Proposed USJ6 development – SPC should meet to resolve the matter

I read the development of a proposed commercial development on a piece of telecom utility land in USJ6 Subang Jaya with deep concern.

Since the issue was first brought up openly more than one year ago, it seems like there is no clear-cut solution to the dispute. Worst, the issue has turned into a sore point among MPSJ councillors.

Without prejudice to MPSJ personnel, including its present batch of councillors and president, State Planning Committee (SPC), the landowner and the developer, such approval, once it is granted by a local authority like MPSJ, will create a precedence and utility reserve lands in other local authorities will be at stake as owner of the land can apply to convert and develop it for other purposes.

When a piece of land is developed, the developer, city planner and the local authority will examine the land use. There is always a reason for the planner to demarcate a certain portion of land as reserve for certain amenities, which are of public importance.

Therefore, I urge the State Planning Committee (SPC) to seriously think through the application to convert that said utility reserve land into commercial land as it will have serious impact on other local councils. State Planning Committee should and must have a strong stand and not pass the buck around without clear-cut solutions provided to the people. It is unfair to both the people and the landowner.

Furthermore, local council's decision making process must also be made transparently according to rules and regulations. For any official meeting, adequate notices must be served, agenda of the meeting must be provided, quorum must be met, minute-of-meeting should be taken and tabled for endorsement in the next meeting. These are simple rules that any secondary school students know. In this case, the council should come clear to clarify whether it had called and conducted the meeting according to rules and regulations.

Thirdly, the authority must be made aware that there are enough development in Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya. Further development to these places in future must be planned properly as any unplanned, ad-hoc development will definitely jeopardize the living standard of the people in these areas. The situation is so serious that the State Assemblyman for Bukit Gasing Edward Lee had once even suggested a two-year moratorium for all development in Petaling Jaya.

I hope the State Planning Committee can call for an urgent meeting to resolve the matter.