Residents protest condo project, demand safety guarantees
Residents of Empire Residence in Damansara Perdana are seeking safety assurances regarding a proposed 21-storey condominium set to be built in the area.
PETALING JAYA : A residents group in Damansara Perdana have expressed concern over a proposed 21-storey condominium that is set to be built near their houses.
The group said with the condominium being constructed on a hillside, it had triggered memories of the 1993 Highland Towers tragedy, in which one of three blocks of apartments had collapsed due to a landslide.
'We're not anti-development. However, building a condominium on a steep slope? Do our lives have no value?' Simon Ng, an Empire Residence joint management body (JMB) committee member told FMT.
FMT was informed that residents had raised concerns about the condominium project with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) during a briefing on another project on June 3.
Simon Ng.
Sinar Harian, which covered the meeting, reported that 'tensions flared' when more than 100 Empire Residence homeowners strongly objected to the proposed development of three apartment blocks planned for construction on a Class IV slope.
Another JMB committee member, Joshua Tan, said residents want all parties involved to conduct a more thorough study and provide safety guarantees.
He said he had observed landslides in the area during rainy weather and feared that the project could destabilise the ground's structure.
Joshua Tan.
'Can the politicians, developers, and relevant authorities provide us any guarantees?' he asked.
Meanwhile, Simon stated that the residents have sent over 130 protest letters to MBPJ opposing the condominium project.
He questioned how the project could be approved, claiming that the town and country planning department has classified the area as high-risk, with 23% of the land being Class IV slopes and 64.8% Class III slopes.
FMT is currently seeking responses from the area's state assemblyman and the developer listed on the project's signage.
When contacted, MBPJ councillor Suriase Gengiah said the June 3 briefing was only for a road project and did not cover other aspects of the proposed development.
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