File photo of TTDI residents gathering at the Bukit Kiara Rimba Park to object to a new project they say will cause over-development of their neighbourhood. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — The proposed housing development next to Taman Rimba Kiara will go ahead as planned although resident feedback to City Hall has not been discussed, according to Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He pointed out that the development would not be encroaching the park as feared by those opposing the project, and said he wants the community’s longhouse dwellers to finally get their long-awaited homes.

“We have performed Rule 5, and Rule 5 is not much of a problem. Anyway, I am going ahead with it,” he told reporters after launching the new tunnel on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim (Jalan Duta).

Rule 5 refers to the City Hall procedure that gives a period of time for residents around the proposed development site to express their objection.

The window for objection on this development closed last Wednesday, with the mayor at the event today saying the resident feedback collected will only be deliberated on after the Hari Raya celebrations.

Rule 5 has been criticised in the past for being a mere formality as projects are often approved despite objections from those affected.

The high-rise development aims to provide 350 affordable apartment units to the former rubber tappers currently living in longhouses on the planned work site.

However, included in the development is also an eight-block cluster with 1,766 serviced apartment units, some towering up to 54 storeys, that is estimated increase per-acre density by more than 13 times, from just 74 people per acre to possibly 979 people.

Tengku Adnan said the development of the service apartment units was necessary as the project is a “cross subsidy” between the government and the developers, allowing the government to save on development cost, while the developers gain land to build new units to sell.

“I do not want to spend the rakyat’s money, so I decided on a cross subsidy,” he said.

Mayor Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said the decision whether to move forward with the project remains in the hands of the land owner.

“We have gathered feedback according to the law, Rule 5. The date for sending in objections has closed and we will convene after Raya. But the decision, as the Minister has mentioned, is the right of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan,” he said.