Emergency works to rehabilitate failed slope at Taman Seaport reservoir SS3 – to solve the problem or to create more problems?

I received a complaint from a group of residents from Jalan SS3/49 and Jalan SS3/51, Taman Seaport last week that a group of contract workers were clearing a piece of open space located at their backyard, in which Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd. (Syabas) claimed to own this piece of land.

I was informed that the project, which is named “Emergency Works to Rehabilitate Failed Slope at Taman Seaport Reservoir SS3, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Contract No.: Sya/PMD/08/con 003” was started in late January 2008 without any consultation with the residents.

Some complaints were brought to the then elected representative and work was temporarily stopped. Conversation with the workers indicates that the “rehabilitation” work will involve clearance of the whole open space.

Residents objected strongly to the project as it was approved without any consultation although the project is conducted on a piece of land owned by Syabas.

This is a direct violation of the principle of Local Agenda 21 which aims provide a chance to the communities that the local authorities serve to work together to plan and care for their surroundings towards sustainable development.

Secondly, residents also doubt if the project is approved by Petaling Jaya City Hall (MBPJ). Syabas, in one of its latest notice to the residents, claimed that they have had it but it was not properly substantiated.

Instead of solving environmental problem, residents believe that it will bring more environmental problem when the project involves massive clearing of a piece of stable open space, especially if there were any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report been done, judging from the scale of the project.

A complaint was made to the General Manager of Syabas in Petaling Jaya on 24th March 2008. He replied that a stop work order has been issued pending on the decision from local council and meanwhile he will direct my concern and the residents’ complaint to the higher authority in Kuala Lumpur headquarter as the project was awarded by Syabas headquarter in Kuala Lumpur.

However, work resumed on 26th March 2008 when Syabas claimed that MBPJ has approved the project. Residents were shocked to notice this as they are again kept in the dark for any consultation.

I will report this to MBPJ to check the validity of their approval and if it has been approved, MBPJ owed the residents an explanation why they were not involved in any consultation. Similar complaint will be lodged to the Department of Environment to examine the project if there is any violation of any provision under various environmental protection acts.