Luxury apartments approved beside Bangsar water retention pond: DBKL source

KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has given conditional approval for the development of a luxury apartment project beside a flood retention pond at Lorong Maarof in Bangsar.

Speaking to The Vibes, a DBKL source revealed that the development is being approved to take place on the edge of the artificial pond, which will be upgraded to become enclosed.

“The retention pond will stay, DBKL does not have plans to close the pond,” the source told The Vibes briefly. 

“The development will not be on the pond itself, but on the surrounding areas.”

The pond is surrounded by Lorong Maarof on one side and a small woodland on the other.

It is also learned that the permissible density of the area has been increased from 400 persons per acre to 1,600.

The source, who spoke to The Vibes on condition of anonymity, also said that DBKL had held discussions and acquired approval from residents in surrounding areas in accordance with Rule 5 of the Federal Territory Planning Act 1982. 

For the record, Rule 5 allows for public participation in planning and development control by the government.

This comes after concerns were raised in a residents’ Facebook group, The Republic of Bangsar #TROB, where it was claimed that DBKL has given conditional development approval to build a condominium “where the water retention pond is”.

A Facebook user in the group said the development will be on site 481350, located next to Bangsar Indah.  

“That retention pond stops Bangsar from experiencing flash floods during every heavy downpour,” the user said. 

“This site also experienced massive landslides during the December rains that threatened the lives of residents at Bangsar Indah (apartment complex)  What is the idiocy behind this decision that was granted 3 months ago?”

Checks by The Vibes on the One Stop Centre portal under the Housing and Local Government Ministry revealed that conditional approval has been granted to development firm Sri Haneco Sdn Bhd on April 22 for land lot numbers 481349 and 481350 .  

According to the online project application document, the conditional development approval was accorded for what is understood to be two phases of the project.

The document also states that the population density for that area has increased from 400 persons per acre (OSE for ‘orang se-ekar) to 1,600 OSE.

It describes the approval as: “The consolidation (“penyatuan”) of land for the purpose of upgrading the water retention pond by making it enclosed (“secara tertutup”) (phase 1) and residential development (phase 2),”  

It also specifies as follows: “Increasing the population density from 400 OSE (“orang se-ekar” or persons per acre) to 1,600 OSE for the development of luxury apartments on Lot 481350 and Lot 481349, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory for Tetuan Sri Haneco Sdn Bhd.”

According to Lands and Mines Department documents obtained by The Vibes, Sri Haneco is the sole owner of both the sites, and the lands they occupy are not reserved areas.

“This land must be used to build residential properties for the purpose of condominiums only. 

“The ownership of this land cannot be transferred, leased or mortgaged without the permission of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Works Committee (Jawatankuasa Kerja Tanah Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur),” read the documents.  

Observations by The Vibes around the aforementioned pond found that no upgrading works have commenced.  

Attempts were made to obtain confirmation and further details from Sri Haneco on the project planned there, but no information was available.

A company staff responded: “We have not received any information from our management and we don’t have any idea when we will receive details on this.” – The Vibes, September 3, 2022