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The Star
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Mixed views on revised KL plan
Members of the public perusing the revised KLLP2040. SEVERAL key recommendations by stakeholders remain unaddressed in the revised draft Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040), says Save Kuala Lumpur (SKL) coalition group. Its chairman Datuk M. Ali said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had acknowledged some suggestions by ratepayers, including the plot ratios for green lungs and public halls. However, he said, concerns remained over questionable and ambiguous categorisation of open spaces. 'Yes, they have made some adjustments to the plot ratios, but the larger concern is how easily public open spaces are being reclassified for private use. 'It feels like they are legitimising commercial development at the expense of green lungs. 'For instance, a Public Open Space (OS1) in Jalan Damansara has been reclassified to Private Open Space (OS3), effectively allowing a hotel's development. 'Similarly, in Jalan Maarof (Bangsar), a five-storey commercial building is now being legitimised despite standing amid predominantly low-rise residential structures,'' he said. Photo at left: Kok (left) and her staff talking to DBKL staff on issues related to the plan. Ali also voiced discontent over changes in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), where land for a public hall was being rezoned for commercial purposes. 'We requested it be reinstated as institutional (use for public facility). 'If one request (to rezone) is allowed, everyone will start asking for it,' he said. Ali was among many Kuala Lumpur residents who attended a three-day public inspection of the KL Local Plan, which ended yesterday. The display of the plan at Menara DBKL was scheduled for 9.30am to 4.30pm, with a two-hour lunch break from 12.30pm to 2.30pm each day. However, some participants claimed they were not aware that there would be a two-hour lunch break each day. DBKL is planning to launch KLLP2040 this month. When met at Menara DBKL, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok told StarMetro that many areas in her constituency and across the city had been earmarked for redevelopment. She also voiced her frustration on learning that the police reserve land in Taman Desa had changed hands, with plans for a condominium. She claimed that the 0.32ha plot was sold for RM1.9mil, a fraction of its RM14mil market value. 'It is shocking. The government is selling prime land in KL at such bargain prices,' Kok said, adding that these deals needed to be reviewed. Happy Garden Residents Association secretary Evelyn Lau said that out of 20 pages of suggestions that they had submitted, only two were partially considered. She said Jalan Kelang Lama was extremely congested, with cars clogging the roads and developments consuming valuable infrastructure. She urged DBKL to take a closer look at the neighbourhood and prioritise sustainable development. Meanwhile, business owner Allen Lim was happy to find out that premises on Jalan Abdullah, Lorong Abdullah and Lengkok Abdullah in Bangsar would be retained for commercial use. The former houses-turned-businesses were categorised as residential in the initial KLLP2040. This, Lim said, would have disrupted businesses in the area.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Lunch break closure at DBKL's open day leaves public frustrated
Kuala Lumpur residents who took time off during their lunch break to visit Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to check if their feedback had been included in the revised Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP 2040) were left frustrated when they found the counter closed from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Thursday (May 8). Many arrived to an empty counter marked with a "Kaunter Rehat 12.30-2.30pm" sign, forcing them to leave. "I came here to find out about developments in my neighbourhood, which borders the Batu and Kepong parliamentary constituencies, and was surprised that the counter was closed," said Shaquib Shakil, who arrived at 1pm. "It's deeply disappointing. People made the effort to come here during their lunch break, only to find the counter closed," added Save Kuala Lumpur Chairman Datuk M. Ali, who arrived with a group of members at 2pm. "DBKL promotes transparency and public engagement, yet when we show up, the doors are shut. According to their media announcement, the Open Day was supposed to run from 9.30am to 4.30pm. There was no mention of a two-hour lunch break," Ali said, expressing his frustration. Ali also remarked that three days is too short for public engagement, especially with the hours effectively cut short due to the lunch break closure. He urged DBKL to extend the Open Day sessions for another week and consider rotating staff for lunch breaks to keep the counters open throughout the day. DBKL is hosting a three-day Open Day session until Friday (May 9), aimed at providing the public with an opportunity to review the KLLP 2040 draft and see if their feedback was incorporated. Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif told StarMetro that all necessary steps, including public participation and hearings, had been carried out. DBKL plans to launch and gazette the KLLP 2040 this month. "The Open Day is to inform the public about the draft plan and its changes. The public can see if their feedback was taken into consideration, as well as the reasons why certain changes were not incorporated," she said. On the first two days of the Open Day sessions, residential groups, architects, town planners, and other stakeholders visited to review the finalised plan. While some accepted the proposed changes, others expressed disappointment over the lack of clarity and the unexpected lunch-hour closure.
