Transparency International Malaysia has welcomed the judgment of the High Court in Shah Alam declaring the development order issued by MPPJ to Mentari Properties Sdn Bhd as null and void.

"This judgment is a clear indication of the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary to extract accountability and transparency from public authorities," it president Param Cumaraswamy said in a statement.

"There must be several similar situations where local authorities treated the objection proceedings as a mere 'formality', in many cases, after granting development orders.

"Residents living in vicinities where development are being carried out or about to commence should take the lead from the residents of Taman Desaria to challenge such orders before the court if they were not given genuine a right to object. Local authorities should not be allowed to be a law unto themselves," Param said.