Residents of Taman Bukit Puchong near Kuala Lumpur want a cabin (a container-type office used at construction sites) owned by Bandar Bukit Puchong Umno to be removed from the playground in their residential area.

In a memorandum sent to the Subang Jaya City Council (MPSJ), the residents urged the authorities to remove the cabin that has been "squatting" on the playground since August last year.

The residents also demand to know the reason why MPSJ has granted a 12-month temporary permit in April that allows Umno to continue its operation from the cabin.

"We bought houses in this area because it has a big playground, and how can MPSJ allow our facilities to be taken control by a political party without even consulting us?" the residents asked.

"Will MPSJ or Umno compensate us for our loss of facilities?"

The residents claimed that MPSJ has favoured Umno and did not heed the pleas of the residents to remove the cabin which operates as the party's election operation room.

"Why would they build an operation room on our playground when there are so many vacant shop lots in the area?" they asked.

Puchong/Kinrara complaint bureau coordinator Kuan Perk Siong opined that MPSJ's decision to grant permission for the cabin's operation was a "wrongful action".

No approval from residents

"They (MPSJ) claimed that the land where the cabin is located is a vacant land, but it is actually a playground," said Kuan, who is also the political secretary to Bukit Bintang MP Fong Lui Kun,

When Bukit Puchong project was initiated about 10 years ago, the land was allocated for a playground and it was approved under the Town and Country Planning Act, he added.

"The Act states that any changes to the playground will need the residents' approval first."

Kuan also explained that the residents have brought the issue to Puchong MP Lau Yeng Peng ( left ), but the BN/Gerakan rep claimed that the problem had been settled when contacted by a Chinese newspaper reporter on Feb 1.

"We don't understand how can Umno get a permit to operate from the cabin if the matter has been solved by the MP."

According to Kuan, the memorandum was received by MPSJ secretary Selamat Hamzah, who promised to arrange a meeting between the city councillor and the residents.

"We gave them a two-week time frame until next week for the meeting to take place, failing which the matter will be brought in Parliament," he said.