Concerned over the future state of Cheras; we would like to bring to your attention on the over development of new high-rise condominiums surrounding Cheras which is causing unstructured and over-development to existing Cheras Old Townships. Major focus is towards new upcoming condominium development surrounding Taman Desa Aman, Taman Supreme and Taman Segar residential area.

 

Cheras Old Township is located within 10-15 kilometers proximity from KL City Center. It covers old residential areas that has been fully developed in the early 1980s which include (among others)  Taman Desa Aman, Taman Segar, Taman Supreme, Taman Yulek and Taman Connaught. 

 

Over the recent years, Cheras Old township and its existing population has been hit with massive over development of skyscrapers condominiums; growing at an unprecedented rate; all to fit the national agenda of “RESIDENSI WILAYAH KELUARGA MALAYSIA”. It is estimated by year 2028, 80,000 units of high-rise affordable housing will be constructed around Federal Territory of Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. Also, because Cheras has seen a massive growth of new malls and MRT; it becomes great selling points for developers.

 

Among upcoming new projects within less than 1km radius proximity in Cheras Old Township that was found (based on community own search efforts) include and not limited to the following: -

•   Flat Rajawali - reconstruction (HR) + new development (HR)
•     Jalan Desa Aman 1 (Roast Duck street) - reconstruction (HR)
•    Jalan Desa Aman 12 (empty land behind Taman Desa Aman) - new development (HR)
•    Taman Segar Flat - reconstruction (HR)
•    New on progress development By Astana Setia Sdn. Bhd.  at Jalan Persiaran Lemak (HR) 
•   Jalan Lemak, empty land next to Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Segar, by right reserved for Sekolah Kebangsaan, but now going to be RUMAWIP (Source of Reference: https://www.lshsegar.com/rumawip - new development (HR) 
•    Jalan 2/98 in Taman Supreme - new development (HR) 
•   Above Jalan 2/98 in Taman Supreme - new development (HR + LR)

Note: HR = High Rise, LR = Low Rise

The race towards overflooding the existing overly saturated Cheras area has been growing massively without even considering the major impacts toward the existing ecosystem, safety and security of the existing residence. The overflow of population emerging in the aftermath property developments will not only intensify the existing massive traffic congestion but also may elevate the risk of flooding, landslides and other unforeseen hazards if not properly addressed.

 

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONCE THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW HIGH-RISE CONDOMINIUM PROJECTS COMPLETES IN THE CHERAS; THIS AREA WILL WITNESS AN INCREASE OF +> 40,000 OF OVERALL POPULATION WITH > 25,000 VEHICLES ON THE ROAD ENTERING KL FEDERAL TERITORY. 

 

Worse, located at center in between Kajang and KL city, the over development in Cheras it will also intensify to existing MASSIVE OVERFLOW OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION from GRAND SAGA HIGHWAY RIGHT UP TO KL AND MRR2 DUE TO ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE NEWLY UPCOMING CONDOMINIUM PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT. 

 

Up until now, the government and local authorities are STILL UNABLE TO STRATEGICALLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY manage the flood management surrounding KL. Yet, over the years, we are seeing rampant development of high-rise buildings surging Cheras AND KL; leading to an overly saturated population to the extent of destroying the living ecosystem.

 

Should the top priority for the federal and governing agencies is meeting the national agenda, then it should never be on the expense of the safety, security and balanced of ecosystem of the existing residents of Cheras Old Township; especially when the development is set on an existing limited residential area space which in the recent years has been hit hard by rapid and poorly planned development, overly saturated population, higher plot ratio just  for the sake of fulfilling the national agenda, commercial and KPI targets. 

One of the latest development in Taman Supreme is deemed very dangerous, as it built at the slope overlooking existing housing area which may increase the risk of landslide not to the existing housing area, but also to other housing area nearby such as Taman Pinggiran Bukit Segar, Taman Mesara Bukit Segar, and Taman Bukit Segar. 

On the other hand, not much is known about the developer behind the upcoming development in Taman Desa Aman.  What we know so far is that it will be built on the existing Rajawali Flat and upon completion; will lead to an increase of occupancy from approximately 138 people to 1200 people; which is almost 10 TIMES the current residential rate; within the existing compound of a small scale township that has been developed in year 1980. It will also witness AN INCREASE from 4 story flat to 34 story condominium; which will be built adjacent to rows of existing landed double story residential homes which has limited accessibility space.

 

MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS IN TAMAN DESA AMAN AND TAMAN SUPREME ARE OLDER GENERATION PENSIONERS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE SINCE THE EARLY 1980s. WITH THE NEW CONDOMINIUM PLANNED TO BE BUILT JUST A COUPLE OF METERS WITHIN THE EXISTING HOUSING COMPOUND; IT HAS CREATED MAJOR ANXIETY AMONG THE RESIDENCE; WHOSE FOCUS SHOULD BE TOWARDS HEALTHY & PEACEFUL NEIGHBOURHOOD LIVING. HOWEVER, THEIR WORRIEDNESS NOW IS CENTERED INSTEAD TOWARDS PROTECTING BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY AT THE PLACE THEY HAVE CALLED HOME FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. 

