Road show on controversial draft KL plan

The 10 Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians in Kuala Lumpur will hold a road show from June 15 to get public feedback on the controversial draft local plan of the capital city.

The draft plan, released on May 15, lists such goals as turning KL into a world-class city, achieving sustainable land use and protecting the environment.

However, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has already come in for flak from interest groups over a litany of ‘unfavourable’ proposals.

There are also issues which are filled with ‘technical jargons’ as well as complicated graphs and charts in the two-volume publication.

The Pakatan road show will attempt to reveal the impact of the proposals to the public. Several of the parliamentarians and the deputy federal territories minister have their say here.

Nurul Izzah Anwar, Lembah Pantai MP

We’ve met the Coalition to Save Kuala Lumpur which is against the draft plan. I’d encourage every residents association (RA) to join it, so that they can look at issues affecting them and give the coalition a coherent and concerted voice.

There are many things that are wrong with the draft plan. There are many parts that contradict the KL Structure Plan 2020. DBKL is not following its structure plan, which states how KL is to be developed, how green lungs and quality of life are to be preserved.

Issues like using Federal Hill for commercial use are still contentious, as residents have not been consulted. Residents are also objecting to the public opinion hearing committee that is chaired by Esa Mohamed, who also sits on the DBKL advisory board.

How can Esa remain objective in dealing with complaints against the committee that he sits on? We want a third party involved in that committee.

We do want KL to be a world-class city. However, DBKL’s failure to follow existing guidelines and the way it is approving a lot of projects at the expense of people’s interests is disappointing.

Tan Kok Wai, Cheras MP

I called a meeting on May 24 with some 40 interest groups from Cheras to discuss the draft plan. I was accompanied by town planner Goh Bok Yen, who assisted with this. The problem is, the draft plan is too technical and far too difficult for the groups to understand so they didn’t buy the plan to read it for themselves.

I have suggested to mayor Abdul Hakim Borhan to conduct road shows - to go to each housing area to explain how the draft plan is going to affect each and every one of them but there has been no response.

He and the federal territories minister (Zulhasnan Rafique) are currently on a study tour to Europe and Canada instead, using the (ratepayers’) money [laughs] .

There are a few issues I disagree with, such as the public transport plans. The plan lists new transport plans but does not state how it is going to enhance the overall system. We also don’t see any specific plans on making KL a safe city (for both locals and tourists).

The draft plan talks about making KL world class so this includes getting world-class per capita income, world-class environment and world-class safety. So that’s why the road show is necessary and we will need experts to help us explain the technicalities to the people.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Kepong MP

The draft plan was supposed to have come out a year ago. I am puzzled over the delay. A year late is a lot of time (wasted).

I would also like to see if legal aspects between local plans and the structure plan are consistent. There are a lot of differences between general policy and local plans.

For example, there is a place where you can only build a five-storey building now. Why is a 20-, 30-storey building (now proposed) in the same place? What is the mechanism of approval?

Lim Lip Eng, Segambut MP

The development of the Lake Gardens to include wider space for the construction of tall buildings is not acceptable. It is a recreational spot. The plan encroaches into KL’s (oldest) green lung.

I am planning to take action against this. I will talk to visitors to the park and submit a protest.

Esa Mohamed, who is the lead consultant of the draft plan, is also part of the committee to review the draft. There is a conflict of interest here. There was no pre-consolidation prior to drawing up the plan. The people and NGOs were not consulted.

Generally, I have one solution. Scrap it. Re-draft the plan with the inclusion of a wider range of public opinion.

Wee Choo Keong, Wangsa Maju MP

This is a plan for a concrete jungle. There is very little green (space) involved. It is supposed to be a move that is more people friendly but this plan is more ‘housing developer friendly’ instead.

There is also not enough space for the young. There are no sporting facilities. Other countries have such facilities and libraries in every constituency.

We do not provide them with space and then we complain about social ills like Mat Rempit and the lepak (loafing) problem.

We should also practise democracy. All members of the advisory board are also on the hearing committee. Not a single MP is in the committee. The MPs ought to be there to see that the objections are properly conveyed.

Tian Chua, Batu MP

We are still in the process of studying the draft plan and we don’t agree with some of the things because these do not follow the KL structure plan. We’re still looking at the discrepancies between those documents and will see how the 10 KL parliamentarians can engage (with the process).

We will start consultations with residents and (interest) groups this month. We will also meet with RAs to see if we can find a common stand and (to determine) whether (or not) they agree with the draft plan.

Some are okay with the plan but some do not agree with it. This is the problem with a plan that involves many interest groups because each would lobby for their own interests.

So that’s why we’re talking to consultants first and I will also join the Pakatan MPs for a road show to educate the public on the draft plan.

Dr Lo' Lo' Ghazali, Titiwangsa MP

We are still in the process of studying the draft plan especially on areas relating to development and the legal aspect of it.

The Titiwangsa service centre had its first meeting last week and we formed a committee.

This committee and I will go down to the grassroots to explain the draft plan in a simpler way so more people in my constituency will understand the implications of the plan on their lives.

I will also join other Pakatan MPs for the road show.

M Saravanan, deputy federal territories minister

We are very open to criticism provided it is rational and constructive. That is our priority. We are quite happy with the draft plan but it also depends on how you look at it. Some people have different views based on different interests. There may be shortfalls that we have overlooked so that is why we want to hear the people’s views.

I have seen the criticism and the ministry is taking it very seriously. (For example) the public asked for more time to read the draft plan, (so) we have extended the duration for them to voice their protests (up to) Aug 31. This is because we really want the people to read through the documents properly.

If they have any views on the plan, they must write to us. If we fail to act, then they can make noise. After Aug 31, all protests recorded will be heard by an independent committee (comprising representatives of) different professions. Once everything is settled, we will see if the draft plan requires revision.

You must understand that the draft plan is comprehensive. It was (drawn up) by looking at the whole picture, including everybody’s interests, and the ministry’s vision to create a world-class city.