By PRIYA MENON

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StarMetro, Friday 7 October 2011

THE delay in gazetting the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 has drawn mixed reactions from residents.

Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Bangsar are unhappy over the delay and fearful over the fate of the land status of houses along Jalan Maarof.

Bukit Bandaraya Residents’ Association deputy president M. Ali said initially they were told that Bangsar was a high plot ratio community and the density should not be increased. 

Ali said the area was supposed to be free of businesses except for certain places that would not increase traffic and people.

“Structural changes to double-storey houses, particularly from Lorong Maarof 5 to the Bangsar Shopping Centre, are also not allowed,” he said.

He added that despite assurances in the past, residents had noted renovations and now the decision to delay the gazetting of the draft plan only added to their worries.

Ali said the plan should not disturb the peace of the residents and should be approached in a holistic manner.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said she was also alarmed at the postponement of the draft plan tabling as it had been in the works for many years.

“The long gap between the KL Structure Plan and the draft plan opens to various zoning to illegal business abuse.

“I will write to the mayor, reminding him that the land status must remain a public space, anything less would definitely be an abuse of process,” she added.

Bukit Damansara Residents’ Association president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said since the gazette date for the draft plan had been delayed, residents associations (RAs) should be allowed to look at the plan first.

Aziz said the RA had in the past requested to look at the revised plans since there were many objections.

“We have been arguing about many things including the plot ratio they approved in the town centre. The approved ratio has been changed many times and we want to see the final result,” he said.

They were also worried about the MRT station that was supposed to pass by the residential area, which would make properties within 400m as commercial land.

If the plan has been gazetted without their knowledge, it would be difficult for them to make changes.

Lawyer Derek Fernandez said if the delay was to cater to the MRT, then it was justified.