Decision on cemetery project in three months

The Star - 23 June 2009

THE Selangor state government has promised to make a decision on the cemetery project at the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve in less than three months.

“This issue is beyond the state planning committee and will be discussed by the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES).

“A special session will be held in July by the state executive councillors before we make a decision,” state housing, building management and squatters committee chairman Iskandar Abdul Samad said at the Subang Jaya Draft Local Plan hearing held at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) complex yesterday.

A group of 20 residents, on behalf of the Signature Campaign Teamwork (SCT, which comprises representatives from Bandar Bukit Puchong, Taman Saujana Puchong, Gateway Puchong, Lestari Puchong and Mutiara Indah), submitted a memorandum to state tourism, consumer affairs and environment chairman Elizabeth Wong and MPSJ president Datuk Adnan Md Ikshan to reinstate their strong objection against the cemetery project.

“This cemetery, if built, will be located right next to our homes. We have been fighting for the abortion of this project since April 2004. We have asked the government to move the project to a place far away from residential areas.

“This is also to ensure that the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve remains as it is to preserve the environment,” SCT member Ng Chee Kwong said.

He added that the court case pertaining to this issue had been put on hold indefinitely for the Selangor government to make a decision.

Meanwhile, former Kelana Jaya MP Loh Seng Kok, who represented the Lagoon Perdana Residents Association at the hearing, expressed his dissatisfaction towards the committee for starting the session late.

“It was supposed to start at 9am but was postponed for one hour and 15 minutes. We were told that the exco members had to attend a meeting at the State Secretariat Building. This shouldn’t be the case. They should arrange their schedule and should not keep us waiting,” he said.

One of the issues he raised at the hearing was the absence of a clinic in USJ for which the Federal Government had allocated RM8mil under the Ninth Malaysian Plan. “I don’t see this project indicated in this draft local plan,” he said.

State local government, studies and research committee chairman Ronnie Liu agreed that a public clinic was needed as an alternative to the private medical centres but said it was not easy to find land to build it.

“It might be built in Putra Heights, for example and I hope the people will understand,” he said.

Liu added that negotiations were now under way for an interchange to be built to link Seri Kembangan to the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Dedicated Highway to ease traffic congestion.

Website: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/6/23/central/4171329&sec=central

The last paragraph will certainly boost the value of Alam Sanctuary many folds!

"Liu added that negotiations were now under way for an interchange to be built to link Seri Kembangan to the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Dedicated Highway to ease traffic congestion."

Thank you.