NOT AGAIN! SAY BUKIT GASING FOLK
The Sun, THURSDAY MAY 18 2006
by Maria J. Dass

PETALING JAYA: Residents in Gasing Indah and the Fraser, Maxwell and Cameron towers are worried about a new proposal by a developer to build bungalow lots on the Kuala Lumpur side of Bukit Gasing although a similar proposal in the late 1990s did not get Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s nod due to the steep gradient of the hill. The residents found out about the proposed new development via a letter sent by a public relations company, Arc Worldwide, on behalf of the developer, Sanctuary Gasing, inviting them to give their input to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) being carried out.

The letter to the Maxwell Towers Owners’ Association was titled “Upcoming bungalow development at Bukit Kerinchi: Community survey for EIA and request for residents feedback from Maxwell Towers Owners’ Association.”

It stated that the proposed project involved the development of high-end, exclusive and low-density bungalows on Bukit Kerinchi at the Bukit Gasing area.

The four questions in the survey asked residents whether there are similar proposals to develop the area and the issues that are raised.

It also asked about their concerns about the development located 2 km from a gazetted green lung.

The residents were surprised by this new proposal when City Hall had disallowed and earlier project by Gasing Meriden Sdn Bhd to build 82 bungalow lots in the area in 1997.

The Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur Appeals Board (Planning) had also dismissed an appeal by Gasing Meriden in August 2000.

In its decision, the board said: “We have visited the place and agreed with City Hall’s view that development of the land as a whole in a single phase could not be done because the contour of the land, especially the upper part, is too steep.”

Residents from the three condominium blocks have asked Arc Worldwide to furnish full details of the new project by Sanctuary Gasing so that they could make an informed presentation.

They also asked for complete details of Sanctuary Gasing, the number and types of bungalows it intends to build, an exact location map of the development site, and a list of other parties and associations that have been requested to furnish their feedback. It has been six weeks and there has been no reply on this request, said Maxwell Towers Owners’ Association chairman Victor Oorjitham.

“We have only been given vague indications of the project so far,” he said.
 
The residents expressed their concerns over landslides and the fear of another Highland Towers incident.

“Soil movements in parts which are not developed can cause potential danger, more so from the 24 million gallon reservoir directly on top of the hill, not far from the condos,” said Oorjitham.

“The developer would be risking the lives of many living in the 806 apartments in all three towers and the surrounding densely populated area. It will further affect the ecology and environment of Gasing Hill,” he added. - theSun