A group of affected landowners of the proposed 118-storey mega-tower have reiterated their strong objection against the controversial project following a notice issued by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) recently.

NONE The notice states that the city mayor has received an application for planning permission to amend the layout plan of the mega-tower project, which involves change of use of land from open space and institutional to commercial.

This has been advertised on a notice board near Stadium Merdeka and four newspapers in different languages from June 16 to 19, and gave 14 days to the affected owners to respond.

In a press conference today, Pertahankan Taman Merdeka Negara (PTMN), affected land owners and representatives from NGOs and the opposition, raised their concerns that this may open the gate for the controversial project.

According to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall secretary-general Yong Yew Wei, if the City Hall did not receive any objection in the said period, the project will be given an order to start work.

PTMN vice-president Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim and PKR Batu MP Tian Chua have vowed to hold a big rally if the authorities insist on going ahead with the project.

“This is a warning to the mayor. If you refuse to listen to the people, we will have a big rally like Bersih and all Malaysians will come in support,” said Thasleem.

Letter of objection to be sent to DBKL next week

The groups will be organising an online petition and collecting signatures for objections at various locations in the city on June 29 and 30 and July 1.

They will be submitting their letter of objection to DBKL next Monday.

However, the DBKL notice states that only those from three categories can make the objection:

  • The registered owners of lands adjoining the land to which the application relates;
  • The registered owners of lands separated by any road, lane, drain or reserved land the width of which does not exceed 20m and whose lands would be adjoining the land to which the application relates had the lands not been separated by such road, lane, drain or reserved land; and
  • The registered owners of land located within a distance of 200m from the boundary of the land to which the application relates if, the access road to the land to which the application relates is a cul-de-sac and the registered owners of land use the same cul-de-sac.

According to the notice, the mega project comprises of a 118-storey office tower, two blocks of 40-storey service apartment, a block of a 40-storey hotel with seven storey of commercial spaces and five levels of basements for car parks and two stadiums (Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara).

Representatives of four affected landowners attended the press conference today. They are Kuala Lumpur Gospel Hall elder Jimmy Chok, Confucian Private Secondary School chairperson Sim Teck Hwa, Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association chairperson Tan Swee Tiak, and Khoo Keng Chai from the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Association.

Others who were present included PTMN chairperson Ishak Surin and its executive director Tang Ah Chai.

‘Compulsory acquisition if necessary’

Another affected property owner, the Chin Woo Athletic Association, although they did not send any representative to the press conference, its secretary-general Chew Kee Hui told Malaysiakini later that they have submitted their objection to DBKL earlier this week.

azlan The association’s premises is considered the nearest property to the proposed mega-tower.

Chew revealed that they had attended a meeting with the project developer, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), this Monday, in which the latter had threatened to compulsorily acquire 3000 square feet of their land.

“At first PNB asked us to contribute our land. After we rejected the proposal, they threatened to acquire our land under the Compulsory Land Acquisition Act,” he said.

The groups reiterated that the project would change the historical cultural landscape and history of the nation forever.

“The three sites - Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara and Merdeka Park (Tunku Park) should be restored undisturbed and preserved as a collective national heritage for the sake of future generations.

“In town and country planning, open space would be reserved for the people to enjoy and for recreation. A development project should enhance the people’s quality of life but not the other way round,” said PTMN in a statement.

azlan