and shouldn't the residents have a say in the change?

Many other issues and controversies have also irked the residents.At the first public hearing in MPSJ held in June 2008, the deputy YDP who chaired the meeting has denied that there was any previous applications to develop the land commercially. The residents later found out that 2 previous applications in 2006 to split the plot for commercial development were rejected outright, on the basis that the land was reserved for telecommunication purposes only. How could the Chairman of the hearing lied to the residents? What kind of nonsence and transparency are we talking about?

It is also interesting to note that Telekom Malaysia (through its subsidiary Telekom Facilities Sdn Bhd) had signed a S & P agreement with the developer on the same day as the public hearing? Was it a mere co-incidence?

The One Stop Centre (OSC)held its meeting to consider the application during the transition period whereby there wasn't any councillor as the new Pakatan Rakyat Councillors were not sworn in yet. Again was it a mere co-incidence?

Has MPSJ fully disclosed all pertinent information (especially with regards to previous rejections) to the Selangor State Planning Committee ?

The time is right for MPSJ and other Majlis in the country to seriously strike a balance between overdevelopment and quality of life of the residents.

Let this case be the beginning of an era where residents will have more says in the development of their neighbourhood.