KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — Residents of Jalan Abdullah are still awaiting clarification from relevant authorities, including Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), over the existence of an underground natural waterway in the area.
They said it has been several months since they last raised the matter with DBKL and have yet to receive any explanation.
“We were told that residents will be called to clarify two conflicting statements we received.
“But until today, we have not heard from anyone and day by day the construction works are still being carried out regardless of our protests and several disasters that have occurred due to soil movement,” said long-time resident T. Ksharmini.
Concerns grew when Jalan Abdullah residents (a neighbourhood adjacent to Bukit Persekutuan) noted a natural waterway in view of the construction of high-rise apartments in the vicinity.
According to residents, however, there are two conflicting reports by the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG) — one saying the waterway existed and another saying otherwise.
Currently, Jalan Abdullah residents are “sandwiched” between two mega developments. The projects that are ongoing are a 34-storey Bangsar Rising Sdn Bhd luxury condominium and a mixed-commercial property development that includes an 80-storey high-rise by SP Setia Bhd located in Bukit Persekutuan.
Ksharmini highlighted an incident on November 28 when a drain structure collapsed outside of the Sri Nageswari Amman temple on Lengkok Abdullah.
On that same day, Ksharmini said a house on Jalan Abdullah was flooded during a downpour.
The retention wall of Sri Bangsar Apartment (opposite the Sri Nageswari Amman temple) had been affected by underground water a few years ago and upon investigation, confirmation of a natural waterway was obtained from JMG.
“Sri Bangsar apartment and the area residents have lodged reports to request DBKL to investigate the flow of the confirmed natural waterway in the entire area.
“They are very concerned that they would have to face more damage in the future if the problem is not rectified,” said Ksharmini when contacted by Malay Mail.
“I was told by one of the residents, who found that underground water is diverted through one of the houses on Jalan Abdullah (number 23) and gets on to Lengkok Abdullah, passes through SJK (T) Jalan Bangsar, on to Jalan Bangsar, goes to Jalan Ang Seng (in Brickfields) and released to the Klang River.
“That is likely why, when water burst out of the ground in front of the Tamil school they kept tarring but it kept cracking.
“How could they still deny that there is an underground natural waterway when residents recall playing in a pond somewhere near Jalan Abdullah,” she said.
Ksharmini also met up with elderly residents who explained how the road Lengkok Abdullah got its name.
“How Lengkok Abdullah got its name? The road has been mapped along the stream, that is why it comes like a curve and that is why it’s called Lengkok Abdullah.
“If residents here remember a stream, the authorities need to carry out investigations before worse disasters happen,” she added.
She said the fear of landslides and soil erosion is not isolated to Jalan Abdullah, and residents in Bukit Persekutuan were similarly concerned.
“You cannot say you are not affected, because what happens in Bukit Persekutuan, it affects us since we are at the foothill.
“If a landslide were to happen, we will be the one severely impacted,” Ksharmini said, claiming similarities to the Batang Kali tragedy last weekend.
Residents were also concerned about a proposed three-storey power station (PMU) to be built on Jalan Abdullah.
“Despite confirmation that the PMU will be located on Jalan Bangsar/Jalan Rakyat, what we saw stated on the board has caused anxiety to the residents here.
“It was by chance that we managed to view what was written on the board, which stated that the earth works for the PMU was to be done at an area we had objected to (next to a resident’s home).
“We have submitted a letter to the DBKL in order for them to write us a confirmation letter to state that the PMU will be placed on Jalan Bangsar/Jalan Rakyat,” she said, indicating that checks done with DBKL revealed that no application for the PMU construction has been submitted.
On Monday, environmental pressure groups urged the government to suspend further development in Bukit Persekutuan, formerly known as Federal Hill, over fears of possible landslides.
Citing the Batang Kali landslide last week that has killed at least 26 people, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) said residents feared the same at Bukit Persekutuan that was under heavy development.
MNS has for many years pointed out that Bukit Persekutuan was not suitable for mega development projects.
Similarly, Jalan Abdullah residents are still struggling to fight for their residential area to be rezoned as residential instead of its current status which allows for commercial developments.
