Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) president Emran Kadir plans to strike out the originating summons filed by more than 10,000 PJ residents seeking a court declaration, among other things, that the PJ1 local plan draft is illegal.

Emran's lawyers had earlier entered a conditional appearance and attempted to immediately strike out the suit in a surprise move at the Shah Alam High Court today.

However, Justice Zaleha Zahari instructed the defence to file a separate application to strike out the suit within 14 days from May 14.

She then set the next date for the case to be mentioned on June 19, subject to the outcome of the application to strike out the suit which will also be heard on the same date.

Justice Zaleha also directed the residents (plaintiffs) to serve the originating summons on the district officer and the land officer before the matter can proceed.

The residents had only named the MPPJ president as the sole defendant in their suit although the district officer and land officer were implicated in it.

The controversial PJ1 local plan draft, announced in late March for public feedback, seeks to change the landscape, population density and physical infrastructure of Petaling Jaya. Running from 1997 to 2010, it aims to turn PJ from a satellite township into a bustling city.

'Unethical' last-minute notice

The plaintiffs' lawyer, Uma Parvathy Thothathri, today asked the court for an early hearing date and for the draft plan to be suspended pending trial.