News Article from The Star – Tuesday April 1, 2008
Fernandez: Proposal for high-rise buildings should be rejected
By SALINA KHALID
salina@thestar.com.my
THE proposal to build three blocks of high-rise buildings on Kuala Lumpur’s Federal Hill should be rejected because it runs contrary to the low-density and non-commercial proposal for the area in the KL Structure Plan, said local government and town planning expert Derek Fernandez.
He said there was also no need to hold a public hearing on the matter as it would only be a waste of time and money.
Fernandez, who is representing the Federal Hill residents, was commenting on the April 4 date set for the public hearing to be held at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) headquarters.
The residents had been called for a hearing on their objections to the development project on the hill.
The controversial project is located between a Caltex petrol station near the Jalan Travers police station and opposite KL Sentral. The 2.5ha land is categorised as for institutional use (police reserve).
Part of the land (0.62ha ) has been earmarked for the new police offices and quarters. Work on the police facilities started in September last year.
Under the proposal, three blocks of high-rise buildings will be built on the remainder 1.86ha of the land. ) The development will feature two 30-storey blocks and one 16-storey structure with a five-storey podium.
“The project is clearly contrary to the low-density and non-commercial proposal for the area in the KL Structure Plan.
“So the question is, if it is already stated as such, and the mayor knows about it, he should have just rejected the application in the first place. Why did he still call for the hearing?” he asked.
Fernandez also cited that under the Federal Territory Act 1982 and the Planning (Development) (Amendment) Rules 1994, the Commissioner (the mayor) must form an opinion under Rule 5(2) as to whether the proposed development is appropriate for the purposes of proper planning in the first place before calling a hearing under Rule 5(3).
“In the event it is not, the Datuk Bandar (mayor) is required by law to reject it,” he said, adding that even if the mayor thought it was appropriate he could still ask for a further enquiry before calling for a hearing to be held.
Fernandez was speaking to the press after attending a dialogue between the residents, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai.
Detailed: Fernandez explaining about the project and its status during a press conference.
The three MPs attended the session to show their support for the residents.
The other KL MPs – from Kepong, Batu, Wangsa Maju, Segambut, Titiwangsa, Seputeh and Bandar Tun Razak – have also given their written support to oppose the land conversion and the construction of the high-rise building.
Meanwhile the Liaison Committee of Sri Bukit Persekutuan chairman Tan Lye King said that they would attend the hearing.
Yesterday, it was reported that the application for the commercial project was submitted to City Hall, yet no approval was granted on the construction of the two 30-storey and one 16-storey structures on the said site. The development order had only been granted for the building of police quarters and offices on the said land.
