Residents from Subang Jaya and USJ, two satellite towns in Selangor, are seeing red over a development project that could threaten a pristine 20-year-old lake.

Some 50 residents staged a protest yesterday against possible development by Sime UEP, which own the lake.

The Subang Ria lake, occupying some 20 acres, is located within Subang Jaya by the North-South Expressway. The lake, formerly a mining pool, is popular among joggers and boasts the best greenery in the area. It has been open to public use for decades, despite being privately owned.

A recent car park extension by Subang Jaya Medical Centre located adjacent to the lake have encroached into parts of the lake.

Residents are worried that the extension spells the beginning of the end of the lake. In March, Sime UEP proposed that 60 percent of the lake and its surrounding areas be developed filling it with road and utility structures, public car park for a hotel, a power substation and a 28-storey office complex.

"Years ago there was talk of turning the lake into a public space. We waited, but there was no result," said Tan, a Subang Jaya resident who jogs around the lake daily with his father and son.

Residents also lamented that the lake should have been gazetted years ago, as promised by the Selangor Government.

"I moved here more than 10 years ago because of the green lung, the quietness and the serenity. The developers had built the lake to attract buyers to this area.

"Twenty years ago, there were only a few hundred residents here and now there are about 5000. So I think they should be fulfilling their promises," said John Chen, a banker in his 50s.

Joggers estimate that the lake draws thousands of residents from Subang Jaya and USJ during weekends.

Lake was to attract buyers

The compound around the lake sports close to a hundred trees and several sports facilities. Part of the jogging track collapsed into the lake early this year due to erosion.

"When this place was developed, nobody wanted to buy houses here because it was near the airport. In order to attract buyers, the developers built the lake. It was already a part of the township when it was developed. This was promised to be a park. It is sad that after all these years, they are trying to remove it," said a jogger who declined to be named.

"The issue is that the park and playground should have been handed to local authorities when they were developed. This was not done. A few years ago, the prime minister and menteri besar had said they would make sure that all ungazetted green areas would be gazetted. This was also not done. It reflected badly on the local authorities," he said.

When contacted, Subang assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng said residents should voice their grouses at a special hearing in July 15 to be held at a hotel in Subang Jaya.

The hearing, which will be chaired by MPSJ president Adnan Md Ikshan and will be attended by representatives from Sime UEP.

"I urge all residents who wish to voice their opinion to come forward," said Lee, adding that residents are to register with MPSJ before June 18 to attend the hearing.

Lee also denied that the development plans have already been approved.

"Nothing has been deliberated," said Lee.

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