PETALING JAYA (March 15): Shocked and outraged that construction works have commenced at Taman Rimba Kiara (TRK) despite a pending judicial review, the Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) residents are now extending their plea to the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter.

The TTDI Residents’ Association (RA) seeks “the attention, compassion and help of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to immediately halt the destruction of TRK for the benefit of Malaysians, for generations to come”.

“Joint property developers Malton Bhd and Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan have displayed bad faith and arrogance by showing absolutely no regard whatsoever to this ongoing legal suit that has yet to be concluded,” said TTDI RA chairman Abdul Hafiz Abu Bakar in a statement.

According to him, TTDI residents are also dismayed over the high-handed attitude and unilateral action of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in allowing the project to proceed.

“This is despite the repeated outpour of public objections and appeals. This appalling attitude of DBKL has in many ways created very negative perceptions amongst the Rakyat.

“The Rakyat believes that local government should act firstly in the interest of the public and not to ignore and disregard their merit-based trepidations and concerns.

“After all, the Rakyat have been supportive of the government’s slogan Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan.

“In this particular situation, it is no fault of the people to feel desperate and helpless. They now realise they cannot rely on a local government agency like DBKL to promote their wellbeing,” said Abdul Hafiz.

Just yesterday evening, property developer Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd, which Malton holds a 51% stake in, had started to remove trees to clear the upper section of TRK.

A development notice board was also erected, saying that the site will see the construction of an affordable housing scheme which is part of the controversial high-rise residential development proposed in TRK. The main entrance to the park is also closed to facilitate construction works.

A judicial review for the proposed development in Taman Rimba Kiara has its case management set on April 18, 2018.

The proposed development involves the building of eight blocks of 42- and 52-storey high-end serviced apartments (1,766 units) and a 30-storey affordable housing block (350 units).