The 5,000 residents who had objected to the controversial Petaling Jaya 1 local plan - a bold development project to turn the satellite township into a bustling metropolis - are pleased that the authorities have taken their views into consideration.

Eight out of 10 major objections raised by this group last year were accepted by the Selangor government and were incorporated in the final plan which was gazetted o­n March 13.

Derek Fernandez, legal adviser for the Section 5 Residents Association, said the local plan was gazetted after a state-level investigating committee heard thousands of objections from the public.

"We are pleased with the outcome, especially when most of our objections are upheld," he told malaysiakini when met today.

Legal action

The authorities have since decided against implementing a number of provisions in the original draft plan , among others, a toll-free access road for traffic from Kuala Lumpur, the high-rise projects at Padang Merbok and maintaining a low-density within the zone of Section 5.

The widening of Jalan Gasing and the provision for a limited commercial use for houses fronting Jalan Gasing will be implemented as planned.

Fernandez said the association was considering whether or not to further pursue, through the courts, the two objections that were not incorporated, "but overall, the residents are happy".

He felt the process had been fair because it was done democratically, "at least the public feedback stage of the draft plan".

"The best would have been for the PJ Municipal Council (MPPJ) to consult the residents before finalising the draft.

"But they still did far better than most other local councils as they later voluntarily held public briefings during which they were severely criticised," he said.

The authorities, local politicians and the Selangor government had come under fire from hundreds of residents unhappy with the proposals under the plan which spans 13 years from 1997 to 2010.

Legal action

The authorities have since decided against implementing a number of provisions in the original draft plan, among others, a toll-free access road for traffic from Kuala Lumpur, the high-rise projects at Padang Merbok and maintaining a low-density within the zone of Section 5.

The widening of Jalan Gasing and the provision for a limited commercial use for houses fronting Jalan Gasing will be implemented as planned.

Fernandez said the association was considering whether or not to further pursue, through the courts, the two objections that were not incorporated, "but overall, the residents are happy".

He felt the process had been fair because it was done democratically, "at least the public feedback stage of the draft plan".

"The best would have been for the PJ Municipal Council (MPPJ) to consult the residents before finalising the draft.

"But they still did far better than most other local councils as they later voluntarily held public briefings during which they were severely criticised," he said.

The authorities, local politicians and the Selangor government had come under fire from hundreds of residents unhappy with the proposals under the plan which spans 13 years from 1997 to 2010.

Compulsory acquisition

About 100,000 of the half a million population in PJ affected by the new development plans are sceptical of the local government's initiative.

Asked about the possibility of the feared compulsory acquisition of residents' land and property, Fernandez said he does not anticipate such a move.

He said Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo ( left ) had given an assurance twice in public that there would not be any forced land acquisition.

"I've not seen any acquisition of urban properties so far and I believe that it will not happen.

"Furthermore, if people read the gazetted local plan carefully, it is clear that consent must still be obtained from property owners even if land is acquired for the purposes of implementation."

He argued that Section 38 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 provides for land acquisition o­nly to give effect to the implementation of the local plan.

"And I don't see that happening because it would be too big a political risk."

The local plan is currently available at the MPPJ for RM100 per set.

Meanwhile, the Shah Alam High Court will hear tomorrow a suit brought by another group of residents - those from PJ Old Town - to declare the local plan draft.