THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) draft plan hearing saw discussion on the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR), incinerator and high voltage power transmission project.
About 200 people turned up for the hearing, which discussed the KLORR project by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) that will cut through the Selangor State Park that was gazetted in 2005 and launched by then Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The road will run parallel to the Middle Ring Road 2 and links Rawang to Cheras and possibly cut through the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge.
Ampang resident Lim Teck Wyn, 35, said impact of such a project was the destruction and fragmentation of the natural habitat of fauna such as the endangered tapir, gibbons, siamang, leaf monkey and macaques.
“The tapir in particular can only be found in Peninsular Malaysia and they live in this forest reserve,” said the resident of Taman Tun Abdul Razak, which is situated on the border of the reserve.
The businessman, who is also the Malaysian Nature Society honorary secretary, said there were only about 20 tapirs in the state park.
Lim also said there was concern that other projects might be built on both sides of the new road, further disturbing the flora and fauna.
Participants were also concerned that the project may affect the Klang Gates Dam, quartz ridge, water catchment areas and cause noise pollution.
Many also wondered at the relevance of such a project because Besraya Highway will connect Sungai Besi to Jalan Istana and Ampang as well as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project.
Another hot topic revolved around the incinerator project in Tasik Tambahan near Hulu Langat.
Many comments focused on finding alternatives to waste disposal, including recycling.
Taman Bukit Segar Jaya 2 and 3 Residents Association chairman Jonathan Woo spoke on the residents’ disapproval of a high voltage power transmission project by Tenaga Nasional Berhad near 10 housing areas and high-rise apartments.
“We provided TNB with two alternatives in the memorandum. First is to upgrade the existing 33kV line in the area to a 275kV transmission line and the second to place the proposed towers on top of the hill where it is less dangerous as opposed to near the bottom where it is near to our houses,” Woo said.
State housing, building management and squatters committee chairman Iskandar Abdul Samad, who chaired the hearing, said the draft plan would be discussed at the State Planning Committee along with experts in December.
“We will have to weigh the pros and cons of each project and its relevance such as KLORR in the light of recent announcements such as new highways and the MRT,” he said, adding all the issues raised in the hearings will be taken into account.
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