Latest news with #DamansaraPerdana
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
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.
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
In Damansara Perdana, an awesome chicken ‘mandi' and ‘shawarma' await at the unassuming Charisma Arab and Pastry
PETALING JAYA, May 25 — 'The chicken mandi is not ready yet, sir. You want shawarma?' I nod, pay, and take the only seat at the lone plastic table. It's not hot, exactly, but the air on the lower ground floor of Perdana Shopping Centre is stale and still, the kind that clings to your skin. I start to wonder if this is another tip gone wrong. It's 11 a.m. I'm sitting in front of Charisma Arab and Pastry, which has already been open for an hour. The chicken mandi, the only thing my friend told me to come here for, won't be ready for another hour. Behind me, a man I take to be of African descent is talking to two South Asian men who've set up tables advertising their tailoring services. He wants a suit made for a wedding coming up soon. A scene like this is a common sight at this end of Damansara Perdana. My friend, who works nearby and gave me this tip, replies to my text. She says it's (Charisma) always like that, and they're never in a rush to deliver. I'm amused. The chicken 'shawarma' is unexpectedly awesome and bursting with the flavour of 'toum', the garlicky, lemony sauce often used in 'shawarma'. — Picture by Ethan Lau A few minutes later, my chicken shawarma (RM14) arrives with a friendly smile. I can feel its warmth through the wrapping paper and plastic, and even smell the toasted flatbread as I walk to my car. Fine, I think to myself. If this ends up good, I'll come by again for the main event. I unwrap my prize, the exterior soft in some spots and flaky in others. The chicken inside is well seasoned and thankfully not dry or rubbery, but it takes a backseat to the generous spread of thick creamy toum, the Levantine garlic sauce made with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil that is synonymous with shawarma. Each bite delivers a refreshing burst of garlic and lemon piled onto thin shreds of crunchy lettuce and onion. I'll admit, expectations weren't high when I walked past their rotating spit out front. But they've just been blown out of the water. The vertical spit for their chicken and beef 'shawarma' is located out front, near the entrance. — Picture by Ethan Lau On another day, I get a beef shawarma (RM18), partly for reference, but mostly because I haven't stopped thinking about the first one. Here, the garlicky and citrusy character of the toum is less pronounced, with the beef taking up more of the spotlight. The addition of chopped pickles is a nice touch, cutting through the richness of the meat. As good as both shawarmas were, they were only ever meant to be the sideshow. Though it originated in Yemen, mandi rice is eaten across the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. In Malaysia, it is a staple at nearly every restaurant serving Arab or Arab-adjacent cuisine, typically slow-cooked chicken or lamb seasoned with a blend of spices, served over basmati rice cooked in a similarly spiced stock. The beef 'shawarma' has a heavier character, hence the addition of pickles. — Picture by Ethan Lau Charisma's chicken mandi (RM15) comes with a whole leg, burnished deep yellow with splotches of red. The skin is soft and sticky, pulling apart to reveal tender flesh beneath. It sits on a bed of fluffy basmati rice, dyed in shades of yellow and orange. The entire dish is imbued with a deep, intensely smoky character that no microwave-safe container in the world can hold back, though it is not so overwhelming as to suggest the use of liquid smoke. The rice and chicken are layered with cardamom, cumin and other warm spices, all building on that savoury, smoky base. On the side, a small container of smoky, spiced stock confirms that it is simply the fruit of low and slow patience. The slow-cooked chicken 'mandi' is pull-apart tender. — Picture by Ethan Lau Still, slow-cooked dishes like this can sometimes feel heavy or flat. It calls for something bright and refreshing, which arrives in the second container. Inside is something resembling zahawig, a Yemeni sauce of tomato and cilantro. It is cool and tangy, a fresh breath of life that cuts through the smoke and spice and ties it all together. Charisma is yet another entry in the long canon of places that prove deliciousness can be found in every corner, if you're willing to look. This isn't quite a restaurant. It's more of a takeaway counter, tucked inside a sleepy neighbourhood mall with just enough space to wait. Come with that in mind and you might walk away with more than you expected, as I did. But don't show up hoping for a sit-down meal, only to turn your misplaced expectations into someone else's problem. The food here speaks for itself. You just have to listen. Charisma Arab and Pastry is located on the LG floor of Perdana Shopping Centre, between Hank's and Jaya Grocer. — Picture by Ethan Lau Charisma Arab and Pastry LG (facing Jaya Grocer), Perdana Shopping Centre, Jalan PJU 8/1, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Open Wednesday to Monday, 10am-9pm Tel: 019-202 3124 * This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal. * Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems. * Follow Ethan Lau on Instagram @eatenlau for more musings on food and mildly self-deprecating attempts at humour.