 

While DBKL and the developers have justified the development in Taman Supreme and Taman Desa Aman as an effort to improve the living conditions of the existing occupants, we believe it is driven more towards commercial values rather than trying to improve the living standards of the overall flat and community residence. It seems that these developments are not even considering the inputs, opinions and feedbacks from the existing residential communities; as the proposed projects are being carried out without transparent communication with all local communities; and only organized within specific target groups. Rather than looking into improve the overall existing community wellbeing and living conditions; we the communities are left without a choice, leaving us in a vulnerable state knowing that from hereon, justice is only served for those greater power.

Among questions raised by the local community include the following: -

• Where is the STRATEGIC TOWNSHIP PLANNING DBKL pledged by?
•  Was there comprehensive feasibility studies carried out to support the development and ensure sustainability, balance of ecosystem and conformation to ethical requirements?
•  Has DBKL approved all these development while considering the arising risks such as flooding, landslide, traffic jam and balance of ecosystem while ensuring subscription to local act such as 1960 land conservation act and environmental quality act 1974 (among others)?
•  Why are the proposed projects being carried out without transparent communication with all local communities; and only organized within specific target groups?
•  What about the property bubble across the major cities which has not been effectively and completely resolved surrounding KL?

WHILE THE WORLD IS EMBRACING THE NET CARBON ZERO EFFORTS, OUR GOVERNMENT, LOCAL COUNCIL INCLUDING DBKL ON THE OTHER HAND ARE GETTING VERY BUSY WITH APPROVING SO MANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS PROPOSED BY DEVELOPERS ESPECIALLY IN OLD CHERAS TOWNSHIP AREA, IN THE NAME OF IMPROVING THE MIDDLE-INCOME LIVING STANDARDS.

We have exhausted our plead options including writing to DBKL & Wilayah Persekutuan Ministry to request for a consideration to halt the project but to no avail as at now. From the reply; DBKL is adamant to proceed with these developments even at the expense of public safety and other possible risks to the existing local communities.

Frustration is not even a word to best describe the feeling of the local communities resulted from the poor response from DBKL and its developers. At this rate, we find that the EXISTING GOVERNMENT and LOCAL COUNCIL FAIL TO PROTECT THE RAMPANT OVER DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING CHERAS OLD TOWNSHIP AND OTHER DIFFERENT PARTS OF KL, leading the city towards far GREATER HAZARDS in the future.

We understand the need to achieve the various goals and objectives as stipulated inside the Pelan Malaysia Ke-12, National Climate Change Agenda, KL Climate Action Plan 2050 and Draf Pelan Struktur Kuala Lumpur 2040; BUT...

THEY SHOULD NEVER BE EXECUTED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RAKYAT.

To ensure  balance of existing urban township ecosystem and fairness in the implementation of policies and plans; we humbly request all relevant governmental ministries and agencies to reconsider our appeal for the halt of old flats demolition and construction of newly high-rise condominiums within Old Cheras Township and other parts of overly saturated township surrounding KL. 

We need all the support from our caring Malaysians to protect KL neighbourhood from over-development. This includes all residential communities, older & younger citizens, NGOs, MPs, environmentalists, climate change believers and nature lovers. YOUR VOTE COUNTS to make a difference not only for the residence of Taman Desa Aman and Taman Supreme, but for the other neighbourhoods within KL. 

We need to stop this before new development of condominium projects becomes beyond control. The amount of greeneries left in KL including in Old Cheras Township have been diminishing in less than a decade and the increase in climate change impacts are far greater than it was before. Not only will it add to the existing ecosystem impacts; it will also heighten & accelerate it. 

Building new high rise condominiums in an existing highly dense and concentrated township is NOT THE SOLUTION to help resolve the housing issues of MIDDLE INCOME GROUP within the range <RM10k (bachelor)  and <15k income (married) group. This strategy WILL ALSO IMPACT those at B40 group; who have been renting existing flats at a lower rental fee that will soon be demolished too. While compensation will be given; it will usually be a one-off basis. What about the rest of the months and years as they struggle to make a living with the already huge cost of living especially with the high rise of inflation?

Hence, PLEASE do help us share and sign the petition. TOGETHER; WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

 

“SAVE OLD CHERAS TOWNSHIP & OUR BELOVED KL FROM EXTREME SUFFOCATION”

“PRESERVATION IS BETTER THAN DEMOLITION”

 “WE NEVER REALLY OWN THIS LAND; WE ARE MERELY LOOKING AFTER IT FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION”