a month already

Its been a month since we submitted our petition against the proposed prosperity complex to MPS. The Selangor state government has already released the names of the new councilors and the new council will be holding their first meeting in the middle of July. At the time of submitting our petition we were informed that the council will make their decision at the next meeting, so i assume that our petition will be on the agenda of their first meeting.
I hope that this new council board will be more sympathetic to our cause, and will decide against the proposed project. After all, out of a total of 224 households that MPS wrote to, 80% (simple majority?) responded that they were against the proposed complex being built on the playground. Will they listen to the voice of the majority, Or will they be pressured by the federal government to approve a development order for the project. Well, a little bird told me that LPPKN have been applying pressure on the council to approve the project....

is this considered a green space

The Selangor MB was quoted in the Star Metro this week as saying that no development approval will be given for projects on hill slopes, and that they hope to retain at least 40% as a green lung and that at the present moment the green space in Selangor is already less than 40%. Won't the building of the complex reduced further the green space in Selangor. This prosperity complex is built on a sloped terraced area in between the rows of houses. Will the building of the complex caused any landslides or soil erosion as the complex is situated so close to our houses? Wonder how stable is the soil condition and have any consideration been given to the project's close proximity to the surrounding houses. Well... only those involved would know. Meanwhile, the residents remained in the dark about the details other than that LPPKN have seek approval from MPS for the project, and this only after the project have been awarded. Would they have seek approval if the residents had not protested about the project? We wonder...

what a waste of funds

The signboard say the land belongs to the government, but before the land was acquired by the government, who did the land belonged to and who gave the approval to transfer the land to the federal government. Wasn't the open space part of the residential area and to be maintained by the local council. In fact, MPS had done quite a good job throughout the years maintaining the place, and a few years back they added new playground equipment, a walking path, etc. which will all be removed once construction work for the proposed complex start. What a waste of taxpayers' money. If the land was already acquired by the federal govt. i wonder why did they waste ratepayers' money putting up these facilities?

reminiscing

I remember going to the playground with my daughter when she was younger. At that time, MPS had not landscaped the open space and the only equipment on it was a broken slide, two old fashion see-saw (the wooden type), two broken swings, and an old rusty monkey cage. My daughter loved climbing on the monkey bars, though I used to worry that she would fall and I would hover anxiously below and clamor for her not to climb so high.
It was during the nineties, and that time I did not have a car so everyday I would walk across the playground on the way to the babysitter. Today, many residents still cut across the playground to go the bus-stop which stop on the other side of Phase 6, or to go to the school in Phase 1.
In the evenings, one would see a motley crowd of young men playing football. The field is hardly football field size, and there were no goal posts but this did not deter the young men from enjoying themselves. It being so near our houses,sometimes the ball would land in our compound. Luckily in all that time, none ever landed on any cars. In the midst of these crowd of youngsters, would be Mr Goh. At first, i was pretty amazed at these middle aged uncle kicking a ball with these young men until i heard that he used to represent Penang or something in his youth. Once in a while, a young boy would come around with a plastic bottle asking for some drinking water because they had run out of drinking water and was thirsty. Naturally, the neighbours would willingly obliged.
Occasionally, i could hear some kompang players practising at the gazebo in preparation for a kenduri or something. Then there are the neighbours' wedding kenduri s that i attended here.
Come Aug 31 or Dec 31, the front of my house would be parked full of cars as Sri Gombak residents gravitate here to watch the firework display from KLCC. The more enthusiastic youngster would lit their own fireworks and had barbecues to celebrate.
Now there are the old couple who seem to have made the gazebo their permanent abode during the day. Occasionally, we can see the odd tired driver taking a nap at the gazebo.
Well, if LPPKN gets the go-ahead to build their complex, these will be a thing of the past, and all we will be reminisences.

would they be so agreeable..

LPPKN in their news conference claim that local leaders were agreeable to the Prosperity Complex being built in the area. Wonder who were the local leaders? Were any of them residents of Phase 6, Seri Gombak?
Would these local leaders be agreeable to this project if the complex were to be built beside their home....?
Would the local political party leader who claim to represent phase 6 residents be agreeable to this project if the complex were to be built beside his home...?
Would LPPKN officials be so adamant that the project should go on if the complex were to be built beside their homes...?
Would the officials from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Develpment be agreeable for the complex to be built beside their homes....?
Would all those who say that residents cannot oppose this project because it is a federal government project, and no one should oppose the government oppose the project if the complex were to be built beside their homes...?
I wonder...
Phase 6 residents would be agreeable to this project too if it were not built beside their homes, and in the process take away the playground and open space.
Anyway, the disagreement is with the project location and not with the project.

Its been more than a week since we sent in our replies to MPS informing of our reasons for objecting to the LPPKN project. Meanwhile, the worksite is abandoned except for a pile of timber and a few cabins. The doors of the cabins are damaged, and there have been claims that unsavoury activities goes on the cabins at night. Since they damaged the electrical cables to the lamp post during the soil tests, the place is unlit at night.
However, kudos to MPS for heeding our complaints and their prompt action. They have cleaned up the drains which were a breeding ground for mosquitoes. However, the rubbish is left uncleared. Given to understand that the ground is now federal property, so beyond their jurisdiction, or something. Hard to understand, this!
Hope they will come to a decision on the project, and hope that it will be a decision in the residents' favour. In other words, a decision NOT to allow the project to proceed. Then the residents will certainly have reason to celebrate!